ARRIVAL IN UGANDA. 31 the road—watch, compass, aneroid, &c.—were made up into a bundle and carried upon the head. The water reached up to our necks, and was filled with the decomposing detritus of plants. The rays of the sun were scorching, and clouds of mosquitoes took the opportunity of attacking us with impunity.

Slowly the porters marched forward, feeling each step of the way with their spears. ‘Their work was almost superhuman, but still no single load was dropped in the swamp! the cross-- ing of which lasted nearly an hour, when we again reached the solid ground. With the passage of this swamp we left Kabréga’s land behind us, and found ourselves upon Mtésa’s territory.

The district of Kahura, the first we entered, is under the. government of the great chief Mreko. He was our guide, and had consequently to do the honours of his land. The village of Kiramba, lying in the midst of a large banana grove, is composed of very many huts, and encircled by fields of sweet potatoes and violet-flowering lubias. ‘Two or three houses, each surrounded by high colocasias, form a small group, in the midst of which is situated an empty miniature hut dedicated to the higher powers. <A fig-tree hung with large shells, an aloe with beautiful horizontally white-striped leaves, and a species of Liliacea called “ Mramra” are invariably to be found near these votive huts; and aromatic plants or beautiful flowers are often grown near them.

Late in the evening I received the very pleasing intelligence that one of the guides had got a thorn in his foot, and could only march with the greatest difficulty. He was willing, notwithstanding, to proceed on condition that the march should be very short, and requested that I should be indulgent to him. Full well I knew that this was only an excuse in order to obtain an opportunity for the porters to have a good bout of drinking mwénge, the intoxicating banana beer. But what could I do? Our next day’s march was, indeed, only too short, but it permitted me to shoot to my heart’s content pigeons and guinea-fowl, of which there are immense numbers here. Rolling, well wooded ground provides them with good shelter, and extensive fields of sweet potatoes and Hleusine coracana (used in brewing) afford them abundance of food.