I Thought This Necessary, As Every Report That
Arrived From Unyamuezi Only Told Us Of Further Disasters With The
Merchants In That Country.
Sheikh Said was there even then, with
my poor Hottentots, unable to convey my post to the coast.
8th to 10th. - At last we heard the familiar sound of the Uganda
drum. Maula, a royal officer, with a large escort of smartly-
dressed men, women, and boys, leading their dogs and playing
their reeds, announced to our straining ears the welcome
intelligence that their king had sent them to call us.
N'yamgundu, who had seen us in Usui, had marched on to inform the
king of our advance and desire to see him; and he, intensely
delighted at the prospect of having white men for his guests,
desired no time should be lost in our coming on. Maula told us
that his officers had orders to supply us with everything we
wanted whilst passing through his country, and that there would
be nothing to pay.
One thing only now embarrassed me - Grant was worse, without hope
of recovery for at least one or two months. This large body of
Waganda could not be kept waiting. To get on as fast as possible
was the only chance of ever bringing the journey to a successful
issue; so, unable to help myself, with great remorse at another
separation, on the following day I consigned my companion, with
several Wanguana, to the care of my friend Rumanika. I then
separated ten loads of beads and thirty copper wires for my
expenses in Uganda; wrote a letter to Petherick, which I gave to
Baraka; and gave him and his companion beads to last as money for
six months, and also a present both for Kamrasi and the Gani
chief. To Nsangez I gave charge of my collections in natural
history, and the reports of my progress, addressed to the
Geographical Society, which he was to convey to Sheikh Said at
Kaze, for conveyance as far as Zanzibar.
This business concluded in camp, I started my men and went to the
palace to bid adieu to Rumanika, who appointed Rozaro, one of his
officers, to accompany me wherever I went in Uganda, and to bring
me back safely again. At Rumanika's request I then gave Mtesa's
pages some ammunition to hurry on with to the great king of
Uganda, as his majesty had ordered them to bring him, as quickly
as possible, some strengthening powder, and also some powder for
his gun. Then, finally, to Maula, also under Rumanika's
instructions, I gave two copper wires and five bundles of beads;
and, when all was completed, set out on the march, perfectly sure
in my mind that before very long I should settle the great Nile
problem for ever; and, with this consciousness, only hoping that
Grant would be able to join me before I should have to return
again, for it was never supposed for a moment that it was
possible I ever could go north from Uganda.
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