"--meaning the request
to fight his brothers. That, of course, could not be listened to, as
it was against the principle of our country. Grant's rings were then
espied, and begged for, but without success. We told him it was highly
improper to beg for everything he saw, and if he persisted in it, no one
would ever dare to come near him again.

Then, to change the subject, we begged K'yengo's men might be allowed
to go as far as Gani with us; but no reply was given, until the question
was put again, with a request that the reason might be told us for his
not wishing it, as we saw great benefit would be derived to Unyoro,
as the Wanyamuezi instead of trading merely with Karague and Zanzibar,
would bring their ivory through this country and barter it, thus
converting Unyoro into a great commercial country; when Kamrasi said,
"We don't want any more ivory in Unyoro; for the tusks are already
as numerous as grass." Kidgwiga was then appointed to receive all the
things we were to send back from Gani; our departure was fixed for the
9th; and the king walked away as coldly as he came, whilst we felt as
jolly as birds released from a cage.

Floating islands of grass were seen going down the Kafu, reminding us of
the stories told at Kaze by Musa Mzuri, of the violent manner in which,
at certain season, the N'yanza was said to rise and rush with such
velocity that islands were uprooted and carried away. In the evening a
pot of pombe was brought, when the man in charge, half-drunk, amused us
with frantic charges, as if he were fighting with his spear; and after
settling the supposed enemy, he delighted in tramping him under foot,
spearing him repeatedly through and through, then wiping the blade of
the spear in the grass, and finally polishing it on this tufty head,
when, with a grunt of satisfaction, he shouldered arms and walked away a
hero.

8th.--As the king seemed entirely to disregard our comfort on the
journey, we made a request for cows, butter, and coffee, in answer
to which we only got ten cows, the other things not being procurable
without delay. Twenty-four men were appointed us to escort us and bring
back our presents from Gani, which were to be--six carbines, with a
magazine of ammunition, a large brass or iron water-pot, a hair-brush,
lucifers, a dinner-knife, and any other things procurable that had never
been seen in Unyoro.

Two orphan boys, seized by the king as slaves, were brought for
education in England;