THE SPECIAL CO:^[MISSIOX, ETC. 



257 



The Si)ecial Commissioner's stay in Uganda was unfortunately co- 

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

 the natives had closed, liut the Nandi tribe, who had sliown 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, 



■■ Gij\ i:i;-\ml;m hulse at iiui:nA, i.wono, ix pkockss of builiung 



as the Nyando route along the [irojected railway was preferred. No 

 taxation had been imposed on the Nandi; in fact, on account of their 

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

 the telegraph wire along the Nyando A'alley and through Kavirondo had 

 tempted tliem to acts of aggression. The copper 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 jtosts in order to 

 temporarily enrich themselves became irresistible. When these robberies 

 were punished the Nandi replied by destructive raids on trans^iort carts, 

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

 VOL. I. 17 



