Page:Two kings of Uganda.djvu/99

usual brought it to our ears. We got out all our available guns, fearing that the rabble, now let loose, might make a sudden attack upon the mission; and I loaded my revolver, putting it at my head, and then lay down to restless sleep and troubled dreams.

In the morning, Tom the coffee-maker before mentioned, was early stirring, and when I looked out of my window, he saw me, and put his hand to his mouth, and said in a stage whisper, "Sultani amekufa" (the sultan is dead). Soon afterwards I awakened my little boy Lugalama, who slept upstairs near me, and told him that the king was dead; he said with great consternation, "Munange tunakola tutiya?" My friend, what shall we do? It was indeed an alarming piece of news for us all. It might mean the total destruction of the mission property, and possibly the loss of our own lives and the slavery or death of our boys.

When the great earls met in council, it was debated whether the strangers should be attacked-namely the Arabs and ourselves. Kyambalango, our supposed friend, and Mukwenda of Singo, were in favour of robbing us; but the clear-headed Katikiro (chief judge) combated their proposal on the ground that it would discourage the visits of strangers and the development of trade.

The Arabs were all expecting an attack, and had spent the night armed to the teeth. They had also armed their slaves and given them gunpowder. The next day, two men arrived from Mackay, who was down at the lake about twelve miles off overhauling the mission