o f safety the Expedition might be conveyed,
until exploration should discover more peaceable
lands or other means o f prosecuting our journey.
The captains approved this method o f meeting
the danger which threatened us.
A t 5 P.M. a messenger from Sambuzi called
me to a council, at which all o f his chief men
were present, to discuss what advantages we
possessed for offence and defence, for meeting
the danger, or for flight. Sabadu, the captain
o f the detachment o f Mtesa’s bodyguard with
us, was called upon to speak, which he did
with all the cowardly malice o f a Thersites.
E v e ry hint that could damp a virtuous resolution
to ob ey Mtesa’s commands was thrown out
with all the effect that his position as chief of
the bodyguard and his supposed influence with
the Emperor lent his opinions, and he confidently
assumed tjie power to charm away the anger
o f his dread master, and turn it upon the head
o f Kabba R eg a , the king o f Unyoro. Bugomba,
the brother o f the Premier o f Uganda, though
only a lad o f sixteen, having far more influence
in this council, and far more ability than would
possibly be believed b y Europeans, seconded
Sabadu in an assumed humble voice, and what
Sabadu had neglected to urge youthful Bugomba,
the Emperor’s p a g e, adroitly threw in, and thus
clenched the argument for absolute and immediate
flight.
rjan. 13,1876.-1 A COWARDS’ COUNCIL OF WAR. 261
L Unyampaka. J
The council heard him with great approval,
and many were o f the opinion that it would be
best to fly at once, without waiting for night or
for morning. Lukoma and Sekajugu, the colonels
under Sambuzi, g ra v e ly besought Sambuzi to
think well o f the numbers that would certainly
oppose us in the battle next day; to remember
that we were far from assistance, if overcome;
that all the advantages o f war were on the side
o f the enemy. T he enemy would fight on his
own soil, and mindful that he was fighting for
his own home. If repulsed the first day, the
enemy would come again in greater numbers
than e ver, and each day, as the bruit o f war
should spread and time gained, the whole strength
o f Unyoro, a eountry as large as Uganda, would
be drawn to dislodge and massacre us. However,
Sambuzi was their general and chief, and if he
thought it best to stand b y “ Standee,” th ey
would stand b y their chief to the death.
Sambuzi then asked me to speak. Wrath
almost choked my speech, for I felt bitterly
angry that I should be asked to speak when
th ey were all so resolved to act contrary to the
object and purpose o f the journey that even
fear o f the Emperor was not sufficient to induce
them to stay, and that a chief like Sambuzi, o f
such experience and acknowledged bravery,
should stoop to listen to b o ys like Bugomba
and such men as Sabadu. However, *I summoned