DISCOVERY OF THE VICTORIA N'YANZA. 13 



but unfortunately as yet the white beads which I have 

 brought have no value with the natives, and I can- 

 not buy those little luxuries, eggs, butter, and milk, 

 which have such a powerful influence in making one's 

 victuals good and palatable ; whereas there is such a 

 rage for coloured beads, that if I had brought some 

 I might purchase anything. 



The caravan started at 6.30 A.M. on the 13th, and 

 after travelling eight miles over an open, waving, well- 

 cultivated country, stopped at the last village in Un- 

 yambewa. The early morning before starting was 

 wasted by the pagazis " striking " for more cloth, and 

 refusing to move unless I complied with their demand. 

 I peremptorily refused, and they then tried to wheedle 

 me out of beads. In demanding cloth, they pretended 

 that they were suffering from the chilling cold of 

 night a pretence too absurd to merit even a civil 

 reply. I then explained to my head-men that I 

 would rather anything happened than listen to such 

 imposture as this ; for did the men once succeed 

 by tricks of this sort, there would never be an end to 

 their trying it on, and it would ultimately prove highly 

 injurious to future travellers, especially to merchants. 

 On the route we had nothing to divert the attention, 

 save a single Wasukumas caravan proceeding south- 

 wards to Unyanyembe. A sultana called Ungugu 

 governs this district. She is the first and only female 

 that we have seen in this position, though she suc- 

 ceeded to it after the custom of the country. I 



