It Appeared That Kamrasi's Brothers, When They Heard We
Were Coming Into Unyoro, Murmured, And Said To The King, "Why
Are
you bringing such guests amongst us, who will practise all kinds
of diabolical sorcery, and bring evil on us?
" To which Kamrasi
replied, "I have invited them to come, and they shall come; and
if they bring evil with them, let that all fall on my shoulders,
for you shall not see them." He then built a palaver-house on
the banks of the Kafu to receive us in privately; and when we
were to go to Gani, it was his intention to slip us off privately
down the Kafu. The brothers were so thoroughly frightened, that
when Kamrasi opened his chronometer before them to show them the
works in motion, they turned their heads away. The large block-
tin box I gave Kamrasi, as part of his hongo, was, I heard,
called Mzungu, or the white man, by him.
In the evening the beads recently brought from Gani were sent for
my inspection, with an intimation that Kamrasi highly approved of
them, and would like me to give him a few like them. Some of
Kamrasi's spies, whom he had sent to the refractory allies of
Rionga his brother, returned bringing a spear and some grass from
the thatch of the hut of a Chopi chief. The removal of the grass
was a piece of state policy. It was stolen by Kamrasi's orders,
in order that he might spread a charm on the Chopi people, and
gain such an influence over them that their spears could not
prevail against the Wanyoro; but it was thought we might possess
some still superior magic powder, as we had come from such a long
distance, and Kamrasi would prefer to have ours. These Chopi
people were leagued with the brothers, and thus kept the highroad
to Gani, though the other half of Chopi remained loyal; and
though Kamrasi continually sent armies against the refractory
half which aided his brothers, they never retaliated by attacking
this place.
We found, by the way, that certain drumming and harmonious
accompaniments which we had been accustomed to hear all day and
night were to continue for four moons, in celebration of twins
born to Kamrasi since we came here.
3d. - Kamrasi's political department was active again to-day. Some
Gani officials arrived to inform him that there were two white
men in the vessel spoken of as at Gani; a second vessel was
coming in there, and several others were on their way. A
carnelian was shown me which the Gani people gave to Kamrasi many
years ago. Kamrasi expressed a wish that I would exchange magic
powders with him. He had a very large variety, and would load a
horn for me with all those I desired most. He wanted also
medicines for longevity and perpetual strength. Those I had
given him had, he said, deprived him of strength, and he felt
much reduced by their effects.
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