IV ISLANDS OF THE VICTORIA NYANZA 45 



of Busoga, near Napoleon Gulf. The three largest 

 islands in this group are Buvuma, Bugaya, and Busiri. 



Buvuma, the largest of these islands, is of irregular 

 shape and seems to be made up of peninsulas. It has 

 an area of about 170 square miles and is larger than 

 the Isle of Wight. It contains high hills in its central 

 parts, some of which are 500 or 600 feet aliove the 

 level of the lake. The hillsides are covered with 

 forests, and there are grassy uplands which afford 

 excellent pasture for cattle. Until devastated l_)y the 

 sleeping-sickness it contained a large population in 

 many villages which were surrounded by excellent 

 gardens and plantations. The natives, knOwn as 

 Wavuma, are excellent agriculturists, growing millet, 

 maize, sweet potatoes, and bananas : the surplus grain 

 they stored in granaries which resemble miniature huts. 

 They are skilful fishermen and like the Basesse build 

 excellent boats and are extremely expert in their use, 

 take to the water from childhood and swim admirably. 

 They make their own cord and ropes from fibre obtained 

 from the aloe; and manufacture their own pottery. 



The Wavuma do not diff'er much in appearance from 

 the Baganda, but for a century or more there existed 

 a feud between them and the natives of Uganda. 

 The Kiuo's of Uganda have tried in vain to subdue the 

 Wavuma : as they refused to accept Christianity and 

 had been a thorn in the side of the Baganda, Mutesa 

 resolved to subjugate the islands in 1875. At this time 

 the relations between Uganda and Buvuma resembled 

 those which jirevailed in the time of Queen Elizal)eth 

 between the Empire of Spain and England. At this 

 time H. M. Stanley was staying in Uganda and he has 

 described the fighting force with which Mutesa 

 attempted to conc|uer the Wavuma. It consisted of a 

 fieet of 230 war boats, and an army estimated at 

 150,000 fighting men. The Wavuma had a fleet equal 

 to the Baganda, but their warriors (slingers and sjjear- 

 men) amounted to a fifth of Mutesa's force. The 



