It Was In This Way That Great Kings Sent "Letters" To One
Another.
Next day, after going a short distance, we came on the Mwarango
river, a broad rush-drain of three hundred yards' span, two-
thirds of which was bridged over.
Until now I did not feel sure
where the various rush-drains I had been crossing since leaving
the Katonga valley all went to, but here my mind was made up, for
I found a large volume of water going to the northwards. I took
off my clothes at the end of the bridge and jumped into the
stream, which I found was twelve yards or so broad, and deeper
than my height. I was delighted beyond measure at this very
surprising fact, that I was indeed on the northern slopes of the
continent, and had, to all appearance, found one of the branches
of the Nile's exit from the N'yanza. I drew Bombay's attention
to the current; and, collecting all the men of the country,
inquired of them where the river sprang from. Some of them said,
in the hills to the southward; but most of them said, from the
lake. I argued the point with them; for I felt quite sure so
large a body of flowing water could not be collected together in
any place but the lake. They then all agreed to this view, and
further assured me it went to Kamrasi's palace in Unyoro, where
it joined the N'yanza, meaning the Nile.
Pushing on again we arrived at N'yama Goma, where I found Irungu-
- the great ambassador I had first met in Usui, with all his
"children" - my enemy Makinga, and Suwarora's deputation with
wire, - altogether, a collection of one hundred souls.
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