ABSTRACT
SUCH was the position in the middle of February 1892. Bagge had arrived safely on the 15th, and on the same day I sent a fourth embassy to the Mohammedans, in case the former party should fail to find them. I found that a small party of the Mohammedan faction had long been living near Kampala for protection against the R. Catholic chiefs, who, they said, had tried to force them to read their religion. They had originally come to look for some relatives. These men now came forward and offered to convey my letters to the Mohammedans. I sent selected men of my own with them, and again told them that I was anxious for peace, but warned them that I had sent orders to the Sudanese in Toru to attack them in rear if they came
with war to Uganda. I sent also letters to this effect to De Winton. Several messengers had arrived from him giving me good news of affairs in Toru. Two of these parties had very narrow escapes from the hostile faction. I therefore instructed him not to send any more at present unless with important news, and by a circuitous route. He was to have a force of Sudanese in readiness in case the Mohammedans attacked us, but otherwise to be most careful to avoid hostilities. I also pointed out how important it was to maintain friendly relations with Ntali, to whom at this time I sent a small present by the hand of an envoy who had come from him to Kampala. At this very time a considerable party deserted from the Mohammedans and joined us. Their accounts were conflicting, but I gathered that there had been some differences among their faction, the religious party being utterly opposed to the drinking of pombe, while the laxer followers of Mbogo would not forego it.
