From Entebbe to Fort Portal. 



The din of the chatterino;, hiiie;hiui>- and shontino- was a little 

 diminished in the hard Ints of road only where a steep up-hill 

 would set even those wdio were not loaded panting. From 

 every little village along the way the natives ran out, curious 

 to see the sight and exchange chatter and laughter with the 

 porters. Now and then the travellers met a caravan bringing 

 salt frt)ni Toro, or ivory from the Congo, or even a white trader 

 travellino; with his own escort. 



The native escort exercised a certain discipline over the 

 numerous party, and intervened from time to time to adjust 

 quarrels and disputes started, as a rule, by the porters who, in 

 order to lighten their own labour, would requisition by force 

 any other natives whom they might meet on the road. 



The blacks are on the whole childlike, good-natured and 

 peaceable, or ill-tempered and savage, according as they are 

 managed. With a little tact and goodwill, not without 

 necessary firmness, it is easy to direct their impulsive natures. 



The great majority of the caravan consisted of Baganda, 

 the real native population of Uganda, whose anthropological 

 characteristics are so diverse as to presuppose the product of 

 mingled elements. Some of their features are distinctly 

 negi'oid ; as, for instance, woolly, jet black hair ; the nose sunk 

 at the root, flat and wide ; l)road, protuberant lips and 

 projecting ears. But the prognathism is not marked, and 

 the brow is wide and not retreating. They are usually 

 lean, not muscular, and do not give tlie impression of a 

 very strong people. 



Their manners and customs seem more advanced than in 

 many other African tribes. They neitlier dye nor grease their 

 skin ; they do not tattoo their persons nor cover themselves 

 with decorative scars, and witli the exception of the children 



81 G 



