Kasoro Wished To Speak To Us, And We
Invited Him Into The Hut; But The Interview Could Not Be
Permitted Until Kamrasi's Wishes On The Subject Had Been
Ascertained.
In a little while the Kamraviona, having seen
Kamrasi, said we might converse with one another whilst his
officers were present listening, and sent a cow as a present for
the Waganda.
Kasoro with his children now came before us in
their usual merry manner and, after saluting, told us how the
deserters, on reaching Uganda, begged for leave to proceed to
Karague; but Mtesa, who would only allow two of them to approach
him, abused them, saying, "Did I not command you to take Bana to
Gani at all risks? If there was no road by land, you were to go
by water; or, if that failed, to go under-ground, or in the air
above, and if he died, you were to die with him: what, then, do
you mean by deserting him and flying here? You shall not move a
yard from this until I receive a messenger from him to hear what
he has got to say on the matter." Mtesa would not take their
arms, even at the desire of Budja, on my behalf; for as no
messenger on my behalf came to him, he would not believe what
Budja said, and feared to touch any of our property. The chief
item of court news was, that Mtesa had shot a buffalo which was
attacking him behind the palace, and made his Wakungu carry the
animal bodily, whilst life was in it, into his court. The
ammunition I wrote for to Rumanika had been brought by Maula.
As Kasoro still remained silent with regard to Mtesa's message, I
told him we shot two of N'yamyonjo's men on our retreat up the
Nile, and that Kamrasi turned us back because some miscreant
Waganda had forged lies and told him we were terrible monsters,
who ate hills and human flesh, and drank up all the water of the
lake. He laughed, but still was silent; so I said, "What message
have you brought from Mtesa?" To which, in a timid, modest kind
of manner, he said, "Bana knows - what more need I say? Has he
forgotten Mtesa, who loves him so?" I said, "No, indeed, I have
not forgotten Mtesa; and, moreover, as I expected you back again,
I have sent Bombay to bring the stimulants and all the things I
promised Mtesa from Gani; in two or three days he will return."
"No," said Kasoro, "that is not it; we must go to Gani with you;
for Mtesa says he loves you so much he will never allow you to
part from his hand until his servants have seen you safely at
your homes."
I replied, "If Mtesa wishes you to see my vessels and all the
wonders they contain, as far as I am concerned you may do so, and
I shall be only too happy to show you a little English
hospitality; but the road is in Kamrasi's hands, and his wishes
must now be heard." The commander-in-chief, now content with all
he had heard, went to Kamrasi to receive his orders, whilst I
gave Kasoro a feast of porridge and salt, with pombe to wash it
down, and a cow to take home with him; for the poor creatures
said they were all starving as the Wanyoro would not allow them
to take a single plantain from the field until Kamrasi's
permission had been given.
Kamrasi's reply now arrived; it was to the following effect: -
"Tell my children, the Waganda, they were never turned out of
Unyoro by my orders: if they wish to go to Gani, they can do so;
but, first of all, they must return to Mtesa, and ask him to
deliver up all of Bana's men." I answered, "No; if any one of
those scoundrels who has deserted me ever dares show his face to
me again, I will shoot him like a dog. Moreover, I want Mtesa to
take their guns from them, and, without taking life, to transport
them all to an island on the N'yanza, where they can spend their
days in growing plantains; for it is such men who prevent our
travelling in the country and visiting kings." Kasoro on this
said, "Mtesa will do so in a minute if you send a servant to him,
but he won't if we only say you wish it."
The commander-in-chief then added, as to Kasoro's wish to
accompany me, "If Mtesa will send another time one of his people
whose life he wishes sacrificed on the journey, or tells, Here is
a man whom I wish you to send to Gani at all hazards, and without
responsibility for his life on our part, we will be very glad to
send him; but as we are at war with the Gani people continually,
there will be no security for a Mganda's life there." To this I
added, "Now, Kasoro, you see how it is; Kamrasi does not wish you
to do to Gani, so if you take my advice you will return to Mtesa.
Give this tin cartridge-box, which first came from him, back to
him again, to show him you have seen me, and say, This is Bana's
letter; he wishes you to transport the deserters and seize their
guns. The guns, of course, I shall want again at some other
time, when I will send one of my English children to visit him;
for now Kamrasi has opened his country to us, and given us leave
to come and purchase ivory, I never shall be very far away." I
gave them three pills for Budja, blistered two of the pages, and
started the whole merrily off, Kasoro asking me to send Mtesa
some pretty things from England such as he never saw.
1st. - Kamrasi sent his commander-in-chief to inquire after my
health, and to say Budja had left in fear and trembling lest
Mtesa should cut all their heads off for failing in the mission;
but he had sent Kidgwiga's brother with a pot of pombe to escort
the Waganda beyond his frontier, and cheer them on the way; for
the tin cartridge-box, he thought, would save their lives by
satisfying Mtesa they had seen me.
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