Rumanika Then Gave Him And Uledi, His
Selected Companion, Some Sheets Of Mbugu, In Order That They
Might Disguise Themselves As His Officers Whilst Crossing The
Territories Of The King Of Uganda.
On inquiring as to the reason
of this, it transpired that, to reach Unyoro, the party would
have to
Cross a portion of Uddu, which the late king Sunna, on
annexing that country to Uganda, had divided, not in halves, but
by alternate bands running transversely from Nkole to the
Victoria N'yanza.
5th and 6th. - To keep Rumanika up to the mark, I introduced to
him Saidi, one of my men, who was formerly a slave, captured in
Walamo, on the borders of Abyssinia, to show him, by his
similarity to the Wahuma, how it was I had come to the conclusion
that he was of the same race. Saidi told him his tribe kept
cattle with the same stupendous horns as those of the Wahuma; and
also that, in the same manner, they all mixed blood and milk for
their dinners, which, to his mind, confirmed my statement. At
night, as there was a partial eclipse of the moon, all the
Wanguana marched up and down from Rumanika's to Nnanaji's huts,
singing and beating our tin cooking-pots to frighten off the
spirit of the sun from consuming entirely the chief object of
reverence, the moon.
7th. - Our spirits were now further raised by the arrival of a
semi-Hindu-Suahili, named Juma, who had just returned from a
visit to the king of Uganda, bringing back with him a large
present of ivory and slaves; for he said he had heard from the
king of our intention to visit him, and that he had despatched
officers to call us immediately. This intelligence delighted
Rumanika as much as it did us, and he no sooner heard it than he
said, with ecstasies, "I will open Africa, since the white men
desire it; for did not Dagara command us to show deference to
strangers?" Then, turning to me, he added, "My only regret is,
you will not take something as a return for the great expenses
you have been put to in coming to visit me." The expense was
admitted, for I had now been obliged to purchase from the Arabs
upwards of œ400 worth of beads, to keep such a store in reserve
for my return from Uganda as would enable me to push on to
Gondokoro. I thought this necessary, as every report that
arrived from Unyamuezi only told us of further disasters with the
merchants in that country. Sheikh Said was there even then, with
my poor Hottentots, unable to convey my post to the coast.
8th to 10th. - At last we heard the familiar sound of the Uganda
drum. Maula, a royal officer, with a large escort of smartly-
dressed men, women, and boys, leading their dogs and playing
their reeds, announced to our straining ears the welcome
intelligence that their king had sent them to call us.
N'yamgundu, who had seen us in Usui, had marched on to inform the
king of our advance and desire to see him; and he, intensely
delighted at the prospect of having white men for his guests,
desired no time should be lost in our coming on. Maula told us
that his officers had orders to supply us with everything we
wanted whilst passing through his country, and that there would
be nothing to pay.
One thing only now embarrassed me - Grant was worse, without hope
of recovery for at least one or two months. This large body of
Waganda could not be kept waiting. To get on as fast as possible
was the only chance of ever bringing the journey to a successful
issue; so, unable to help myself, with great remorse at another
separation, on the following day I consigned my companion, with
several Wanguana, to the care of my friend Rumanika. I then
separated ten loads of beads and thirty copper wires for my
expenses in Uganda; wrote a letter to Petherick, which I gave to
Baraka; and gave him and his companion beads to last as money for
six months, and also a present both for Kamrasi and the Gani
chief. To Nsangez I gave charge of my collections in natural
history, and the reports of my progress, addressed to the
Geographical Society, which he was to convey to Sheikh Said at
Kaze, for conveyance as far as Zanzibar.
This business concluded in camp, I started my men and went to the
palace to bid adieu to Rumanika, who appointed Rozaro, one of his
officers, to accompany me wherever I went in Uganda, and to bring
me back safely again. At Rumanika's request I then gave Mtesa's
pages some ammunition to hurry on with to the great king of
Uganda, as his majesty had ordered them to bring him, as quickly
as possible, some strengthening powder, and also some powder for
his gun. Then, finally, to Maula, also under Rumanika's
instructions, I gave two copper wires and five bundles of beads;
and, when all was completed, set out on the march, perfectly sure
in my mind that before very long I should settle the great Nile
problem for ever; and, with this consciousness, only hoping that
Grant would be able to join me before I should have to return
again, for it was never supposed for a moment that it was
possible I ever could go north from Uganda. Rumanika was the most
resolute in this belief, as the kings of Uganda, ever since that
country was detached from Unyoro, had been making constant raids,
seizing cattle and slaves from the surrounding communities.
Chapter IX
History of the Wahuma
The Abyssinians and Gallas - Theory of Conquest of Inferior by
Superior Races - The Wahuma and the Kingdom of Kittara - Legendary
History of the Kingdom of Uganda - Its Constitution, and the
Ceremonials of the Court.
The reader has now had my experience of several of the minor
states, and has presently to be introduced to Uganda, the most
powerful state in the ancient but now divided great kingdom of
Kittara.
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