I24 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
their cattle died, he gave them cows from his own herd and helped to pay their marriage-prices. By means of his magical powers, he could make rain, make barren women bear children, and prevent disease among cattle. Wamara had many sons and relatives, who are all described in song and legend. There was Murindwa, the eldest son of Wamara, who was noted for his wisdom; there was Mugenyi, who herded his cows at Bwera and is said to have built the earthworks at Biggo; Kazoba was another son, 'beautiful as a berry and as timid as a marsh antelope'; Ibona was a diviner; Riangombe, a hunter; Kagoro, a conqueror of new pasture lands, foremost in all wars; Mugasha was the maker of water holes for cattle.
The Abachwezi, then, lived in Ankole, ruling the country, herding their cattle and performing miracles, but they did not remain long. Misfortune came to them. First, the people began to disobey the Abachwezi and even their wives turned against them. Then the cows began to die and the people to sicken of a new disease. When the cow Bihogo and the leading bull died, the Abachwezi became worried and wanted tojnove on. The final catastrophe was the murder of Murindwa by the members of the Abasingo clan. He was said to have been thrown into a pit and to have died there. But before leaving, Kagoro avenged the death of his brother by killing many of the Abasingos, and Wamara cursed the clan and to this day the curse is maintained in Ankole. The Abachwezi then moved on into Karagwe with what cattle they had left. Mugasha is the tragic hero of this retreat. On being forced to leave Ankole, he became very sad and tried to commit suicide. The other Abachwezi, however, prevented him from accomplishing this by magic. Instead of disappearing into Lake Kyaikambara, like the other Abachwezi, Mugasha went to the Sesse Islands in Lake Victoria and he is said to be there still.
While the Abachwezi were fleeing from Ankole, Katuku, a Mwiru headman, overtook them and persuaded Ruhinda, one of the younger Abachwezi, and his mother, Nzhunwakyi, to return to Ankole with him. There was a long debate before Ruhinda finally assented. He is then said to have been hidden along with the royal drum, Bagyendanwa, by Katuku and his followers for some time. When peace once again ruled over Ankole, Ruhinda came out of hiding and established himself as ruler of the Bahima and the Bairu, and thus he became the founder of the Abahinda