and misconstruction. I told them that the king
o f Iroba must prove his friendship b y sending
food for sale b y noon o f the next day; and
that as I was assured he was in communication
with the king o f Bumbireh, his neighbour, I
should expect either the return o f the oars or
two or three men as sureties and pledges o f
peace. I knew the mainland was hostile, and
since I was compelled to proceed to Uganda, I
resolved to be assured, before venturing the
lives o f the women and children in rotten and
crowded canoes, that I should be permitted to
proceed in peace, and not be attacked midway
between Bumbireh and the mainland.
T he natives, cowed a little b y the tone o f
voice , promised that there should be no delay
in sending provisions, bananas, milk, honey,
chickens, even oxen, for the white M’kama.
On the morning o f the 26th, the men at the
observation post reported that th ey saw a great
many canoes proceeding from the mainland towards
the great island o f Bumbireh. I ascended the
road to the summit, and with my glass I counted
eighteen canoes, heavily laden with men, and
watched them till th ey had passed round Iroba’s
westernmost point towards Bumbireh. It was
evident that mischief was brewing, but how or
in what shape I could not tell. It was probable
that they would attack the island b y night,
knowing we were not v e ry strong in numbers
at the time. It was a v e ry possible feat, for
the islanders, as we had experienced, were not
dull-witted, and were resolute and brave. Meantime,
what should I do in such a case?
I waited until 3 P.M. for the king o f Iroba.
He did not come. Instant action on my part
was therefore imperative.
I manned my boat and four o f the canoes with
thirty-five men, leaving only Safeni with fourteen
men in charge o f the camp and island, and
proceeded to Iroba to make a reconnaissance.
A s we came up, I observed a flutter o f e x citement
on the shore. I steered straight for
the beach opposite a village, and landed. Twenty -
five o f the men were deployed as skirmishers
along the shore, to give due effect to what I
purposed. Lukanjah o f Ukerewe was told to
request the king o f Iroba and elders to approach,
or we should begin fighting.
T h e y came to u s , about fifteen in number.
“ T e ll him, Lukanjah,” I said, “ that Iroba has
behaved badly b y sending his young men to
laugh at us. Since he has lied so many times
to me, he himself and two o f his chiefs must
depart with me to my camp. He will not be
hurt, but he must stay with me until Shekka o f
Bumbireh is in my hands, or peace is made as
I suggested.”
There was no violence used, and the king o f
Iroba and two chiefs quietly walked into the