F ROM U G A N D A TO K I K U Y U
•
what is rare in an African native, each one of them has
appreciated the kindness shown him; although Miss Burns
has done her best to spoil little Mala'fnga, he simply
worships her—as does everyone who knows her, I may add.
Among my faithful followers were also Wana Omari, who
had come with me from Jumbe’s, on Lake Nyasa; Ambali,
a Zanzibari I had engaged at Ujiji; besides about twenty
of my old Wanyamwezi porters, who had been promoted
to the rank of askari (soldiers) and acted as my bodyguard.
I had given them four hours’ drill every day since
I had arrived in Uganda, and Major Owen was much
struck with their efficiency. Besides these, I had twenty
askari and fifty porters lent to me by Colonel Colvile,
sixteen men of the postal caravan, and twenty men I had
engaged myself in Uganda. Shortly after his arrival Scott
Elliot had made up his mind to get rid of his headman
.and of some forty porters, whom he asked me to take to
the coast, warning me that they were a bad lot—absolutely
unmanageable,—but I had no fear in. that respect, knowing
well that I should soon knock them into shape. Having
gathered all my force together, I explained to them what I
expected from them : “ There are a few things,” I said,
“ that I want you to bear in mind : so long as you do
your work well and obey my orders you will find Mpanda
Chalo (my native name) a good master. If any one of
you is ill or finds himself in trouble, come to me and I
will look after you. But if you disobey orders, if you
steal anything either from your comrades or from the
natives among whom we pass, you will be punished with
the utmost severity. Every day I want the camp to be
properly laid, and when the drums are beaten every man
must fall in into his own appointed place. Now a few among
you have lately travelled with Bwana Mdudu—(the master
of the insects—Mr. Scott Elliot’s native name)—and
because he has been too good to you, you took advantage
of him. You had better not try the same game with me,
as you will find Mpanda Chalo a very different master.