They then all agreed to this view, and further assured me it went to Kamrasi's palace in Unyoro, where it joined the N'yanza, meaning the Nile.
Pushing on again we arrived at N'yama Goma, where I found Irungu--the great ambassador I had first met in Usui, with all his "children"-- my enemy Makinga, and Suwarora's deputation with wire,--altogether, a collection of one hundred souls.

They had been here a month waiting for leave to approach the king's palace.

Not a villager was to be seen for miles round; not a plantain remained on the trees, nor was there even a sweet potato to be found in the ground.

The whole of the provisions of this beautiful place had been devoured by the king's guests, simply because he had been too proud to see them in a hurry.

This was alarming, for I feared I should be served the same trick, especially as all the people said this kind of treatment was a mere matter of custom which those great kings demanded as a respect due to their dignity; and Bombay added, with laughter, they make all manner of fuss to entice one to come when in the distance, but when they have got you in their power they become haughty about it, and think only of how they can best impose on your mind the great consequence which they affect before their own people.
Here I was also brought to a standstill, for N'yamgundu said I must wait for leave to approach the palace.