UGANDA AND WEST SIDE OF VICTORIA NYANZA. 259 
natives of the mainland, or by a later arrival of 
strangers like my own Waganda, who because of their 
numerical superiority had begun their molestation and 
robbery of the coffee traders, without other cause than 
that they were strong and the traders weak. 
About 5 p.m., having long before returned to camp, I 
saw on the horizon Magassa’s fleet of canoes, and 
counted fourteen. I despatched Safeni and some of the 
Waganda in a canoe to the small islands we passed just 
before reaching Makongo, begging Magassa to hasten 
and join me early next morning, as w r e were short of 
provisions, and starvation would ensue if we were 
delayed in our voyage. Safeni returned about 9 p.m. 
with a request from Magassa that I would go on as early 
as I wished, and a promise that he would follow me to 
camp. 
I waited, however, for Magassa until 10 a.m., and as 
Alice Island — which Senturn and Sentageya advised me 
was the best place to touch at in order to make a short 
course for Usukuma — was about thirty miles from 
Musira, I could delay no longer. It was then agreed 
that Senturn should stay at Musira Island until Magassa 
arrived, and inform him of the direction which Sentageya 
and I had taken. 
We had proceeded on our voyage but three miles 
when Sentageya turned back with all speed towards 
Musira, waving his hand to me to continue my journey. 
Imagining that he had merely forgotten something, I 
did as he directed. 
We reached Alice Island about 9 p.m., for we had 
been delayed by a strong head wind since 4 p.m. As it 
was pitch-dark, we were guided to a camping-place by a 
flickering light which we saw on the shore. The light 
for which we steered was that of a fire kindled by two 
men and a boy, who were drying fish in a cavern the 
entrance of which opened on the lake. Though the 
fishermen were rather frightened at first, they were 
discreet enough to remain passive ; and to calm their 
fears, I assumed an air of extreme blandness and 
amiability. It being late, I prepared to rest in the 
s 2 
