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.
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