§ SIR T. ESMONDEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any information as to the reported massacre of Bagandas in Uganda; and, if so, who were the instigators of the massacre; will he inquire whether their assailants were armed with quick-firing rifles; whether, as is stated, the perpetrators of the massacre were assisted by soldiers from Rampala, and equipped with a Maxim gun; and, whether steps will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such a massacre?
*MR. J. W. LOWTHERPerhaps the hon. Baronet will allow me to reply to this question. As I have already informed the House, no reliable information has been received from Captain Lugard since the date of the alleged massacre. From the known character and antecedents of that officer, it is impossible to believe that he was directly or indirectly a party to it. The next series of despatches from Uganda will probably contain a full account of the events which are supposed to have occurred about the end of January last.