254 MODE OF PURCHASING PROVISIONS. 
29 th July. — Halt. Coarse, rainy morning and after- 
noon. This month, when no rain is falling at 5° south 
lat., we have had several heavy showers ; rain seems 
to fall here every month in the year, which accounts 
for the continuity of crop. A dozen armed Wanyoro, 
with capped spears, pay us a visit, their chief bringing 
me two bunches of plantain as a present. They get 
some beef and beads, and say that Speke will never 
be allowed to proceed by the water-route he is trying. 
He will have to return and approach by the regular 
beaten track on which I had travelled. On my 
appealing for aid to Budja, he says it is impossible to 
communicate this information to Speke ; he will find 
it out himself, and there is no fear of him. 
My valet, whom I considered honest, I found help- 
ing a brother Seedee to some m'wenge. On repri- 
manding through an interpreter, he begged pardon 
for the offence, while lolling on his bed with a quid of 
tobacco in his mouth. These Seedees are not to be 
trusted unless the most rigorous discipline is enforced. 
Two of my men start with their guns, carrying 
beef and cowries with which to purchase plantain or 
potato from the villagers. They meet a party of 
Waganda there, who say to them, " You fools ! what 
do you mean by paying for food, when you can get 
it like us for nothing ? " The custom was for the 
Waganda to go to the Wanyoro and make a polite 
request for provisions, which were generally given 
free. 
An infectious disease has broken out amongst the 
cattle. One of them has the roof of its mouth so 
affected that it cannot eat. Its tongue has become 
discoloured, and there is an appearance of irritation 
