From Entebbe to Fort Portal. 



At the present time many villages aromid Entebbe and 

 Kampala are entirely Christian, The blacks may be seen any 

 day squatting on the ground around the catechist. Throughout 

 the country numbers of natives may be met going or coming 

 from their labour in the fields, praying or reciting the rosary 

 on their way. Thev are all clad in the long white tunic with 

 wide sleeves, which has almost universally replaced the older 

 garment made out of strips of the bark of a special variety of 

 fig-tree, beaten mitil they become soft and flexible, and stitched 

 together with great art. On Sunday, in the spacious churches 

 of Mengo, which afibrd room for several thousands of persons, 

 men, women and childen may be seen worshipping with 

 exemplary fervour and decorum. 



On the other hand, it cannot be denied that Islamism 

 exercised an important and beneficial influence in rescuing the 

 country from its barbarous condition. In manv districts the 

 Mohammedans are still in the majority. 



The Italian expedition remained at Entebbe from the 7 th to 

 the 15th May to prepare in detail the organization of the 

 caravan. During this time Commander Cagni unfortunately 

 fell a victim to the unhealthy climate, taking the malarial 

 fever on the 8th of May. This persisted, in spite of quinine 

 injections, and was complicated by intestinal inflammation. It 

 soon became necessary to remove him to the hospital, which 

 was situated in a healthier position, and afforded better 

 accommodation. 



Owing to this calamity, the Duke lost invaluable assistance 

 at the very moment when the work liegan to l^e difficult and 

 complicated. 



The luggage of the expedition had been carried by porters 

 to the courtyard of the Equatorial Hotel, followed by a crowd 



65 F 



