The Guilty Person, To Save
Detection, Threw It On The Road, And Allowed Some Of The Natives
To Pick It Up.
Strange as it may appear, the only motive for
this petty theft was the hope of being able to sell the
cartridges for a trifle at Gani.
Yaragonjo brought us a present
of a goat and plantains. He was sorry he sent us back yesterday
from his house; and invited us to change ground to another
village close by, where he would make arrangements for our
receiving other boats, as the ones we had in possession must go
back. Presuming this to be a very fair proposition, and thinking
we would only have to walk across an elbow of land where the
river bends considerably, we gave him a return-present of beads,
and did as we were bid; but, after moving, it was obvious we had
been sold. We had lost our former boats, and no others were near
us; therefore, feeling angry with Yaragonjo, I walked back to his
palace, taking the presented goat with me, as I knew that would
touch the savage in the most tender part; then flaring up with
the officer for treating the king's orders with contempt, as well
as his guests, by sending us into the jungles like a pack of
thieves, whose riddance from his presence was obviously his only
intent, I gave him his goat again, and said I would have nothing
more to say to him, for I should look to the king for redress.
This frightened him to such an extent that he immediately
produced another and finer goat, which he begged me to accept,
promising to convey all my traps to the next governor's, where
there would be no doubt about our getting boats. He did not
intend to deceive us, but committed an error in not informing us
he had no boats of his own; and, to show his earnestness,
accompanied us to the camp. Here I found the missing calf taken
at Koki, and a large deputation of natives awaiting our arrival.
They told me that the Koki governor had taken such fright in
consequence of my anger when I refused his proffered goat, that
he had traced the calf back to Kitwara, and now wished to take
Kidgwiga a prisoner to Kamrasi's for having seized five cows of
his, and a woman from another governor. As yet I had not heard of
this piece of rough justice; and, on inquiry, found out that he
had been compelled to do as he had done, because those officers,
on finding we had gone ahead in boats would not produce the
complement of men required of them by the king's orders for
escorting us to Gani; but now they sent the men, the woman and
cows could not be returned, as they had been sent overland by the
ordinary route to the ferry on the Nile.
Of course we would not listen to this reference for justice with
Kamrasi, as the woman and cows were still all alive; commended
Kidgwiga for carrying out his orders so well, and told the
officers they had merited their punishment - as how could the
affairs of government be carried on, when subordinate officers
refused immediate compliance? The submkungu of Northern Gueni,
Kasoro, now proffered a goat and plantains, and everything was
settled for the day.
With a full complement of porters, travelling six miles through
cultivation and jungle, we reached the headquarters of governor
Kaeru, where all the porters threw down their loads and bolted,
though we were still two miles from the post. We inquired for
the boats at once, but were told they were some distance off, and
we must wait here for the night. Four pots of pombe were sent
us, and Kaeru thought we would be satisfied and conform. We
suspected, however, that there was some trick at the bottom of
all; so, refusing the liquor, we said, with proper emphasis,
"Unless we are forwarded to the boats at once, and get them on
the following morning, we cannot think of receiving presents from
any one." This served our purpose, for a fresh set of porters was
found like magic, and traps, pombe, and all together, were
forwarded to the journey's end - a snug batch of huts imbedded in
large plantain cultivation surrounded by jungle, and obviously
near the river, as numerous huge harpoons, intended for striking
hippopotami, were suspended from the roof. Kaeru here presented
us with a goat, and promised the boats in the morning.
After fighting for the boats, we still had to wait the day for
Kidgwiga and his men, who said it was all very well our pushing
ahead, indifferent as to whether men were enlisted or not, but he
had to prepare for the future also, as he could never recross the
Kidi wilderness by himself; he must have a sufficient number of
men to form his escort, and these were now grinding corn for the
journey. Numerous visitors called on us here, and consequently
our picture-books were in great request. We gave Kaeru some
beads.
After walking two miles to the boats, we entered the district of
Chopi, subject to Unyoro, and went down the river, keeping the
Kikunguru cone in view. On arrival at camp, Viarwanjo, the
officer of the district, a very smart fellow, arrived with a
large escort of spearmen, presented pombe, ordered fowls to be
seized for us, and promised one boat in the morning, for he had
no more disposable, and even that one he felt anxious about lest
the men on ahead should seize it.
I gave Viarwanjo some beads, and dropped down the river in his
only wretched little canoe - he, with Grant and the traps, going
overland. I caught a fever, and so spent the night.
Here I halted to please Magamba, the governor, who is a relation
of the king. He called in great state, presented a cow and
pombe, was much pleased with the picture-books, and wished to
feast his eyes on all the wonders in the hut.
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