The
Ammunition I Wrote For To Rumanika Had Been Brought By Maula.
As Kasoro still remained silent with regard to Mtesa's message, I
told him we shot two of N'yamyonjo's men
On our retreat up the
Nile, and that Kamrasi turned us back because some miscreant
Waganda had forged lies and told him we were terrible monsters,
who ate hills and human flesh, and drank up all the water of the
lake. He laughed, but still was silent; so I said, "What message
have you brought from Mtesa?" To which, in a timid, modest kind
of manner, he said, "Bana knows - what more need I say? Has he
forgotten Mtesa, who loves him so?" I said, "No, indeed, I have
not forgotten Mtesa; and, moreover, as I expected you back again,
I have sent Bombay to bring the stimulants and all the things I
promised Mtesa from Gani; in two or three days he will return."
"No," said Kasoro, "that is not it; we must go to Gani with you;
for Mtesa says he loves you so much he will never allow you to
part from his hand until his servants have seen you safely at
your homes."
I replied, "If Mtesa wishes you to see my vessels and all the
wonders they contain, as far as I am concerned you may do so, and
I shall be only too happy to show you a little English
hospitality; but the road is in Kamrasi's hands, and his wishes
must now be heard." The commander-in-chief, now content with all
he had heard, went to Kamrasi to receive his orders, whilst I
gave Kasoro a feast of porridge and salt, with pombe to wash it
down, and a cow to take home with him; for the poor creatures
said they were all starving as the Wanyoro would not allow them
to take a single plantain from the field until Kamrasi's
permission had been given.
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