Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



monthly wages I had cut down by five rupees, and 

 he in return had of late shown great want of 

 interest in his cooking, superseding his efforts in 

 that line by exercising his skill on a flute made of 

 bamboo. My Swahili boy held to his original 

 opinion that the head porter was at the seat of the 

 trouble, and rather tickled me by adding that he 

 was a lazy blood-fool. I wondered where he had 

 learned his English. He was, however, rather 

 proud of this accomplishment, and fond of airing it. 

 Sometimes he was quite amusing, asking in a 

 serious voice for a bottle of paper, etc. I had 

 hoped to have made Masindi that day, but finding 

 it was too far, I encamped half-way and sent on a 

 runner to enquire for news of elephant, which I 

 rather suspected would be somewhat scarce in these 

 parts till the rains commenced. 



Whilst cycling into camp I very nearly ran over 

 a drove of wart-hogs which crossed the road just in 

 front of me. I believe they do an immense amount 

 of damage to the crops, and are a regular pest. I 

 met a new common flower to-day growing in great 

 abundance everywhere — a gigantic bright vermilion 

 chrysanthemum. There was also quite a large 

 quantity of palm-trees, introduced originally at the 

 coast by the Portuguese. 



I had to remonstrate with my porters for the 

 cruel way in which they carried their fowls. They 

 purchased these unfortunate birds (which are called 

 Swahili "cuckoos") for a little over a penny. They 

 then tied them by their two legs with banana leaf, 



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