COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH SPEKE. 265 
lie counts easier than by the usual enumeration, and 
the animals walk in to enjoy the volumes of smoke 
rising from the fire in the centre of their fold. 
15th. — Halt. Feel anxious for news; by noon it 
came. Speke could not be found ; he had gone up 
the river. The chief Wahuma officer would not give 
an audience to my Mussulmans, in case the sight of 
them would make his cows run dry; and men who 
sat upon chairs before kings — meaning the "white 
men " — would not be received in Unyoro. 
Shot two guinea-fowl with one bullet, and also two 
"n'soono," or noble bucks, accidentally with one ball. 
The second one could not be found, although he went 
away dangling his broken leg, followed by dogs. I 
stood in admiration of the villager who, with his 
spear-head, skinned and cut up the animal into saddle, 
brisket, leg, and other joints, laying them on the pure 
leaves of plantain as quietly and cleverly, and with 
far less mess, than is to be seen at the abattoirs of 
Paris. 
16th. — Halt. The time has arrived for Kamarasi's 
reply, and none has come. My men all press me to 
retire. There is not one in the camp who wishes to 
go the north or Egyptian route ; and I long most 
anxiously for Speke. Here we are, not more than 
seven days, it is said, from the place where boats lie 
to take us down the Nile ; yet nothing will move 
those around me to push on. It is most tantalising. 
I asked Budja to join me in forcing the road, but he 
could not be induced to leave his country. " Let me 
then communicate with Captain Speke, wherever he 
is." It was impossible, as his men had no permission 
to visit Oogoongoo, on the other side of M'tessa's, 
