I Now Gave One Cow To The Head Of Dr K'yengo's
Party, And One To The Head Of Rumanika's Men,
Because I saw it
was through their instrumentality we gained admittance in the
country; and we changed residence to the
West end of Chaguzi, and
found there comfortable huts close to the Kafu, which ran
immediately between us and the palace.
Still our position in Unyoro was not a pleasant one. In a long
field of grass, as high as the neck, and half under water, so
that no walks could be taken, we had nothing to see but Kamrasi's
miserable huts and a few distant conical hills, of which one
Udongo, we conceive, represents the Padongo of Brun-Bollet,
placed by him in 1§ south latitude, and 35§ east longitude. We
were scarcely inside our new dwelling when Kamrasi sent a cheer
of two pots pombe, five fowls, and two bunches of plantains,
hoping we were now satisfied with his favour; but he damped the
whole in a moment again, by asking for a many-bladed knife which
his officers had seen in Grant's possession. I took what he
sent, from fear of giving offence, but replied that I was
surprised the great king should wish to see my property before
seeing myself, and although I attached no more value to my
property than he did to his, I could not demean myself by sending
him trifles in that way. However, should he, after hearing my
sentiments, still persist in asking for the knife to be sent by
the hands of a black man, I would pack it up with all the things
I had brought for him, and send them by a black man, judging that
he liked black men more than white.
Dr K'yengo's men then informed us they had been twice sent with
an army of Wanyoro to attack the king's brothers, on a river-
island north of this about three days' journey, but each time it
ended in nothing. You fancy yourself, they said, in a
magnificent army, but the enemy no sooner turn out than the
cowardly Wanyoro fly, and sacrifice their ally as soon as not
into the hands of the opponents. They said Kamrasi would not
expect us to attack them with our guns. Rionga was the head of
the rebels; there were formerly five, but now only two of the
brothers remained.
15th. - Kamrasi, after inquiring after our health, and how we had
slept, through a large deputation of head men, alluded to the
knife question of yesterday, thinking it very strange that after
giving me such nice food I should deny him the gratification of
simply looking at a knife; he did not intend to keep it if it was
not brought for him, but merely to look at and return it. To my
reply of yesterday I added, I had been led, before entering
Unyoro, to regard Kamrasi as the king of all kings - the greatest
king that ever was, and one worthy to be my father; but now, as
he expected me to amuse him with toys, he had lowered himself in
my estimation to the position of being my child.
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