A Spy Of Kamrasi Dropped The Report That The
Wanguana Were Returning From Mtesa's, And Hurried On To Tell The
King.
31st. - Some Waganda hurrying in, confirmed the report of last
night, and said the Wanguana, footsore, had been left
At the
Uganda frontier, expecting us to return, as Mtesa, at the same
time that he approved highly of my having sent men back to inform
him of Kamrasi's conduct, begged we would instantly return, even
if found within one march of Kamrasi's, for he had much of
importance to tell his friend Bana. The message continued to
this effect: I need be under no apprehensions about the road to
the coast, for he would give me as many men as I liked; and,
fearing I might be short of powder, he had sent some with the
Wanguana. Both Wanguana were by the king given women for their
services, and an old tin cartridge-box represented Mtesa's card,
it being an article of European manufacture, which, if found in
the possession of any Mganda, would be certain death to him.
Finally, all the houses and plantains where my men were wounded
had been confiscated.
When this message was fully delivered, Budja said we must return
without a day's delay. I, on the contrary, called up Kidgwiga. I
did not like my men having been kept prisoners in Uganda, and
pronounced in public that I would not return. It would be an
insult to Kamrasi my doing so, for I was now in his "house" at
his own invitation. I wished Bombay would go with him (Kidgwiga)
at once to his king, to say I had hoped, when I sent Budja with
Mabruki, in the first instance, conveying a friendly present from
Mtesa, which was done at my instigation, and I found Kamrasi
acknowledged it by a return-present, that there would be no more
fighting between them. I said I had left England to visit these
countries for the purpose of opening up a trade, and I had no
orders to fight my way except with the force of friendship. That
Rumanika had accepted my views Kamrasi must be fully aware by
Baraka's having visited him; and that Mtesa did the same must
also be evident, else he would never have ordered his men to
accompany me to Gani; and I now fondly trusted that these Waganda
would be allowed to go with me, when, by the influence of trade,
all animosity would cease, and friendly relations be restored
between the two countries.
This speech was hardly pronounced when Kajunju, a fine athletic
man, dropped suddenly in, nodded a friendly recognition to Budja,
and wished to know what the Waganda meant by taking us back, for
the king had heard of their intention last night; and when told
by Budja his story, and by Kidgwiga mine, he vanished like a
shadow. Budja, now turning to me, said, "If you won't go back, I
shall; for the orders of Mtesa must always be obeyed, else lives
will be lost; and I shall tell him that you, since leaving his
country, and getting your road, have quite forgotten him." "If
you give such a message as that," I said, "you will tell a
falsehood.
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