128 RUBAGA TO MRULI.

they took it for a boat, but it turned out to be a trough for the preparation of banana wine. As the rain was soon over, — we were able to proceed; but the road had in the meantime been transformed into a brook. We reached our quarters about sunset.

The aneroid readings were as follows :— Rubaga, 6 A.M. (start), 63.5° Fahr., 25.65 in. ; strong south-east wind, a clouded sky.

Usdvara, 10.15 A.M. (thirteen feet above the level of the lake), 70° Fahr., 25.90 In. ; strong south-east wind, a clouded sky, 2. From RuBAGA TO MRULI.

(March 22 to April 8, 1878.)

DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORT—IN UGANDA NOTHING IS LOST—CHARACTER OF THE SCENERY—A WAHUMA VILLAGE—PASSAGE OF KHOR ERGUGU —FAVOURABLE RECEPTION IN MREKO’S VILLAGE—ACACIA WOODS— CHANGE OF VEGETATION ON THE BORDERS OF UNYORO—AUSPICIOUS AND UNLUCKY ANTELOPES—ATTEMPTED HOSTILITIES OF THE WANYORO.

WHEN the morning came, my loads, fifty in number, were ready, all of them fairly hight and firmly fastened. In spite of royal promises, however, only twelve porters appeared, and it was not till after endless sending backwards and forwards that I had the satisfaction of despatching all my goods, with the exception of fifteen unimportant bales which Matdéngali Mukasa promised to send after us to our first night’s quarters. Thus I set out, glad to escape with a whole skin from the uncomfortable position into which I had been placed, owing to king Mtésa’s suspicions of the Egyptian Government. My ammunition, as well as the loads belonging to the five soldiers who escorted me, were carried by Wanyoro porters, who had come with me from Mruli and had proved faithful ; so, if any of my goods did not turn up, the loss would be my own, and my men would not suffer. All the Arabs living in Rubaga, and the Zanzibar merchants accompanied me for a short distance along the road, firing farewell volleys, which we heartily acknowledged with our sniders. These Arabs are all bloodsuckers if