trifle away time in this manner; besides, such
an undisciplined force would be uncontrollable,
and would no doubt entail misery on the people.
I was also too far from Muta Nzige now, and
to return for an uncertainty, such as the character
o f the Waganda caused me to believe it to be,
despite the protestation and promises o f the
Emperor, was in my opinion well deserving a
fool’s cap. I accordingly wrote to this effect to
Mtesa, and closed the letter with thanks for his
kindness, and a friendly farewell.
Kacheche, on returning from the fcapital with
the Emperor’s letter, met the unfortunate Sam-
buzi loaded with chains, and the blunt, plain-
spoken soldier, far from pitying him, could not
refrain from taunting him with, “ A h , ha, Sam-
buzi, yo u are not so fine as yo u were a while
ago. Y o u are going to Mtesa to p la y Kabaka
before him; fare yo u well, Sambuzi.”
Saruti, the “ eater,” obtained great spoil, for
he was now lord over 200 wives and 300 milch-
cows, besides a large, fat district in the Katonga
v alley, well populated with lusty, industrious
peasants and warriors, all o f whom were from
henceforth subject to him.
T h e final farewell letter to Mtesa terminated
our intercourse with the powerful monarch of
Uganda, and concluded our sojourn in that land
o f bananas and free entertainment. Henceforth
the Expedition should be governed b y one will
only, and guided b y a single man, who was
resolved not to subject himself or his time to
any other man’s caprice, power, or favour any
more.
A s we neared the Alexandra Nile, at a place
called Ndongo, this virtuous resolution came
near being put to the test, for the unquiet
immigrants settled here proclaimed that we
should not pass through until we had paid
something to the chief to obtain his good-will.
But, after receiving a firm refusal, they permitted
us to cross the Alexandra Nile without molestation.
Reports and rumours o f the breadth and
powerful current o f the river called the “ Kagera,”
the “ Kitangule,” and the “ Ingezi,” received from
representatives o f Uganda, Kiziwa, and Karagwe,
some o f whom were v e ry intelligent natives,
and professed a perfect knowledge o f its course,
had created in me a constant desire to examine
the river more carefully than I had previously
done at its exit into L ak e Victoria. A t the
crossing between bank and bank it was about
450 yards in width; but about 350 yards o f
this breadth flowed or oozed, with little current,
amongst sedge, water-cane, and papyrus. T he
remaining 100 yards was a powerful and deep
body o f water, with a current o f three knots
and a half an hour. T h e water had a dull
iron colour, y e t extremely pure for a large
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. VOE. II. T