BUGUFU AND URUNDI. 269 



years old, though I heard rumours that he was 

 really an image or idol ; he appears to be com- 

 pletely in the hands of the usual dissipated 

 ruffians who form an African court. He has a 

 very slender control over these turbulent villagers, 

 who detest his chief men. These courtiers do just 

 as they like, and probably greatly oppress the 

 smaller places. The banana, on which the people 

 live, is the one used for native beer, and my men 

 did not at all appreciate it. 



It is, perhaps, needless to remark that Mwesi's 

 promised goats did not arrive, but I was only too 

 thankful to get out of the country. 



The valley or pass up which I ascended is a 

 rather narrow and steep gorge, probably seven or 

 eight miles long. It is covered with bush, with 

 many clearings for beans and the edible arum. Up 

 to 6, GOO feet the plants are quite similar to those 

 of Ankole and Karagwe. 



