honour that I would attempt it. Y e t the land
route was impassable, and to all appearance so
also was the lake route!
While explaining my difficulties to Sungoro,
he informed me, after responding to various
other questions, that Lukongeh, king o f Ukerewe,
possessed numerous canoes, but he doubted if
he would lend them to me. “ However,” said
he, “ he is an agreeable man, and a go od friend
i f he takes a fancy to one.” I thought o f Lukong
eh , but another attack o f fever cut short
my deliberations. My system was much injured
b y exposure and privations, and in my delirium
I fancied myself pleading with the king, and
throughout each d a y ’s sick vagaries, “ Lukongeh,
Lukongeh,” nothing but Lukongeh, flitted through
my brain.
On the 15th May I was convalescent, and
arranged that Prince Kaduma, Sungoro’s carpenter,
and Frank P o co ck should proceed together
to Lukongeh, bearing ten fine cloths, ten
fundo o f beads, and five fathom o f brass wire,
to open negotiations either for the sale or hire
o f canoes.
On the 28th, ‘ Frank and his pa rty returned
with fifty canoes and their crews, under the
command o f two chiefs and the “ p remie r ” o f
Ukerewe. I gripped Frank’s hand with ardour,
but was dismayed when I was told that these
canoes were to convey the Expedition to UkefMay29
30> 1875-1 TO LUKONGEH’S CAPITAL. 9
K iso ry a . J
re we! This was b y no means a desirable thing,
for its progress might be delayed for months
by caprice, or b y any future ill-will arising from
a too intimate acquaintance between the Wa-
ngwana and the natives. I refused, and told the
chiefs they could accompany me back to U ke rewe,
as I would see Lukongeh myself.
According ly, on the 29th, after providing
myself with presents such as might win any
African’s good-will— fine rugs, blankets, crimson
cloth, and striped cloths o f Kutch and Muscat,
besides beads o f a rare quality, and other things
too numerous to mention, equal to about 800
dollars’ worth— I started for Msossi, Lukongeh’s
capital on the north side o f Ukerewe.
W e halted a few hours at Wezi, and its curious
granite rocks were photographed b y me, and in
the afternoon continued our journey, arriving at
Kisorya at 4 P.M., where we camped. T h e next
morning, about 9 A.M., we passed through Ru-
gedzi Channel, which connects Sp ek e Gu lf with
Majita Bay. It was 6 feet wide in some places,
and if left undisturbed there was every indication
from the grasses and water-plants which grew
in it that it would soon be choked, but b y
vigorous punting with poles we succeeded in
getting through. Some o f the Wakerewe say
that Majita mountain is separated from the mainland
b y a similar channel, at which I should not
be surprised. W e reached Msossi, and received