The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume IX, No. 4 [‎194v] (59/172)

376 TWO YEAKS’ TRAVEL IN UGANDA, UNYORO, AND ON THE UPPER NILE.
I have heard the chiefs say that not one of them would dare to touch
Kabba Eega even if they came up with him. We marched back from
here to Masindi, where a strong fort was built, about 1| mile due west
of Mount Fumbi, and a little east of Baker’s old fort. It is exactly in
the same latitude as Kibero, namely, 1° 41' N., and Mruli is in 1° 39' N.
This is our most northern line of occupation; the whole of Unyoro has
now been definitely declared to be in the Protectorate.
On our return to Hoima, we found that they had been having exciting
times there with lions, which had carried off several people. The natives
all said they had never heard of lions there before; they fortunately went
away from Hoima after this, but took some women and children from
Kitanwa in July. The grass huts proved little obstacles to the lions,
who used to scratch their way through, and then seize the inmates.
I must now turn to Southern Unyoro, into which I was sent with
two companies of Sudanese to attack the Arab slavers, whilst Major
Cunningham was laid up with a severe attack of haematuric fever, the
most deadly of all African diseases. Starting from Fort Hoima, we
steered at first a little west of south on Msaga Ncasi, a high conical
hill, round which there is a great deal of cultivation, and then through
Misriandura, past the left of some high hills, which form the gate of
Bugoma. This latitude, 1° 13' N., was the most southern point reached
by Baker in his route from Mruli to Yacovia, when he discovered the
Albert Nyanza. We then crossed two big swamps, the headwaters of
the Kafu, which can be seen winding away in the distance.
After passing over some fairly open rising ground, it is curious to
find, 5 miles further on, a river about 30 yards broad, and, at the time
we crossed it, 4 feet deep, running off in the opposite direction towards
the Albert Nyanza. This river is called the Bavasanja, and would be
impassable during the rains; it rises in the same swamps as the Kafu.
A very well-kept road led from this point to the Arab station at
Mwenda’s, which we had the good fortune to surprise and capture, and
where many slaves were found; also a quantity of gunpowder, arms,
ivory, and a great quantity of cloth. I may mention that these Arabs
had been in the country for some years, and it was on them Kabba Rega
depended for his supply of gunpowder and guns in exchange for slaves
and ivory. One woman told me she had been sold for three goats, with
one goat extra for her child.
'I he country between Mwenda’s and Kisimba is very fertile, and
co\eied with banana plantations and cultivation. After crossing a
deep swamp and river called Embaya, the country alters entirely, and
one enters a line of rugged hills, covered with blocks of granite in
< urious and fantastic shapes. Streams rise in these hills, which rapidly
become papyrus swamps. Passing through a gap in tho hills, we
gradual!} ascended to a high mountainous plateau, where there is a big
\ illage called Bianja. I urther on we reached the Msisi river, which