Now, Without
Going Into Any Lengthy Details, And Giving Rumanika Due Credit
For Everything - For Had He Not Ordered His
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 Usui, and
taken six bomas, upon which Rumanika asked me what I thought of
it, and if I knew where the Watuta came from. I said I was not
surprised to hear Usui had attracted the Watuta's cupidity, for
every one knew of the plundering propensities of the inhabitants,
and as they became rich by their robberies, they must in turn
expect to be robbed.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 147 of 403
Words from 76617 to 77154
of 210958
