gether on to Uthenga.

Rising out of the bed of the Urigi, we passed over a low spur of
beef-sandwich clay sandstones, and descended into the close, rich valley
of Uthenga, bound in by steep hills hanging over us more than a thousand
feet high, as prettily clothed as the mountains of Scotland; whilst
in the valley there were not only magnificent trees of extraordinary
height, but also a surprising amount of the richest cultivation, amongst
which the banana may be said to prevail. Notwithstanding this apparent
richness in the land, the Wanyambo, living in their small squalid huts,
seem poor. The tobacco they smoke is imported from the coffee-growing
country of Uhaiya. After arrival in the village, who should we see
but the Uganda officer, Irungu! The scoundrel, instead of going on to
Uganda, as he had promised to do, conveying my present to Mtesa, had
stopped here plundering the Wanyambo, and getting drunk on their pombe,
called, in their language, marwa--a delicious kind of wine made from the
banana. He, or course, begged for more beads; but, not able to trick me
again, set his drummers and fifers at work, in hopes that he would get
over our feelings in that way.

Henceforth, as we marched, Irungu's drummers and fifers kept us alive on
the way. This we heard was a privilege that Uganda Wakungu enjoyed both
at home and abroad, although in all other countries the sound of the
drum is considered a notice of war, unless where it happens to accompany
a dance or festival. Leaving the valley of Uthenga, we rose over
the spur of N'yamwara, where we found we had attained the delightful
altitude of 5000 odd feet. Oh, how we enjoyed it! every one feeling
so happy at the prospect of meeting so soon the good king Rumanika.
Tripping down the greensward, we now worked our way to the Rozoka
valley, and pitched our tents in the village.

Kachuchu here told us he had orders to precede us, and prepare Rumanika
for our coming, as his king wished to know what place we would prefer to
live at--the Arab depot at kufro, on the direct line to Uganda, in his
palace with himself, or outside his enclosures. Such politeness rather
took us aback; so, giving our friend a coil of copper wire to keep him
in good spirits, I said all our pleasure rested in seeing the king;
whatever honours he liked to confer on us we should take with good
grace, but one thing he must understand, we came not to trade, but to
see him and great kings and therefore the Ara