AT KAMPALA 127 



The number of convicts in a chain-gang depends on the 

 length of the chain. An iron ring is placed round the neck 

 of each, and the chain is then passed through the two 

 eyelets of the ring. One end of the chain is secured by a 

 large iron ring, the other end by a padlock. The neck-ring 

 consists of two separate halves which move on a fixed pivot at 

 the back and carry each an eyelet in front. 



On my first journey to Uganda we had a strange incident at 

 Kabras in connection with a chain-gang. The Swahili in charge 

 of it hit upon the plan of doing wholesale robbery by utilising 

 his own gang of prisoners for the job. Apparently he foraged 

 pretty successfully, judging by a couple of fowls, a lot of sweet- 

 potatoes, some ground-nuts, and other items produced. Our 

 caravan leader heard of it, stretched out the culprit, gave him 

 some lashes, and then added him to the chain-gang. The stolen 

 goods were confiscated, and a new warder was appointed to take 

 charge of the prisoners, now increased in number by the addition 

 of the former warder. 



One of the cases I had to try at Kampala in 1894 was a 

 curious repetition of Potiphar's wife versus Joseph. The lady in 

 question was a princess, save the mark ! of the royal family of 

 Uganda. Joseph was represented by a headman named Musa. 

 The lady in this instance also produced a garment, belonging 

 to Musa, and she very nearly landed her Joseph in prison. 

 Musa gave a straightforward account, and said that a fishmonger 

 was present at the scene, of whom he bought some fish which 

 he gave to the princess. Questioned about the fish, the prin- 

 cess declared she herself had bought it and had handed it to 

 her handmaid, a slave-attendant, who was prepared to swear to 

 anything her mistress had stated. Luckily for Musa the fish- 

 monger was found, brought to the court, identified all the parties 

 concerned, and proved Joseph's — I mean Musa's — story to be 

 true. As this case involved a princess, the Prime Minister and 

 a number of the great Waganda chiefs were present at the 

 trial and concurred in the decision. I heard afterwards that 

 the princess was a woman of extremely shady morals. 



A native fishmonger is a singular sight ; as a rule, the fish he 

 offers for sale are about the size of small sardines, dried in the 

 sun and strung in rows. One row costs a penny and contains 

 about a dozen fish. 



In another case I had to try, one of King Mwanga's wives 



