OUR SAFARI 



instance showing how important it is to have reliable 

 gunbearers. Sulky malingering carriers spoil a trip. 



By midday on Thursday everything was ready. 



That afternoon P and I walked up to the Cathedral 



at Nairembe. This building was burnt down some three 

 months after our departure from Kampala. Nairembe 

 Hill is the headquarters of the Church Missionary Society 

 under Bishop Tucker. The hospital is also situated 

 here. St. Paul's Cathedral was a very fine building of 

 bricks made on the spot and constructed by native 

 labour. The roof was thatched with grass, with bleached 

 reeds artistically arranged inside the building, the whole 

 upheld by massive brick columns. Kampala being built 

 on scattered " kopjes," is called " the city of seven hills." 



On Friday morning we struck camp at an early hour, 

 and made everything ready for an early departure. 

 About ten a.m. we had the safari lined up ready for the 

 first stage of what, for me at least, was to prove an 

 eventful journey, ere I should see Kampala again. There 

 was the headman, Mpala — a Baganda — our four gun- 

 bearers, two cooks or " pishis," two tent boys, two syces, 

 mules, and the one hundred carriers, forty of whom were 

 engaged for the trip to Lake Albert only. Mpala was 

 excitedly haranguing the mob of chattering porters, 

 every now and again making use of his cane to emphasize 

 the importance of his position. Some of our boys wore 

 old tattered remains of blue jerseys, some with the sleeves 

 intact, some without. Many wore nothing at all save 

 a scanty piece of dirty cloth tied round the loins, bracelets 

 adorned the arms, while their necks were hung with all 

 sorts of ornaments among which old keys seemed to be 

 favourite charms. By the way, experience teaches that 

 it is not advisable to let your boys, personal or otherwise, 

 carry keys of any sort, for they are apt to take a fancy 

 to some of your boxes, and try their stock on the locks. 

 Natives are very inquisitive people at times. 



17 c 



