86 
Ccnti'al Africa, 
know." But just as they had formed this plan, messengers 
arrived from King M*tesa with the following letter, written 
for him by the little boy left at the royal court by Stanley : 
" To my dear friend. — I have heard that you have reached 
Ukerewe, so now I want you to come to me quickly. I 
give you Magombwa to be your guide, and now you must 
come to me quickly. This letter from me, M*tesa, king of 
Uganda, written by Dallington Scopion Maftaa, April loth, 
1877." To this the lad added on the back of the letter 
his own postscript : " To my dear Sir. — I have heard that 
you are in Ukerewe, and this king is very fond of you. 
He wants Englishmen more than all. This is from your 
servant, Dallington Scopion." The messengers bringing 
this letter, with its interesting postscript, had, however, lin- 
gered on their way, occupying over two months in the 
journey ; and in order to hasten the advent of the mis- 
sionaries, M'tesa had sent a second embassy, which arrived 
at Ukerewe a day or two after the first deputation, bearing 
a second letter : " My second letter to my dear friend, white 
man. — I send this my servant that you may come quickly, 
and let not this my servant come without you. And send 
my salaam to Lukongeh, king of Ukerewe, and Thaduma 
Mwanangwa, of Kagei, and Songoro. This from me, 
M'tesa, king of Uganda." Accordingly it was resolved 
that Lieutenant Smith and Mr. Wilson should proceed to 
Uganda immediately, in order to establish missions there. 
On arriving at Rubaga, the capital, they decided to keep 
quiet for a day or two, as it was Saturday evening, and a 
reception on Sunday might possibly be anything but a 
" keeping holy " of that day. Respecting their feelings, the 
king allowed them to remain in retkement on that day, but 
on Monday morning the chief officers were sent to escort 
the two missionaries to M'tesa's presence. The palace was 
