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John Hanning Speke - The Discovery of the Source of the Nile
great feeling and good taste. We then all rose with an English bow, placing the hand on the heart whilst
saying adieu; and there was a complete uniformity in the ceremonial, for whatever I did, Mtesa, in an
instant, mimicked with the instinct of a monkey.
We had, however, scarcely quitted the palace gate before the king issued himself, with his attendants and
his brothers leading, and women bringing up the rear; here K'yengo and all the Wazinza joined in the
procession with ourselves, they kneeling and clapping their hands after the fashion of their own country.
Budja just then made me feel very anxious, by pointing out the position of Urondogani, as I thought, too
far north. I called the king's attention to it, and in a moment he said he would speak to Budja in such a
manner that would leave no doubts in my mind, for he liked me much, and desired to please me in all
things. As the procession now drew to our camp, and Mtesa expressed a wish to have a final look at my
men, I ordered them to turn out with their arms and n'yanzig for the many favours they had received.
Mtesa, much pleased, complimented them on their goodly appearance, remarking that with such a force I
would have no difficulty in reaching Gani, and exhorted them to follow me through fire and water; then
exchanging adieus again he walked ahead in gigantic strides up the hill, the pretty favourite of his harem,
Lubuga - beckoning and waving with her little hands, and crying, "Bana! Bana!" - trotting after him
conspicuous amongst the rest, though all showed a little feeling at the severance. We saw them no more.
Chapter XV. March Down the Northern Slopes of Africa
Kari - Tragic Incident there - Renewals of Troubles - Quarrels with the Natives - Reach the Nile -
Description of the Scene there - Sport - Church Estate - Ascend the River to the Junction with the Lake -
Ripon Falls - General Account of the Source of the Nile - Descend again to Urondogani - The Truculent
Sakibobo.
7th to 11th. - With Budja appointed as the general director, a lieutenant of the Sakibobo's to furnish us
with sixty cows in his division at the first halting-place, and Kasoro (Mr Cat), a lieutenant of Jumba's, to
provide the boats at Urondogani, we started at 1 p.m., on the journey northwards. The Wanguana still
grumbled, swearing they would carry no loads, as they got no rations, and threatening to shoot us if we
pressed them, forgetting that their food had been paid for to the king in rifles, chronometers, and other
articles, costing about 2000 dollars, and, what was more to the point, that all the ammunition was in our
hands. A judicious threat of the stick, however, put things right, and on we marched five successive days
to Kari - as the place was afterwards named, in consequence of the tragedy mentioned below - the whole
distance accomplished being thirty miles from the capital, through a fine hilly country, with jungles and
rich cultivation alternating. The second march, after crossing the Katawana river with its many branches
flowing north-east into the huge rush-drain of Luajerri, carried us beyond the influence of the higher
hills, and away from the huge grasses which characterise the southern boundary of Uganda bordering on
the lake.
Each day's march to Kari was directed much in the same manner. After a certain number of hours'
travelling, Budja appointed some village of residence for the night, avoiding those which belonged to the
queen, lest any rows should take place in them, which would create disagreeable consequences with the
king, and preferring those the heads of which had been lately seized by the orders of the king.
Nevertheless, wherever we went, all the villagers forsook their homes, and left their houses, property,
and gardens an easy prey to the thieving propensities of the escort. To put a stop to this vile practice was
now beyond my power; the king allowed it, and his men were the first in every house, taking goats,
fowls, skins, mbugus, cowries, beads, drums, spears, tobacco, pombe, - in short, everything they could
lay their hands on - in the most ruthless manner. It was a perfect marauding campaign for them all, and
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