Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



away. I had met the latter, and did try to 

 stop them, being suspicious of their appearance, 

 but my men told me they were discharged porters 

 with such assurance that I was persuaded to let 

 them proceed. 



After a little food I continued my journey, which 

 led up a big hill, but on looking over the top I was 

 agreeably surprised to see a charming lake of great 

 extent with a very irregular coast-line of the most 

 picturesque promontories, formed by spurs jutting 

 out from the main range of hills which completely 

 surrounded it. They told me the name of the lake 

 was Ingezi, and, very contented with my new 

 surroundings, I encamped. My porters were ready 

 to run at any moment after their hard day, so I had 

 to warn the guard to watch them with the utmost 

 vigilance. This was unnecessary, however, as I 

 shortly received a note from a brother officer in a 

 neighbouring camp, who had heard my bugle, to 

 say that after having safely taken possession of the 

 desired post on Lake Kivu, a cable had arrived 

 ordering us to return to Mbarara. I do not 

 know the reason for this change of plan on the 

 part of the authorities at home, and it would be 

 presumption on the part of a mere pawn on the 

 political chess-board to express any opinion. At 

 any rate, retreat is always a bitter pill to a soldier, 

 especially in the present case, as it followed at a 

 moment when the expedition was flushed by the 

 apparent attainment of its object, and our troops 

 had to retire, under orders from home, in the face of 



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