CHAPTER XII. 
THE CAPITAL OR PALACE OF UNYORO, SEPTEMBER 9 TO NOVEM- 
BER 9, 1862, LATITUDE 1° 37' NORTH, LONGITUDE 32° 19' EAST 
— TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTRY — ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, AND 
ANIMALS — KING KAMARASI AND HIS WIVES — CLASS OF MEN- 
DICANTS — ARMS USED BY THE WANYORO — THEIR FOOD AND 
DRINK — A BLACKSMITH'S SHOP — AMUSEMENTS OF THE NA- 
TIVES — THE EXPEDITION EMBARK ON THE NILE. 
The country, for a few marches before reaching the 
residence of King Kamarasi of Unyoro, was gently 
undulating and evergreen, with tall grass and trees. 
On the light and higher grounds the grasses grew six 
feet high, with large panicles which adhered to one's 
dress. Where the richer soil had been washed down 
to the low grounds the vegetation was shorter but 
more luxuriant. Nothing could be more desolate than 
our encampment at the capital of Unyoro. I can 
only compare it to a bare and dreary common — not a 
tree nor a garden to relieve the eye or afford shade 
from the equatorial sun. The vast plain was covered 
with tall grass, through which at this season we could 
not walk without wading, so that we were completely 
hemmed in by water. The northern half of the horizon 
