Some of his people, out prowling two days ago, killed a slave.  The war is not so near an end as many hoped.

* * * * *

[Mtesa’s people on their way back to Uganda were stuck fast at Unyanyembe the whole of this time:  it does not appear at all who the missionary was to whom he refers.]

* * * * *

Lewale sends off the Baganda in a great hurry, after detaining them for six months or more till the war ended, and he now gets pagazi of Banyamwezi for them.  This haste (though war is not ended) is probably because Lewale has heard of a missionary through me.

Mirambo fires now from inside the stockade alone.

19th July, 1872.—­Visited Salim bin Seff, and was very hospitably entertained.  He was disappointed that I could not eat largely.  They live very comfortably:  grow wheat, whilst flour and fruits grace their board.  Salim says that goat’s flesh at Zanzibar is better than beef, but here beef is better than goat’s flesh.  He is a stout, jolly fellow.

20th July, 1872.—­High cold winds prevail.  Temperature, 6 A.M., 57 deg.; noon, on the ground, 122 deg..  It may be higher, but I am afraid to risk the thermometer, which is graduated to 140 deg. only.

21st July, 1872.—­Bought two milch cows (from a Motusi), which, with their calves, were 17 dotis or 34 fathoms.  The Baganda are packing up to leave for home.  They take a good deal of brandy and gin for Mtesa from the Moslems.  Temperature at noon, 96 deg..

Another nest of wagtails flown.  They eat bread crumbs.  The whydahs are busy pairing.  Lewale returns to-day from M’futu on his own private business at Kwikuru.  The success of the war is a minor consideration with all.  I wish my men would come, and let me off from this weary waiting.

Some philosophising is curious.  It represents our Maker forming the machine of the universe:  setting it a-going, and able to do nothing more outside certain of His own laws.  He, as it were, laid the egg of the whole, and, like an ostrich, left it to be hatched by the sun.  We can control laws, but He cannot!  A fire set to this house would consume it, but we can throw on water and consume the fire.  We control the elements, fire and water:  is He debarred from doing the same, and more, who has infinite wisdom and knowledge?  He surely is greater than His own laws.  Civilization is only what has been done with natural laws.  Some foolish speculations in morals resemble the idea of a Muganda, who said last night, that if Mtesa didn’t kill people now and then, his subjects would suppose that he was dead!

23rd July, 1872.—­The departure of the Baganda is countermanded, for fear of Mirambo capturing their gunpowder.

Lewale interdicts them from going; he says, “You may go, but leave all the gunpowder here, because Mirambo will follow and take it all to fight with us.”  This is an afterthought, for he hurried them to go off.  A few will go and take the news and some goods to Mtesa, and probably a lot of Lewale’s goods to trade at Karagwe.