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MEETING WITH MACKAY

Buganda. Making our way along by the Archipelago of the Sesse Isles, we finally landed at a place called Entebe, about thirty miles from Mutesa's Lubiri, or capital.

A tremendous blowing off of gunpowder by my Arab companions announced our arrival, and directly we landed I made up the letters for Mackay and his companion, and sent two of my men off to the mission with them. The following day Mackay himself arrived, and gave me a warm and kindly welcome. I looked with intense interest upon the man with whom for the next few years I was to be so closely associated, and of whom I had heard so much ; and who had remained at his post with such indomitable courage and patient perseverance. General Gordon had wished to secure him as one of his lieutenants in the Soudan but Mackay preferred to do his self-denying work for Africa humbly as an English missionary rather than in the more pompous guise of an Egyptian pasha.*

As soon as Mackay met me my travelling troubles were at an end. He had brought a fine Muscat donkey down to the port to meet me. I gladly mounted and preceded him to the mission station, where I was kindly received by his fellow-missionary, Rev. P. O'Flaherty, who showed me my new quarters in the comfortable house which Mackay had built. How I first became acquainted with King Mutesa I must leave for another chapter.

* Mr. Mackay has been lately decorated by the Khedive with the order of the Osmanieh of the 4th class for his services to Emin Pasha