, five miles off. 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 replie