11th May, 1872.—­A serpent of dark olive colour was found dead at my door this morning, probably killed by a cat.  Puss approaches very cautiously, and strikes her claws into the head with a blow delivered as quick as lightning; then holds the head down with both paws, heedless of the wriggling mass of coils behind it; she then bites the neck and leaves it, looking with interest to the disfigured head, as if she knew that therein had lain the hidden power of mischief.  She seems to possess a little of the nature of the Ichneumon, which was sacred in Egypt from its destroying serpents.  The serpent is in pursuit of mice when killed by puss.

12th May, 1872.—­Singeri, the headman of the Baganda here, offered me a cow and calf yesterday, but I declined, as we were strangers both, and this is too much for me to take.  I said that I would take ten cows at Mtesa’s if he offered them.  I gave him a little medicine (arnica) for his wife, whose face was burned by smoking over gunpowder.  Again he pressed the cow and calf in vain.

The reported death of Hamees Wodin Tagh is contradicted.  It was so circumstantial that I gave it credit, though the false reports in this land are one of its most marked characteristics.  They are “enough to spear a sow.”

13th May, 1872.—­He will keep His word—­the gracious One, full of grace and truth—­no doubt of it.  He said, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in nowise cast out,” and “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name I will give it.”  He WILL keep His word:  then I can come and humbly present my petition, and it will be all right.  Doubt is here inadmissible, surely.—­D.L.

Ajala’s people, sent to buy ivory in Uganda, were coming back with some ten tusks and were attacked at Ugalla by robbers, and one free man slain:  the rest threw everything down and fled.  They came here with their doleful tale to-day.

14th May, 1872.—­People came from Ujiji to-day, and report that many of Mohamad Bogharib’s slaves have died of small-pox—­Fundi and Suliman amongst them.  Others sent out to get firewood have been captured by the Waha.  Mohamad’s chief slave, Othman, went to see the cause of their losses received a spear in the back, the point coming out at his breast.  It is scarcely possible to tell how many of the slaves have perished since they were bought or captured, but the loss has been grievous.

Lewale off to Mfutu to loiter and not to fight.  The Bagoye don’t wish Arabs to come near the scene of action, because, say they, “When one Arab is killed all the rest ran away, and they frighten us thereby.  Stay at M’futu; we will do all the fighting.”  This is very acceptable advice.