414 AN INVIGORATING LITTLE DIFFICULTY, [chap. xv. 
so dreaded by the IJnyoro people that nothing would 
induce them to fight; therefore I must not depend upon 
Kamrasi in any way, but must make independent ar¬ 
rangements : she informed me, that the invasion was 
caused by accounts given to M'tese by Goobo Goolah, 
one of Spekes deserters, who had run away from Kam¬ 
rasi shortly after our arrival in the country, and had 
reported to M'tese the King of Uganda, that we were 
on our way to pay him a visit with many valuable 
presents, but that Kamrasi had prevented us from 
proceeding, in order to monopolise the merchandise. 
Enraged at this act of his great enemy Kamrasi, he 
had sent spies to corroborate the testimony of Goobo 
Goolah (these were the four men who had appeared 
some weeks ago), which being confirmed, he had sent 
an army to destroy both Kamrasi and his country, and 
to capture us and lead us to his capital. This was the 
explanation of the affair given by Bacheeta, who, with 
a woman's curiosity and tact, picked up information in 
the camps almost as correctly as a “ Times ” corre¬ 
spondent. 
This was very enjoyable—the monotony of our 
existence had been unbearable, and here was an invi¬ 
gorating little difficulty with just sufficient piquancy 
to excite our spirits. My men were so thoroughly 
drilled and accustomed to complete obedience and 
dependence upon my guidance that they had quite 
changed their characters. I called Eddrees, gave him 
ten rounds of ball cartridge for each of his men, and 
told him to keep with my party should we be obliged 
to march; he immediately called a number of natives 
and concealed all his ivory in the jungle. 
At about 9 p.m. the camp was in an uproar; sud¬ 
denly drums beat in all quarters, in reply to nogaras 
that sounded the alarm in Kamrasi's camp; horns 
bellowed; men and women yelled; huts were set on 
fire; and in the blaze of light hundreds of natives all 
armed and dressed for war, rushed frantically about, as 
usual upon such occasions, gesticulating and engaging 
