Start for Mbarara 



I had done the fifteen miles into Hoima in three 

 hours. This pace had kept my attendant followers 

 at a run, and called forth a really sage remark for 

 a savage from my orderly, that he wished he had 

 four legs. I may say that it is unusual to detect a 

 facetious spirit in a black breast. 



I actually played three sets of singles at tennis 

 that afternoon on top of my march, and that and the 

 march and the fatigue of packing, although I 

 laughed it off at the time as a mere nothing, caused 

 a strained heart later on which led to certain pangs 

 of repentance. Such is the result of a combination 

 of youth and ignorance. I ought to have rested a 

 day and taken things easy. 



The next day, a Sunday, I made a start in a frame 

 of mind hardly in accordance with that auspicious 

 day of the week. My skipper accompanied me out 

 to our first camp and we had a farewell luncheon. ^} 

 I was exceedingly sorry to say goodbye, as he had 

 always been so pleasant to work for, and a firm 

 friend to boot. But youth is wayward and the 

 world is wide, so I could not always remain by his 

 side. After I had seen the last of him disappear 

 round the bend I hurried up and did a long march 

 to a spot about eight miles beyond a very noticeable 

 boss-shaped hill, known as Msaga Nkuro. I found 

 food for porters was very scarce and led to much 

 dissatisfaction, but I had brought my own head- 

 man, who stood little or no nonsense. The follow- 

 ing day we had to cross a wide bend of a river 

 called Kitumbui. This we accomplished on rafts 



113 8 



