2 . Hanlon, The Plague in Uganda. 



attending a stricken man, they are not sure, however, 

 of this being the cause of his death. In our own ex- 

 perience of over three years, we have known of only one 

 case. The man Hved near the mission of Nagalama, but 

 was dead before anything was known to the missionaries 

 about his sickness. He had been working at the mission, 

 well and hearty, the day before. Father Prendergast 

 could get no natives, not even the most intimate friends of 

 the deceased, to come and bury the body ; he was there- 

 fore obliged himself to wrap the body in several bark- 

 cloths and bury it. We frequently have cases of the 

 milder form, but I have not heard of any deaths through 

 it. 



The natives have a remedy for the disease, but never 

 have it ready at hand when required ; the missionaries 

 therefore prepare it. It consists of a certain insect — a fly 

 common enough here : many of which are crushed and 

 mixed with vinegar, and the mixture rubbed on the 

 swelling. The patients are so frightened when they have 

 an attack of the disease, that our greatest fear is lest they 

 die from sheer fright. 



It is not correct to state that this disease, so long 

 endemic in Uganda, " has recently travelled to Buddu." 

 Buddu has for many years been the centre of this plague 

 in its worst form. Dr. Koch, I see, states that it has 

 travelled from other parts of Uganda to Buddu, and 

 thence south to German territory. I believe the very 

 contrary to be the fact ; that it has come from the south. 

 What is now known as the German East African territory 

 has been for many generations — longer than anyone 

 knows — the chief Arab route into this part of Africa. 

 It was the great slave route to and from the district of the 

 Lakes. Speke and Grant travelled by it, Stanley travelled 

 by it, the first Uganda Missionaries came that way, and 



