86 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



killed by Suahilis, and never stops screaming in 

 a very raucous voice. 



I found Kasagama to be a tall, rather stout 

 young man, about thirty-five years of age. He 

 was set on his throne by Lugard, and when 

 driven from it by Kabbarega was reinstated by 

 Major Owen. 



On the way I had the pleasure of meeting his 

 mother, who was going down to the Salt lake 

 on some mysterious mission, accompanied by a 

 most truculent-looking set of warriors. Both 

 are of nearly pure Wahima race, and from my 

 experience of them, both are cowardly and un- 

 trustworthy, though not lacking in cleverness. 



A considerable amount of state is observed by 

 both. They are constantly followed about by a 

 crowd of dissipated courtiers, chiefly boys and 

 young men. It is very funny to see the manner 

 in which these hangers-on pretend to be des- 

 perately fond of the king and his mother, nest- 

 ling up to their feet with little cries of joy and 

 seizing their hands ; but I fancy it is not a 

 perfect love that is without fear. 



I had the excitement of a lion hunt at Kasa- 

 gama's. These animals hide near the native 

 plantations and pounce on any woman who is 

 working by herself. One morning a great crowd 

 came rushing to me to say that one had seized 

 a woman. I rushed, with some of my men, to 

 the spot and found her remains in some long 



