COKTIKUA TION OF FOG OCR'S A COO UNT. 801 



— a lucky hit. We discovered a lake here eighty miles by thirty. There 

 are also hot-water springs near the fall of the Kagera River, the springs, six 

 in number, boiling. We left Karagwe in March for the Wilderness of Nine 

 Days. While we were at Karagwe I visited the king, to show him the boat. 

 He asked me, was I English ? I said ' Yes.' He said, ' Speke was English, 

 and he was a good man, so you must be good also.' Speke travelled here 

 fifteen years ago ; his name is all the rage in Uganda and Karagwe. We are 

 now in the country of Usamberon — good people, and plenty of food. We 

 have been nearly a month in the Wilderness, with but little food. 



" An Arab has travelled with us to here ; he leaves us here for Unyan- 

 yembe, and we go to Ujiji — about one month's march. The Arab will bring 

 our letters to the coast. I hope when we reach Ujiji to find some papers and 

 letters from home. I am sometimes lonely. I have no one to talk to but 

 black people. Although I can talk Swahili nearly as well as English, I 

 can't find anything in their company to amuse me. There is no comfort in 

 this part of the globe — hot sun and cold nights. We have crossed rivers and 

 swamps, up to our waists in mud and water, for days and days. Then, when 

 we reach camp, there is no kind sister to make your bed ; but a nigger will 

 throw down a lump of grass as you would to a pig. Then our food is like 

 cattle food in England. It consists of dried beans and peas, and Matama 

 corn, such as donkeys eat. What would I give now for an old crust such as 

 you give to sailors, or some pudding properly cooked. But no one knows 

 about that here. If you cannot eat, go without. 



" But, thank Grod, I enjoy good health. It is now three months since I 

 had fever. I am strong and fat. In some places white men are thought 

 cattle, in another they are great. There are many tribes of fine men, dressed 

 in embogu bark cloth. Many are naked ; many are dressed in skins put 

 about their shoulders. Many have long hair, others plait it in a thousand 

 plaits, with beads sewn on ; while the people of Uganda shave all off, and 

 carry two spears and one shield, and the people of Karagwe use bows and 

 arrows, and the people of Usui use one spear, with which they spear a man 

 or an ox — they don't throw it — while the people here use guns. 



" My dear parents, I have no doubt you think me lost; but no; I am 

 still alive, and hope to see you all. I cannot write to all, and you are at the 

 head, so you must cuppa salaam ymugo — that is, give my love to all the 

 family. Kiss the children, and give them my blessing. Names are too 

 numerous to mention. 



" My dear parents, be comforted, and fret not for me, for I have a good 

 Providence overhead, in which I put my whole trust. No one knows of 

 going to church here — every day is alike. The natives lay about all day, 

 and at night sit by a great fire. Some houses are grass, some are mud with 

 sticks. I often think are all well ? Yes, they can't get ill in such a coun- 

 ts 4 



