ARRIVAL IN UGANDA. 31 



the road — watch, compass, aneroid, &c. — were made up into 

 a bundle and carried upon the head. The water reached up 

 to our necks, and was filled with the decomposing detritus of 

 plants. The rays of the sun were scorching, and clouds of 

 mosquitoes took the opportunity of attacking us with impunity. 

 Slowly the porters marched forward, feeling each step of the 

 way with their spears. Their work was almost superhuman, 

 but still no single load was dropped in the swamp ! the cross- 

 ing of which lasted nearly an hour, when we again reached 

 the solid ground. With the passage of this swamp we left 

 Kabrega's land behind us, and found ourselves upon Mtesa's 

 territory. 



The district of Kahura, the first we entered, is under the 

 government of the great chief Mreko. He was our guide, 

 and had consequently to do the honours of his land. The 

 village of Kiramba, lying in the midst of a large banana grove, 

 is composed of very many huts, and encircled by fields of sweet 

 potatoes and violet-flowering lubias. Two or three houses, each 

 surrounded by high colocasias, form a small group, in the midst 

 of which is situated an empty miniature hut dedicated to the 

 higher powers. A fig-tree hung with large shells, an aloe with 

 beautiful horizontally white-striped leaves, and a species of 

 Liliacea called " Mramra " are invariably to be found near 

 these votive huts ; and aromatic plants or beautiful flowers 

 are often grown near them. 



Late in the evening I received the very pleasing intelligence 

 that one of the guides had got a thorn in his foot, and could 

 only march with the greatest difficulty. He was willing, 

 notwithstanding, to proceed on condition that the march 

 should be very short, and requested that I should be indul- 

 gent to him. Full well I knew that this was only an excuse 

 in order to obtain an opportunity for the porters to have a good 

 bout of drinking mwdnge, the intoxicating banana beer. But 

 what could I do ? Our next day's march was, indeed, only 

 too short, but it permitted me to shoot to my heart's content 

 pigeons and guinea-fowl, of which there are immense numbers 

 here. Rolling, well wooded ground provides them with good 

 shelter, and extensive fields of sweet potatoes and Meusine 

 coracana (used in brewing) afford them abundance of food. 



