Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



at my banda, they lined up in a crescent formation, 

 each headman sitting upon the chair he had brought 

 with him, while the chief came forward and shook 

 hands with me. I led him inside the hut and 

 offered him tea, cake and biscuits. He introduced 

 me to his son, who, having been at school at 

 Kampala, spoke and wrote English fluently, so that 

 I was able to dispense with my scanty knowledge of 

 Swahili, The chief then waved his hand, and a 

 string of his servants appeared, each carrying an 

 open tray made out of basket work, containing pres- 

 ents of food. 



I was a trifle embarrassed, but necessity made 

 me wave any scruples I had entertained about 

 accepting his generosity. Finally a goat and a 

 sheep were dragged in by a strip of banana fibre 

 tied to their hind legs, much against their will. I 

 was graciously pleased to accept them also. After 

 an hour's conversation, during which I collected 

 all the local news that there was, I signified that 

 the interview was at an end by instructing my 

 boy in Arabic, which I knew my visitors did not 

 understand, to come in and announce that my bath 

 was ready, in a loud voice in Swahili, which is the 

 language used by all the chiefs in their intercourse 

 with Europeans. I might here add that with a 

 knowledge of Swahili, a man might travel the whole 

 length and breadth of Africa. After thus tactfully 

 hastening the departure of my well-meaning visitors, 

 I ate my dinner and turned in. In the morning my ry 

 orderly reported to me an incident which had 



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