the narrative o f how Antari’s father, in conjunction
with K y taw a in the days o f old, had successfully
defied for a long period the full power
o f the great Suna o f Uganda, and he was curious
to know how a small b od y o f men like ourselves
could hope to escape from Antari*— or “ the
L io n ”— o f Ihangiro.
Shekka was advised that, as we knew how
to defend ourselves when attacked, he had better
send word to Bumbireh and to Antari that we
did not seek trouble, but were desirous o f establishing
peaceful relations between the Wa-
ngwana and the natives. Three o f the ordinary
natives o f Bumbireh who had been brought with
Shekka and his two chiefs were therefore permitted
to depart with the king o f Iroba and his
friends.
A t 9 a .m . the king o f Iroba appeared again,
this time with gifts o f milk, honey, bananas,
and a fat kid , which kindness we liberally reciprocated,
not without much politic ostentation
for the advantage o f Shekka and the natives.
A t noon he reappeared with three large canoes,
containing twenty men each, from Ihangiro, under
the command o f Antari’s chief elder. T h e y were
permitted to land, though th ey were numerically
superior to the garrison on the island. But before
I had given them permission to that effect,
* Antari, or “ the lion,” is a favourite name with the
Wahuma tribes.
Frank was requested to hold thirty men under
arms to prevent treachery and surprise.
Our greeting was friendly, though there was
a certain proud reserve in their manner.
“What says the king Antari?” I asked through
Lukanjah.
“Antari asks, ‘W h y have y o u come to his
waters and camped on his island?’ ”
“W e have come because we must pass through
to Uganda, and have rested on Mahyiga to wait
for our people. A s I have not sufficient canoes
to carry my people and property in one passage,
I must leave some here, while I proceed to
Uganda with the first half o f the party. I wish
to be assured b y Antari that in my passage
by Bumbireh we shall not be attacked, nor the
party which must be left in my absence on this
island be molested. What sa y y o u ? ”
“ Antari says he is a great and strong king.
All the mainland which yo u see from Rumondo
to K y taw a ’s is his, so are all -these islands and
waters. He has never seen strangers before
travelling b y sea: they always went b y land.
He says, ‘Y o u must go back.’ ”
“ W e cannot go b ack, tell him,” I replied.
“ This water belongs to every stranger, as much
as the wind. T h e island may be his, but no
one dwells on Mahyiga, and we will not injure
the rocks.”
“ Antari says he will make peace only if y o u
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. VOL. II. E