4 8 MRULI TO RUBAGA IN UGANDA 



guides to give me an ox for slaughter. The people had with 

 them oxen and goats, which were given by the king as pro- 

 vision for myself and my people. They have, however, never 

 given me one, as they probably wish to sell them as soon as 

 we arrive at the capital. The name of our halting place was 

 Debatu (not identical with Linant's Debatu), and is celebrated 

 throughout Uganda on account of the quantity and excellence 

 of its bananas. Unfortunately I could obtain nothing for my 

 journal, for the inhabitants had all fled ; nor could I add to my 

 collections, on account of the continuous rain. Never in all 

 my life have I seen so many Amaranihus plants in one place 

 as here ; their red fans form regular fields ; a white variety is 

 said to exist, but I have never yet seen it. No tamarinds 

 appear to grow here. 



I was honoured to-day by another dispatch from the king. 

 A young man, named Amara, in a dark blouse and pantaloons, 

 whom I had seen last year, and who was accompanied by about 

 forty soldiers clad in white cotton clothes, and armed with old 

 flint-locks, brought me his royal master's greetings, and after 

 having informed me that he would come half-way to meet me 

 to-morrow, he returned with my greetings to Mtesa's capital. 



At last the day for our final march arrived. As usual, 

 on account of a thunder storm, we started late. We waded 

 through yellow mud, which covered the road, until we arrived 

 at the river Kandubituyu, the cold water of which flowing 

 over yellowish white sand reached up to our middles. An 

 hour later we came upon the Mianja, the largest water- 

 course we have yet seen, which also had a broad white 

 sandy bed and was filled with clear cold water. A third very 

 small stream, which flows into the Mianja, followed, and sub- 

 sequently enormous gutters full of mud, until at last the rising 

 path bordered by bananas and leading over firm ferruginous 

 clay, brought us to a magnificent Boswellia, which, situated 

 between granite and quartz blocks towering one above another, 

 was visible at a considerable distance. Upon one of the next 

 hills I ordered a halt in order to give my people time to don 

 their uniforms. The march was then resumed. Shots rang 

 out ; thousands of people surrounded us yelling and gesticulat- 

 ing ; my guides marched in a long row, headed by beating 



