268 UGANDA AND TEE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

cook, and considerable alarm was caused, on the men setting fire to a clump of reeds and grass, by a huge snake, which, rushing out, made its escape into the water. On the evening of the 27th we reached Mruli, receiving quite an ovation from the Waganda, who rushed in crowds to the landingplace to meet us ; and we were treated to a long speech from one of the chiefs, who said they had begun to fear that something had happened to me, as I had been away so long.

The 3rd of February saw us once more on the move, and on the 8th we entered Uganda proper, after crossing the Ergugu. This stream had greatly diminished in volume since the beginning of December, and was now only 300 yards in width, with about three feet of water in the middle. The road we followed was nearly the same as that which I traversed on my way north, nearly three months before, and so does not call for any special notice. We arrived at last at Kubaga on February 14th, and found Mackay in good health.

During my absence Mackay had begun a new house, as the small one, which had been built for me more than a year before, was not sufficient for our increased party. The corner poles were up when we arrived, but the work progressed but slowly.

War also had again broken out between the Waganda and the Wasoga, and a portion of the Masai