supply. New districts had therefore to be tapped, of which the principal one was Kebewa, between Mbai and Lagin. Friendly relations were established with the chief of this district and other neighbouring ones, who were promised presents should their people bring in food quickly for sale. In all some twenty small markets were established, at which food was purchased and thence conveyed by the natives to the nearest post on payment. Here they were made up into loads, and carried by Swahilis and natives from Mbai, Lagin, and Kebewa to Save. All this required much supervision on the part of Ferguson, as the tastes of the natives varied from day to day; sometimes they would require beads, at others cowries, and, again, either meat or wire, in exchange for their flour. At length, after some seventeen days' laborious work, 650 bundles of flour were collected, which enabled the once more concentrated expedition to rest several days at Save before marching to Mumia's.

During this period the restless Wa-Sore had again commenced their aggressive tactics, and, having on two occasions seriously interfered with the carriers on their way to and from Save, Ferguson was compelled to take active measures against them. He accordingly marched with a punitive column to Wembi's district, and camped close to that chief's village. Messengers sent to him and other sub-chiefs returned with the information that Wembi had run away, and that the others refused to visit camp or allow food to be brought in for sale. Ferguson then proceeded alone with his gun-bearer to try and induce these natives to listen to reason, and explained that he wished to make friends with them and purchase food, but, at the same time, they must clearly understand he would allow no interference with other friendly natives carrying food for the use of the expedition. The natives promised to bring Wembi into camp, and also flour for sale, but these promises were not fulfilled.

About 8 a.m. next morning large numbers of Wa-Sore

began to collect on the surrounding hill-slopes, and horns were sounded in all directions, and it at once became evident that they intended taking hostile action of some sort. Ferguson fell in his men ready, strengthened the camp zeriba, posted pickets to guard against surprise, and prepared to act as occasion might demand.

In a short time the head of a column of natives carrying flour from Mbai to Save appeared in sight, and as these approached the base of the steep cliffs overlooking the track, it was seen that the Wa-Sore were fitting arrows to their bows, whilst other parties were moving up through the bush to intercept the food column. It was necessary to move out to their defence. Word at the same time was brought in from the pickets stating that the Wa-Sore were collecting in large numbers, and gradually drawing towards the camp from below and on the right flank.

Leaving one detachment for the protection of the camp, Ferguson moved out with two others to drive off the threatening natives. One band had already commenced to attack the carriers, so he proceeded against them, leaving Farag Effendi and his Sudanese to deal with those approaching the camp. The former, some 200 to 300 strong, had selected an admirable position overlooking the track, but were quickly put to flight by a few well-directed volleys, and concealed themselves in bush, whence they discharged poisoned arrows, one of Ferguson's men being wounded.

The bush was eventually cleared, but the natives on the cliffs above hurled spears and fired arrows on the attacking force, until they were eventually dispersed by a flank attack on their position, which entailed scaling up precipitous rocks. This point attained, volleys were fired at a dense mass of natives approaching with the intention of reinforcing those who had been driven off. All the Wa-Sore were cleared out of the bush, the food convoy joined, and escorted past this spot.

Meanwhile Farag Effendi was busy, his section firing heavily, so Ferguson proceeded to his assistance. His arrival was timely, for the small party of Sudanese were nearly surrounded; but after some brisk firing the Wa-Sore wavered and ran. During the pursuit one prisoner was captured, and the position of their place of refuge-the usual cave-ascertained, and found with considerable difficulty. Leaving a guard above its mouth, Ferguson and a party of men climbed down to the entrance, which proved to be merely a long horizontal fissure in the face of the cliff, and could only be entered by the men crawling on their hands and knees. When within, the cave was seen to be one of great extent, from the inner recesses of which the natives discharged arrows safe from rifle fire, as they remained concealed behind large boulders and lay in cracks and crevices.

Eventually they retired and disappeared up numerous tunnels radiating from the main chamber of the cave. Three of their number were captured, amongst whom was the truculent chief Wembi, who was kept a prisoner until the expedition left Save. A number of goats and sheep and some cattle were also seized, and, hoping that the punishment the Wa-Sore had received would have a salutary effect in the future, Ferguson returned to camp. In the attack on the cave one of the Sudanese corporals was killed, whilst gallantly handling his section of men, by an arrow which pierced his throat, and three other men were wounded.

The Wa-Sore gave no further trouble, and before the expedition left for the Uganda road again had entirely changed their tactics, and brought in food for sale.

CHAPTER XVII

RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION TO MUMIA'S

ON December 15, 1898, with the exception of Bright and a few men at Mumia's, the whole expedition was concentrated on and about Mount Elgon, as some thirty men, who had assisted in the transportation of the steel boat to Mumia's returned on that day from Kavirondo. These men brought a letter from Bright, in which the latter acquainted me of the arrangements he had made regarding the collection of food in Ketosh and Kavirondo, and also as to having agreed to purchase some 250 loads of flour from a trader-Hoare by name-who was to receive an anna a pound for all he supplied. Ferguson was still up in the Mbai district purchasing food, for the carriage of which to the Lower Save post men of the other columns were being sent up.

With a veiw to a possible subsequent advance north, it had been Macdonald's intention to locate the Sudanese under Pereira on the Elgon spurs temporarily; but these plans he had to abandon from various causes. On arrival at Save he found that the reserve trade goods of beads and other articles were nearly exhausted. This was due to the increase in the local prices asked for flour, and also to the fact that these goods had necessarily been left largely to the care of Swahilis, who are somewhat prodigal in the matter of expenditure, and were both unavoidable. He further now learned that the second year's supply of trade goods, indents for which had been sent down to the coast from Fort Smith in August, 1897, had not yet reached Mumia's.

We subsequently found them all stacked at Fort Smith on our arrival there in February, 1899; beyond that place they had not been forwarded, as almost the entire available transport along the Uganda road had been requisitioned for conveying up the tons upon tons of rations necessary for the maintenance of the Baluch Regiment in Uganda. The Government station at Mumia's could not assist us in the matter of trade goods, for they themselves were extremely short of these necessities. Macdonald had previously deposited with the chief at Titi all the surplus food he had with his column in view of a fresh advance, and had fed the column on its return journey by bartering cows in exchange for goats and sheep, and these again in exchange for grain, with the Karamojo natives. To prepare for this fresh advance the Sudanese escort under Pereira, and a few Swahilis who had volunteered to prolong their engagement, were to be left at Save. The greater majority of the remaining Swahilis of the expedition also agreed to take on service again for another two years, provided they were given a few weeks' leave at the coast to see their families. As, however, it would now be impossible to maintain the column at Save for lack of trade goods wherewith to purchase food, Macdonald decided to withdraw the intended garrison from that place and locate it at Mumia's, whilst the remainder of the expedition proceeded to the coast. It was subsequently arranged that as no further exploratory work was expedient, the expedition should be broken up on arrival at Mombasa.

The march from Save to Mumia's was to be made in two columns proceeding by the route to the east of Mount Elgon. The first, consisting of some 400 men under my command, accompanied by McLoughlin and Pereira, left Save on December 18, followed two days later by the Headquarter Column under Macdonald, accompanied by Ferguson and Tracy. In order to avoid the hilly region traversed by