men to give me every information that lay in their
power, they would not have done so--I will merely say for the present
that, whilst they conceived the Victoria N'yanza would take a whole
month for a canoe to cross it, they thought the Little Luta Nzige might
be crossed in a week. The Mfumbiro cones in Ruanda, which I believe
reach 10,000 feet, are said to be the highest of the "Mountains of the
Moon." At their base are both salt and copper mines, as well as hot
springs. There are also hot springs in Mpororo, and one in Karague near
where Rogero lived.

30th.--The important business of announcing our approach to Uganda was
completed by Rumanika appointing Kachuchu to go to king Mtesa as quickly
as possible, to say we were coming to visit him. He was told that we
were very great men, who only travelled to see great kings and great
countries; and, as such, Rumanika trusted we should be received with
courteous respect, and allowed to roam all over the country wherever
we liked, he holding himself responsible for our actions for the
time being. In the end, however, we were to be restored to him, as he
considered himself our father, and therefore must see that no accident
befell us.

To put the royal message in proper shape, I was now requested to send
some trifle by way of a letter or visiting card; but, on taking out a
Colt's revolving rifle for the purpose, Rumanika advised me not to send
it, as Mtesa might take fright, and, considering it a charm of evil
quality, reject us as bad magicians, and close his gates on us. Three
bits of cotton cloth were then selected as the best thing for the
purpose; and, relying implicitly on the advice of Rumanika, who declared
his only object was to further our views, I arranged accordingly, and
off went Kachuchu.

To keep my friend in good-humour, and show him how well the English can
appreciate a kindness, I presented him with a hammer, a sailor's knife,
a Rodger's three-bladed penknife, a gilt letter-slip with paper and
envelopes, some gilt pens, an ivory holder, and a variety of other small
articles. Of each of these he asked the use, and then in high glee put
it into the big block-tin box, in which he kept his other curiosities,
and which I think he felt more proud of than any other possession. After
this, on adjourning to his baraza, Ungurue the Pig, who had floored my
march in Sorombo, and Makinga, our persecutor in Usui, came in to report
that the Watuta had been fighting in