The other
is a very black man (an African), and short."
Question: "How do they eat?"
Answer: "With a knife and fork and plate."
Question: "Have they a compass" (Compass exhibited)?
Answer: "No; but they have a small mirror like those in your
possession."
Question: "Do they purchase ivory?"
Answer: "Yes. We are now sent by Rumanika to buy ivory for them."
Question: "Have they a large quantity?"
Answer: "An immense quantity. They have a large house, which is quite
full."
Question: "How will they transport it?"
Answer: "They are building a vessel of iron on the M'wootan N'zige, upon
the borders of which they are now staying."
Question: "Do they know that I am commanding this expedition?"
Answer: "Yes; they have frequently asked `whether you had arrived;' and
they wish to go to Khartoum."
"There is no trace of poor Livingstone in their description. I imagine
that some enterprising Portuguese trader is building a ship to trade
upon M'wootan N'zige. God help him if he tries to transport his ivory by
this route.
"I shall write to Livingstone by the first opportunity. Like all other
of my informants, these native merchants told me that the M'wootan
N'zige extended to Karagwe, after a long turn to the west. It varied
much in width, and at Karagwe it was narrow."
For some days I had conversations with these intelligent people. They
brought me two elephants' tusks to sell, as they wished to show Rumanika
the quality of goods that were now introduced from the north. I made
them a few presents, after the bargain, to create a favourable
impression, and I once more cross-examined them upon geographical
questions.
Their description of the east shore of the M'wootan N'zige was as
follows:
Geographical Information:
"South of Unyoro is a country Kabboya;
" " Kabboyu " " Tambooki;
" " Tambooki " " M'Pororo;
" " M'Pororo " " Ruanda;
" " Ruanda " " Baroondi;
" " Baroondi " " Chibbogora;
" " Chibbogora " " Watuta;
" " Watuta " " Manchoonda;"
"Beyond the Machoonda they knew nothing, except that the lake extends
for an enormous and unknown distance.
"On the west shore, opposite Kabboyu and Tambooki, is situated the
cannibal country of Booamba.
"The route to Karagwe from Masindi, via the M'wootan N'zige (Albert
N'yanza), is - take boat from Chibero (a day's long march from Masindi)
to M'Pororo - at which spot you leave the boat, and proceed overland in
one day to the Karagwe frontier.
"The Kittangide river passes through M'Pororo, N'Kole, and Kishakka,
and, after a very winding course, it cuts through Karagwe, and falls
into the Victoria N'yanza.
"'Baroondi' must be Speke's 'Urundi;' as I find that many names that he
has prefixed with 'U' are here pronounced as 'B.'
"By Speke's map Urundi is in about 3 degrees south latitude. The
M'wootan N'zige is therefore known to pass through Ruanda, Baroondi, and
the Watuta - or beyond the north end of the Tanganyika Lake.
"This looks as though the Tanganyika and the M'wootan N'zige were only
one vast lake bearing different names according to the localities
through which it passes."
I have extracted this from my journal, as it was written at the moment
that the information was given.
