ill be pensioned off. After the
coronation is concluded, it is expected Mtesa will go into Kittari, on
the west of Uganda, to fight first, and then, turning east, will fight
with the Wasoga; but we think if he fights anywhere, it will be with
Kamrasi.

25th and 26th.--I sent Frij to the palace to inquire after Bombay, and
got the usual reply: "Why is Bana in such a hurry? He is always for
doing things quickly. Tell my 'brother' to keep his mind at rest; Bombay
is now on the boundary of Gani coming here, and will in due course
arrive." Both Rumanika's men and those belonging to Dr K'yengo asked
Kamrasi's leave to return to their homes, but were refused, because the
road was unsafe. "Had they not," it was said, "heard of Budja's telling
Mtesa that K'yengo's children prevented the white men from returning to
Uganda? and since then Mtesa had killed his frontier officer for being
chicken-hearted, afraid to carry out his orders, and had appointed
another in his stead, giving him strict orders to make prisoners of
all foreigners who might pass that way; and, further, when some twenty
Wanyoro were going to Karague, they were hunted down by Mtesa's orders,
and three of their number killed; for he was determined to cut off all
intercourse between this country and Karague. They must therefore wait
till the road is safe."

Hearing this, Dr K'yengo's men, who happened to be as well off here
as anywhere, accepted the advice; but Rumanika's men said, "We are
starving; we have been here too long already doing nothing, and must go,
let what will happen to us." Kamrasi said, "What will be the use of your
going empty-handed? I cannot send cows and slaves to Rumanika when the
road is so unsafe; you must wait a bit." But they still urged as
before, and so forced the king reluctantly to acquiesce, but only on
the condition that two of their head men should remain behind until some
more of Rumanika's men came to fetch them away--in fact, as we had been
accredited to him by Rumanika, he wanted to keep some of that king's
people as a security until we were out of his hands.

27th.--I sent Frij to the palace to ask once more for leave to visit the
Luta Nzige river-lake to the westward, and to request Kamrasi would send
men to fetch my property from Karague. He sent four loads of small fish
and one pot of pombe, to say he would see me on the morrow, when every
arrangement would be made. Late at night orders came announcing that I
might write m