permit any sign o f doubt to escape me, but
treated the elders affably and courteously.
Sabadu— who was o f a sanguine disposition—
and young Bugomba were for testing the truth
o f this manifestation o f friendship at once, but
I restrained them for this day, as we possessed
sufficient food for the time being. The Waganda
also were eager to remind me that th ey were
a people decidedly averse to scarcity, and they
obtained my promise that next morning they
should have cloths and beads wherewith to purchase
food.
A cco rding ly the next d ay Sabadu was despatched
with beads, cowries, and cloths to Ka-
jurri, from the cove o f which we had made our
escape in April. T h e y were absent about six
hours, during which time I was v e ry anxious,
as the event would decide our future.
What is the news, Sabadu?” I asked eagerly
as he stepped on the shore near our camp with
g lo om y looks. “ Anything wrong?”
“ A h , ” he sighed; “ the people o f Bumbireh
are bad, wicked people. W e went on shore
a t Kajurri, saw some twenty people there, and
K y taw a ’s chief talked with them. T h e y said
we might go and cut as many bananas as we
wanted, and th ey would talk afterwards about
the price we should have to pay. T he Waganda
left their spears, and, taking only their m undu
— bill-hooks— proceeded to cut the fruit while I
W S f c f f q MASSACRE OF THE WAGANDA CREW. 57
remained in the canoe. Suddenly I heard a
shout and a rustling in the banana grove, and
the Waganda came running back and pushing
the canoes into the water, plunged in, and got
on board. K ytaw a ’s chief had his left arm
chopped clean off, and then they cut him on
the head, which killed him. Eight o f the
Waganda* have been badly hurt. T h e y will
be carried on shore presently, and yo u shall
see them. Bumbireh! ah, ah! Bumbireh is b ad !”
he said emphatically.
The wounded men were brought on shore
with ghastly wounds from spears, and one or
two from arrow s , at the sight o f which a grand
rush was made upon the captives b y two or
three hundred excited Waganda and Wazongora,
but with the aid o f the Wangwana and Frank
we saved them.
“ Gently, gen tly, friends,” we cried; “ these
men are not they who are gu ilty o f this deed.
Do not ill-use them; they are innocent.”
M’kwanga, the chief o f the search expedition
of Waganda, was furious. He seized his shield
and three spears, and called his men together,
telling them to arm, as he would lead them
through and through Bumbireh, and then would
proceed to Antari and slay him in his house,
* Six of these died subsequently to our arrival in Uganda,
from the effects of these wounds.