THE WHITE MEN OF GAMBARAGARA. 783 



back to Uganda ; but they were extremely incommunicative, and nothing of 

 the history of their nation could I obtain from them. Their diet consists of 

 milk and bananas, and they were the only men of rank in the entire force 

 under Samboozi who possessed more than two milch cows to supply them 

 with milk while on the march. Sekajugu, to whom they were friendly, and 

 under whom they had enrolled themselves, states that they rebelled against 

 Kabba Rega, and to avoid his vengeance sought refuge with himself. Ano- 

 ther specimen of these white-complexioned people I saw at the Court of 

 Mtesa in the person of Prince Namionju, the brother of the reigning King 

 Nyika of Grarnbaragara. When I first met this man I took him for a young 

 Arab of Cairo who had chosen to reside in Uganda for some unknown rea- 

 son, and it was not until I had seen several specimens of the same pale colour 

 that I could believe that there existed a large and numerous tribe of such a 

 singular hue in the heart of Africa, remote from the track of all travellers and 

 trading caravans. 



" Africa is certainly the ' haunt of light-headed fable,' romance, and 

 superstition, but I shall believe ever hence that there exists some slight mo- 

 dicum of truth in all the statements and revelations of these simple folk. On 

 the shores of the Victoria in Usukuma, I heard of a people far north possess- 

 ing very large dogs of such fierce nature that they were often taken to war 

 against the enemies of their masters. These people I subsequently ascer- 

 tained to be the "Wakedi, a tribe living north of Usoga. The same tribe also, 

 in their various wars with Uganda, have frequently been found wearing iron 

 armour ! Again, about four years ago, when exploring the Tanganyika with 

 Livingstone, I heard there existed a white race north of Uzige. At that time 

 Livingstone and myself laughed at the absurdity of a white people living in 

 the heart of Africa, and ascribed the report to the light-brown colour of the 

 Warundi. Now, I have not only seen the country of these white people, but 

 several specimens of themselves at various periods and in different places. 

 Were it not for the negroid hair, I should say they were Europeans or some 

 light-coloured Asiatics, such as Syrians or Armenians. Apropos of these 

 singular creatures, I have heard that the first King of Kisbacca, a country 

 south-west of Karagwe, was an Arab, whose scimitar is still preserved with 

 great reverence by the present reigning family. 



" Our further passage to Lake Albert was along the southern bank of the 

 Rusango River, which winds in and out among deep mountain folds, and 

 rushes headlong on its course in roaring cataracts and brawling rapids. Ten 

 hours' swift marching enabled us to cross an uninhabited tract of Ankori and 

 emerge again in Unyoro, in the district of Kitagwenda, which is well popu- 

 lated and cultivated. Our sudden appearance on the scene, with drums beat- 

 ing, colours flying, and bugles blowing, drove the natives in a panic from 

 their fields and their houses, in such hot haste that many of our people found 



