THE SPECIAL COMMISSION, ETC. 



257 



The Special Commissioner's stay in Uganda was unfortunately co- 

 incident with one war, though he had hoped that the era of wars with 

 the natives had closed. But the Nandi tribe, who had shown themselves 

 ■at different times very inimical to the white man, and who had never 

 been effectually subdued owing to the mountains and dense forests of 

 their country, commenced a series of aggressions against us which at last 

 became unbearable. So far as we are aware they had absolutely no 

 grievance to com])lain of. Caravans had ceased to traverse their country, 



192. " GOVERN 



ii'iiMA, rwoi; 



as the Nyando route along the projected railway was preferred. No 

 taxation had been imposed on the jS'andi ; in fact, on account of tlieir 

 waspish nature, they had been left severely alone. But tlie erection of 

 the telegraph wire along the Nyando Valley and thi'ough Kavirondo had 

 tempted tliem to acts of aggression. The co])per wire represented con- 

 siderable value in their eyes, and the temptation to descend at night-time 

 and cut a mile or two of wire from between the posts in order to 

 temporarily enrich themselves became irresistible. When these robberies 

 were punished the Nandi replied by destructive raids on transport carts, 

 mail carriers, and isolated telegraph stations. The difficulty, therefore, had 

 VOL. I. 17 



