THE KINGDOM OF ANKOLE IN UGANDA 147
brought the necessary beer and millet to certain local centres ready for transportation to the King's kraal
As tribute collection was exercised by the chiefs, there was, of necessity, a division of the country into areas. Every Muhima chief had, while in a given locality, the right to collect tribute, but part of his collection must be sent to the Mugabe. Besides the tribute sent in by the chiefs, the Mugabe levied tribute directly from the peasants in the Shema district. In this locality the Mugabe had two Bairu tribute collectors who collected by the moon. When the moon was on the increase, one man collected the tribute which was called orubabo. When the moon was waning another man collected it and this was called ekyirabamu. The quantity collected depended upon the needs of the Mugabe's establishment, the collectors being informed of the amounts necessary. Before and immediately after a cattle-raid, when feasting took place at the king's kraal, more tribute was necessary than during normal times. Failure on the part of the peasants to provide the necessary amount was followed by destruction of property and by beating. Persistent neglect of the tribute obligation often resulted in the execution of the rebellious peasant.
There was considerable variation in the quality of millet in Ankok and in the knowledge of beer-making. Whenever the Mugabe found a brew that was to his liking, he selected its makers as his private brewers. Such peasants had to take special pains over the Mugabe's bjeer and were forced to take it in person to the king. These private brewers often became favourites and were eventually rewarded with an engdbirano payment.
It is difficult to-day to assess the amount of tribute gathered, the hardships which it brought to the Bairu, and the reaction of the Bairu to the tribute burden. The peasants are unanimous in stating that this burden was heavy, but 'it was better to pay the tribute than die'. The old men complain most about the collectors, who, they claim, exacted more than the Mugabe demanded, keeping the surplus for themselves. When the collectors became too bold, the peasants would complain to the Mugabe, who would then appoint new collectors. It is said that both the peasants and collectors practised sorcery upon one another and that a particularly evil collector would be speared to death. The Bairu, then, were more concerned with the abuses of tribute collection than with the existence of tribute itself. The payment of tribute, like