d, "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 f