398 
THE BRITISH FLAG PROTECTS UNYORO. [chap. xiv . 
mantle. “ Fighting! ” he exclaimed, with the horror of 
“ Boh Acres/’ “ I am not going to fight ! I have 
dressed lightly to he able to run quickly. I mean to 
run away ! Who can fight against guns ? Those people 
have one hundred and fifty guns; you must run with 
me; we can do nothing against them; you have only 
thirteen men ; Eddrees has only ten; what can twenty- 
three do against a hundred and fifty ? Pack up your 
things and run; we must he off*into the high grass and 
hide, at once ; the enemy is expected every moment!” 
I never saw a man in such a deplorable state of 
abject fright, and I could not help laughing aloud at 
the miserable coward who represented a kingdom. 
Calling my headman, I ordered him to hoist the 
English ensign on my tall flag-staff in the courtyard. 
In a few moments the old flag was waving in a brisk 
breeze and floating over my little hut. There is some¬ 
thing that warms the heart in the sight of the Union 
Jack when thousands of miles away from the old 
country. I now explained to Kamrasi that both he 
and his country were under the protection of that flag, 
which was the emblem of England; and that so long 
as he trusted to me, although I had refused to join 
him in attacking Fowooka, he should see that I was 
his true ally, as I would defend him against all attacks. 
I told him to send a large quantity of supplies into my 
camp, and to procure guides immediately, as I should 
send some of my men without delay to the enemy’s 
camp with a message to the vakeel of Debonos party. 
Slightly re-assured by this arrangement, he called 
Quonga, and ordered him to procure two of his chiefs, 
to accompany my men. The best of his men, Cassave, 
appeared immediately —this was a famous fellow who 
had always been civil and anxious to do his duty both 
to his master and to me. I summoned Eddrees, and 
ordered him to send four of his men with an equal 
number of mine to the camp of Fowooka, to make a 
report of the invading force, and to see whether it was 
true that Debonos people were arrived as invaders. 
