254 



THE SPECIAL COMMISSION, ETC. 



at the present time, a total armed force of something like 3,500 men, 1,500 

 of which are constabulary.* In addition to this force, however, we have the 

 whole nation of the Baganda to draw on as a militia l)v our treaty rights. 



A\ i 'A iN>l'i:( 1 INl 



Not long after the treaty of 31arch lUth, 1900. was concluded, the value 

 of this condition was te.sted by the Baganda chiefs being asked to raise 

 a force of 3,000 m.en to co-operate with the Uganda Ixifies in the Nandi 

 country. The response to this appeal was an immediate one, Over 5,000 

 men presented themselves for enrolment instead of tlie 3,000 originally 

 asked for ; 2,000 of these had to be sent back to their homes, reluctant at 

 not being allowed to serve. It should also be mentioned that we have most 

 valuable native auxiliaries in the whole of the Masai who dwell within the 

 limits of the British Protectorate. All the fighting men of this nation are 

 ready at very short notice to accompany a British expedition anywhere 



* These numbers and ])ro])ortions have been somewhat reduced and altered since 

 the transference of the Eastern Province to the East African Protectorate. 



