106 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

help in building a house. We wished to build a brick house with two storeys, but he would not consent to that ; so we agreed that he should build us a house in native fashion, but according to our plans, with doors and windows, and this was at once begun.

The next Sunday, according to our agreement, I held a service at the palace, about 100 persons being \ present, including Mtesa himself. The service was conducted in Swahili, for Mtesa understood that language perfectly, and many of the chiefs spoke it more or less.

The new house, which was situated in a large garden or plantation of about two and a half or three acres in extent, progressed but slowly, and it was three weeks before the roof was on. Meantime one or other of us was constantly up at the palace, talking with Mtesa or speaking to his people. At first Smith was unable to get out much, as he suffered terrible pain in his wounded eye ; for, as we afterwards discovered, a piece of glass from his spectacles, which he was wearing at the time of the attack, had been driven right into the eye, completely destroying the sight.

Smith remained with me in Uganda till July 30th, when he left to return to Ukerewe. His intention was to help O'Neill to finish the dhow, and then to explore the Shimiyu and Euana rivers, which both flow into Speke Gulf, to ascertain if they were of any value as a means of approaching