214 
POKINO, THE GOVERNOR. 
through the rushes to our left, contrasting pleasantly 
with the bogs we had previously been crossing. When 
asked at Namagoma how long it would take to reach 
the source of the Mwerango, my friend Mariboo replied 
figuratively by saying, " A pot of plantain would not 
be boiled by the time you returned from its source/' 
meaning that it would take a very short time. 
As my caravan daily shortened its distance from 
the residence of the king, messengers came to inquire 
for me, where I was to sleep each night, and to hurry 
on, because the king had heard I was beautiful, and 
he could not eat till he had seen me ! These parties 
were sometimes commanded by boys of thirteen years 
of age — smart little fellows, who travelled very quickly 
over the country, never getting fatigued. If they met 
our caravan on the march, complimentary taps and 
rolls were sounded by their drummers, and returned 
by ours. It was not considered etiquette for any of 
their number to mingle with our baggage-party while 
moving along ; because, if anything should be missed, 
they might be made answerable for it. 
Pokino, the governor of a large territory, was one 
day announced while I was dressing. His name had 
been constantly quoted as an authority by Mariboo, 
and I had a strong desire to see him. On coming out 
of my hut, he sat surrounded by twenty Waganda in 
considerable state, and I could not help saying aloud, 
" Hallo ! is this Pokino ? " At once all grinned at 
the mention of the name ; no one moved from their 
seated positions, and my iron chair was placed outside 
the red cow-skin, on which he alone sat, — a deter- 
mined, sly-looking functionary, with a bad expression 
of mouth, and just the man to have an order obeyed. 
