Fortunately The Frontier-Village Could Not Feed So Large A Party
As Ours, And Therefore We Were Compelled To Move
Farther on, to
our great delight, through the same style of forest acacia,
cactus, and tall grass, to Kidgwiga's gardens,
Where we no sooner
arrived than Mtesa's messenger-page, with a party of fifty
Waganda, dropped in, in the most unexpected manner, to inquire
after "his royal master's friend, Bana." The king had heard of
the fight upon the river, and thought the Wanguana must be very
good shots. He still trusted we would not forget the gun and
ammunition, but, above all, the load of stimulants, for he
desired that above all things on earth. This was the fourth
message to remind us of these important matters which we had
received since leaving his gracious presence, and each time
brought by the same page. While the purpose of the boy's coming
with so many men was not distinctly known, the whole village and
camp were in a state of great agitation, Budja fearing lest the
king had some fault to find with his work, and the Wanyoro
deeming it a menace of war, whilst I was afraid they might take
fright and stop our progress.
But all went well in the end; Massey's log, which I have
mentioned as a present I intended for Mtesa, was packed up, and
the page departed with it. Some of Rumanika's men, who came into
Unyoro with Baraka, with four of K'yengo's, were sent to call us
by Kamrasi. Through Rumanika's men it transpired that he had
stood security for our actions, else, with the many evil reports
of our being cannibals and such-like, which had preceded our
coming here, we never should have gained admittance to the
country. The Wanyoro, who are as squalid-looking as the
Wanyamuezi, and almost as badly dressed, now came about us to
hawk ivory ornaments, brass and copper twisted wristlets,
tobacco, and salt, which they exchanged for cowries, with which
they purchase cows from the Waganda. As in Uganda, all the
villagers forsook their huts as soon as they heard the Wageni
(guests) were coming; and no one paid the least attention to the
traveller, save the few head-men attached to the escort, or some
professional traders.
25th to 28th. - I had no sooner ordered the march than Vittagura
counter-ordered it, and held a levee to ascertain, as he said, if
the Waganda were to go back; for though Kamrasi wished to see us,
he did not want the Waganda. It was Kamrasi's orders that Budja
should tell this to his "child the Mkavia," meaning Mtesa; for
when the Waganda came the first time to see him, three of his
family died; and when they came the second time, three more died;
and as this rate of mortality was quite unusual in his family
circle, he could only attribute it to foul magic. The presence
of people who brought such results was of course by no means
desirable.
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