48 MRULI TO RUBAGA IN UGANDA.

guides to give me an ox for slaughter. The people had with them oxen and goats, which were given by the kine as provision for myself and my people. They have, however, never given me one, as they probably wish to sell them as soon as we arrive at the capital. The name of our halting place was Debatu (not identical with Linant’s Debatu), and is celebrated throughout Uganda on account of the quantity and excellence of its bananas. Unfortunately I could obtain nothing for my journal, for the inhabitants had all fled; nor could I add to my collections, on account of the continuous rain. Never in all my life have I seen so many Amaranthus plants in one place as here; their red fans form regular fields; a white variety is said to exist, but I have never yet seen it. No tamarinds appear to grow here.

I was honoured to-day by another dispatch from the king. A young man, named Amara, in a dark blouse and pantaloons, whom I had seen last year, and who was accompanied by about forty soldiers clad in white cotton clothes, and armed with old flint-locks, brought me his royal master’s greetings, and after having informed me that he would come half-way to meet me to-morrow, he returned with my greetings to Mtésa’s capital.

At last the day for our final march arrived. As usual, on account of a thunder storm, we started late. We waded through yellow mud, which covered the road, until we arrived at the river Kandubituyu, the cold water of which flowing over yellowish white sand reached up to our middles. An hour later we came upon the Mianja, the largest watercourse we have yet seen, which also had a broad white sandy bed and was filled with clear cold water. <A third very small stream, which flows into the Mianja, followed, and subsequently enormous gutters full of mud, until at last the rising path bordered by bananas and leading over firm ferruginous clay, brought us to a magnificent Boswellia, which, situated between granite and quartz blocks towering one above another, was visible at a considerable distance. Upon one of the next hills I ordered a halt in order to give my people time to don their uniforms. The march was then resumed. Shots rang out; thousands of people surrounded us yelling and gesticulating; my guides marched in a long row, headed by beating