766 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
request. One day, on returning from a hunting expedition, he 
found that his cattle had been carried away. He searched for 
them in vain, till at last he met a man who told him that the gods 
came down from heaven and carried them away. Thereupon Kintu 
went up to heaven and demanded his cattle, which the gods expressed 
their willingness to restore after he had performed certain feats. 
Enough food to satisfy fifty or sixty men was placed before him, 
and he was ordered to consume it all. While debating with himself 
how he should accomplish this impossible task, a number of rats, 
whose lives he had spared on earth, appeared, and soon consumed 
the food. Overjoyed, he took the empty basket to the gods, who 
then showed him a deep well, and told him to fill a jug from it, but 
no rope was supplied him. A number of swallows then appeared, 
and taking the pitcher from him flew with it down the well, and 
soon returned with it filled with water. When he took it to the 
gods, they led him to a vast plain, and showed him immense herds 
of cattle grazing. His own were amongst them they said, and also 
added that if he could distinguish them without mistake, they 
would restore them, but if he made one slip he should forfeit them. 
A bee now aided him ; it flew to him, and said, “ I know which are 
your cattle, and I will go before and hover over each one.” This 
it did, thus enabling Kintu to succeed in this task likewise, and he 
was then permitted to return to earth, taking his cattle with him. 
An ancient warrior named Kibaga is said to have possessed the 
power of flying. This power was made use of by his king during 
his wars with the Wanyoro. Kibaga soaring through the skies 
detected their ambuscades ; he also destroyed great numbers of the 
enemy by dropping rocks upon them. One day Kibaga saw among 
the captive Wanyoro women a maiden passing fair. Smitten by 
her charms, he begged her from the king as a reward for his services. 
His request was acceded to, but the king warned him not to reveal 
the secret of his powers to his wife. Eor a considerable time he 
managed to keep his own council, but his wife, being surprised at his 
sudden disappearances and as sudden return, at length kept strict 
watch upon him, and solved the mystery. She was not long in com- 
municating her discovery to her tribe, who at once placed archers 
on the summit of their highest hills, and soon Kibaga was shot, and 
was found lifeless, entangled in the branches of a tall tree. 
