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.