CHAPTER YIII 



THE JFOBK OF THE SPECIAL C03I3IISSIOX, ETC. 



A^^^HE present writer started for Uganda in 1899, accompanied by ]Mr. 

 -L J. F. Cunningham* as secretary to the ^Special Commission, ]Mr. 

 Alexander Johnston as private secretary, and ^Ir. W. (t. Doggett as 

 naturalist. f The Uganda Protectorate was reached in the earlv part of 

 October. Some weeks were spent at Naivasha and the Eldama Eavine 

 looking into questions connected with the transport and the political 

 aflairs of the Masai, Kamasia, and Nandi tribes. A journey was then 

 made along the Xyando A'alley to Kavirondo Bay to inspect the proposed 

 /'route for railway and telegraph. The Special Commissioner then journeyed 

 \ through Kavirondo and Busoga to the Kingdom of Uganda, which was 

 \ reached at the end of December, 1899. He considered that no satis- 

 factory attempt could be made to settle the question of native taxation, 

 \ military service, tenure of land, or any other important question affecting 

 the rights or sentiments of the natives which did not commence by a 

 special agreement with the Kingdom of Uganda. He was led to believe, 

 and believes still, that on the Kingdom of Uganda mainly rests the 

 maintenance and justification of the British Protectorate over these regions. 

 After negotiations lasting about two and a half months an agreement 

 was finally drawn up and signed by the regents (on behalf of the young 

 king) and the leading chiefs of Uganda, and by the Special Commissioner 

 on behalf of Her late ^Majesty the Queen, which provided a settlement 

 for the following points amongst others : The Kingdom of Uganda was 

 divided into twenty districts, each district being placed under a chief 

 appointed by the king of Uganda, but having his appointment confirmed by 

 the principal representative of His Britannic ^Majesty's Government. These 

 twenty chiefs were to be under the control of the king of Uganda, who 



* At that time secretary to the British Central Africa Administration ; now 

 secretary to the Uganda Protectorate. 



t The author was also accomi)anied by an English servant (Vale) as cam])-master 

 in charge of ]iorters, and by his old Zanzibari head-man, AH Kiongwe, who has been 

 with him on most African journeys since 1884. Vide "British Central Africa." 



2-18 



