LIFE IN UGANDA. 107 the Nyanza, and to survey the southern part of the Like (a work for which, being a naval officer, he was well fitted). This having been accomplished, he hoped to return to Uganda with O'Neill and any other who might by that time have reached the Lake. I walked some distance on the road towards Ntebbi with him, and, on parting, he promised to return as soon as possible. Poor fellow ! I little thought it was the last shake of the hand I should receive from him in this world. I walked slowly home, realising for the first time that I was alone.

Alone as far as all human fellowship and sympathy were concerned, but still not alone, for God was watching over me.

About a week after Smith's departure, I moved into the hew house, which had a fine view of the palace from the verandah, and at once began getting the garden into order. I had a number of seeds which I had brought from England, a good many choice vegetables and useful plant seeds having been kindly given me by the authorities at Kew, through Professor Thiselton Dyer ; only a few, however, of these came up, and among them the Eucalyptus globulus, which for a time did well and grew rapidly, then suddenly all the young plants died in a few days, probably from my ignorance of how to treat them or to regulate the amount of moisture. I also sowed a quantity of wheat and onions, which both did very well, and planted