IV 



THE ARCHIPELAGOES AND ISLANDS OF THE VICTORIA NYANZA 



THE Victoria Nyanza abounds in islands ; some are 

 mere rocks sticking out of the water, and serve as 

 basking places for crocodiles ; others are of large size, 

 thickly wooded, presenting high hills and verdant dales. 

 .Many of the islands have played an important part in 

 the political and religious history of Uganda. Readers 

 interested in the religious war which took place in 

 Mwanga's reign should master the geography of the 

 Lake Islands. 1 The most important are Ukerewe in the 

 south ; Buvuma, Bulinguge, and Konie in the north ; 

 and the Sesse Archipelago in the north-west angle of 

 the lake. Ukerewe, twenty-five miles long with a 

 maximum breadth of twelve miles, lies within the 

 German sphere of interest, off the northern corner 

 of Speke Gulf. This island is fertile ; the central 

 parts, rising to a height of 650 feet above the lake, are 

 covered by an impenetrable primeval forest capable of 

 supplying useful timber. 



The Wa-Kerewe cultivate the soil and grow bananas, 

 maize, sweet potatoes, sorghum, tobacco, gourds, and 

 rice. Their domestic animals are humped oxen, goats, 

 and sheep. They fish with weir baskets, and hook and 

 line ; and catch the hippopotamus with the harpoon. 



The islanders are very superstitious and believe in 

 evil spirits. " At the door of the hut they often hang 

 a great iron bell, against which the head strikes in 



1 The spelling adopted is the same as that found on the map of the lake 

 constructed by Commander Whitehouse and issued by the War Office, 1910. 



4J 



