AN ATTACK BY THE WANYORO. 133 Waganda porters an opportunity of returning once more to their huts, and of completing the preparations for their journey. As I had obtained possession of a large number of cattle in Mréko’s district, all my men, as well as the Waganda, fared exceedingly well, being provided with enormous rations of meat. It is the custom both in Uganda and also in Unyoro, for the head of an ox, slaughtered on the journey, to fall to the share of the drummer who invariably precedes the caravan.

_ Another day was wasted in Demba, as news from Mtésa was expected. My missing Wanyoro porter turned up again safe and sound, which was a good thing, for we were now on the frontier of Kabréga’s territory, and his people are hostile. This was proved by an attack on our porters who went to fetch water, and only escaped by the intervention of their comrades. The huts here swarm with small grey ticks (in Kiganda and Kinyoro, bibbo), which are much dreaded by the natives; they are also very numerous in Mruli.

As the expected letters did not arrive, we started early the next morning, our road leading us over damp black mould. A very striking change is noticeable in the vegetation here ; the tender green plants, abounding in sap, had been left behind, and we entered upon a region of stiff-leaved, hardwooded plants, of which more than half are Leguminosee. Owing to the fires, most of the trees were crippled. <A great many red ant-hills appeared here on the grey soil, which perhaps for nine months of the year is under water (the whole of this district is inundated by Khor Ereugu), A fine buck (Zragelaphus scriptus) sprang up quite near us and crossed our path ; this is said to forebode good luck, whilst if a buffalo or a dwarf antelope crossed the way it would bode ill. Small cultivated patches indicated the neighbourhood of a village, which indeed we soon reached ; itis called Sagara. The inhabitants, Kabrega’s people, only reluctantly provided us with huts; they even declined to lend us waterpots, although we offered them presents; they subsequently entirely evacuated the place.

At ‘about eight o’clock in the evening shots were fired, and a great din arose in the direction of Mréko’s camp, which was situated at a distance of about ten minutes from us. ‘The Wanyéro had attacked him! Leaving my men to watch the