26 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

the loads which the traveller is taking with him may be ascertained. There is no stipulation as to

the quantity of goods taken into Uganda, but it is

a matter of great difficulty to get anything out of

the country. On May 17 I went up to the judge's

house, and said good-bye to him and his wives. I

had to wait a few hours until my porters were

ready, and then I turned my face northward. Some

of my companions came to see me well on my way,

and after bidding them good-bye, I set out on my homeward journey. The first day's march is always

a short one, and I only managed to get about eight

miles on the road to a small hut on the borders of

the capital. I found that the Waganda were very

good porters, and that they took the greatest care

of the goods entrusted to them. You may not see

all the packages every day, but you may rest assured

they will all come safely to hand at the journey's

end. The Waganda always build small huts on the

march, in which they place the goods, so that they

are under cover in case of rain, freedom from which

can never be guaranteed. The only difficulty the

traveller has with them is, that porters who are

carrying the property of one of the king's guests

are at liberty to rob right and left on the road, a

custom which nearly cost me my life, as will be

seen later on.

The distance between Eubaga and Mruli is about

200 miles, and I took eleven days' march to cover it.