nervousness o f the musketeers, v e ry little damage
was inflicted on the Wavuma, but the noise and
whirring o f lead and iron sufficed to check them
and caused them to withdraw with much o f the
baffled aspect o f hungry crocodiles cheated of
their prey. This was all the battle— but, short
as it was, it had sufficed to prove to me that
Mtesa would be unable to take Ingira Island,
garrisoned and defended as it was b y such a
determined foe. After a while Mtesa withdrew
from the scene, the army returned to its quarters,
and the canoes o f the Waganda, closely hugging
the Nakaranga shore, went back to their rendezvous,
leaving the Wavuma masters o f the
situation.
During the afternoon o f this d ay Mtesa held
a grand levee, and when all were assembled,
he addressed them publicly to the effect that in
a few days another battle would be fought, but
as he had heard v e ry important news, he intended
to wait a while to ascertain i f it was
true.
W o rk progressed but languidly at the causeway.
It was v e r y tedious waiting, but my time
was principally occupied in teaching Mtesa and
his principal chiefs, and in gleaning such information
as might enable me to understand the
complicated politics o f the Empire.
Suddenly on the 18th September, at early
dawn, orders were communicated to the chiefs
f S e p t . 18 , 1875.-1 mtesa in a fu r y .
[ Nakaranga. J
to prepare for battle. The first intelligence o f
it that I received was from the huge war-drums
which * summoned both sailors and warriors to
action.
But first a burzah, or council, was held.
Though eager to learn the news, I dared not
appear too much interested in the war. Sabadu,
who would be present on guard, would be
sure to relate to me all the details o f whatever
transpired.
A t night, though I interpolate it here for the
benefit o f the narrative, gossipy Sabadu, whose
retentive brain I knew I could trust, conveyed
to me a faithful report o f the proceedings; and
1 cannot do better than give it to the reader
in Sabadu’s language.
“ Ah ! master, yo u have missed a sight. I never
saw Mtesa as he was to-day. Oh, it was awful!
His eyes were as large as my fists. T h e y jumped
from their sock ets, and th ey were glowing as
fire. Didn’t the chiefs tremble! T h e y were as
children, whimpering and crying for forgiveness.
He said to them, ‘Wherein have I been unkind
to yo u , that yo u will not fight for me, for my
slaves who were sent to Usoga have returned
saying there was not a man but either had
joined me or had already joined the Wavuma?
Who gave yo u those clothes that yo u wear?
Who gave yo u those guns you have? Was it
not I? Did Suna my father give his chiefs such