Uddu and K o k i; and game is abundant. But
Uganda is beautiful and rich ; its banana plantations
are forests, and no man need to fear
starvation, and Mtesa is go od— and so is Father
Rumanika,” I replied smiling to him.
“ Do yo u hear him, Arabs? Does he not
speak well? Y e s , Karagwé is beautiful,” he
sighed contentedly. “ But bring your boat up
and place it on the Rweru (lake), and yo u can
g o up the river as far as Kishakka, and down
to Morongo (the falls), where the water is thrown
against a big ro ck and leaps over it, and then
goes down to the Nianja o f Uganda. Verily,
my river is a great one; it is the mother o f thè
river at Jinja (Ripon Falls). You shall see all
my land; and when you have finished the river,
I will give yo u more to se e— Mtagata’s hot
springs! ”
B y the 6th March, Frank had launched the
boat from the landing at Kazinga village on the
waters o f the Windermere Lake,* or the Rweru
o f Rumanika, and the next d ay Rumanika accompanied
me in state to the water. Half a
dozen heavy anklets o f bright copper adorned
his legs,, bangles o f the same metal encircled his
wrists, a robe o f crimson flannel was suspended
from his shoulders. His walking-staff was 7 feet
* This lake received this name from Captain Speke, because
Colonel Grant, his companion, thought it resembled the
Windermere Lake in England.
in length, and his stride was a yard long. Drummers
and fifers discoursing a wild music, and
fifty spearmen, besides his sons and relatives,
Wanya-Ruanda, Waganda, Wasui, Wanyamwezi,
Arabs, and Wangwana, followed us in a mixed
multitude.
Four canoes manned b y Wanyambu were at
hand to race with our boat, while we to ok our
seats on the grassy slopes o f Kazinga to view
the scene. I enjoined Frank and the gallant boat’s
crew to exert themselves for the honour o f us
Children o f the Ocean, and not to permit the
Children o f the Lakes to excel us.
A boat and canoe race on the Windermere
o f Karagwe, with 1200 gentle-mannered natives
gazing on! A n African international affair! Rumanika
was in his element; every fibre o f him
tingled with jo y at the prospective fun. His
sons, seated around him, look ed up into their
father’s face, their own reflecting his delight. T h e
curious natives shared in the general gratification.
The boat-race was soon over; it was only for
about 800 yards, to Kankorogo Point. There
was not much difference in th e - speed, but it
gave immense satisfaction. The native canoemen,
standing up with their long paddles, strained
themselves with all their energy, stimulated b y
the shouts o f their countrymen, while the W a ngwana
on the shore urged the boat’s crew to
their utmost power.