CHAPTER 58
ANCIENT TRADING IN BUSOGA
There used to be a system of trading in Busoga which was carried out in things such as ivory, cattle, goats, hoes, bark cloth, hens, grown crops; sun-dried bananas, fish, worked metal goods such as canoes, shields and drums. There was also another way in which trade was done, which was to trap birds which were exchanged for hens or bark cloth or else by obtaining white ants which were exchangeable for hens or bark cloth, as well as trading in pots, making baskets and mats, hats, ropes, animal-trapping nets and in many other ways.
Trading with other countries was very difficult because the journeys were very long, and passing through the countries which lay between was unsafe, as there was much hatred towards traders. Goods taken through different countries had to pass through chiefs ruling these countries or villages until they reached their destinations.
A person having a valued thing for taking through other countries had to give away many things in order to get the valued thing safely to its destination. In most cases, important people would befriend the people of intexediate countries or villages so as to give them safe passage.
When goods for trade were being moved to their business centres or destinations, no matter whether it was by day or night, the owners had to guard themselves with spears and shields at all times, and it was safer to go in large numbers. That was how they managed to get their goods through dangerous places and people. At night it was not as dangerous as during the day but all the same they had to guard themselves the same way. That is why it was not easy for a poor person to go to distant countries or places in order to trade and bring back merchandise. That is also why trading was not very successful during those days.
Nevertheless, local people used to trade among themselves in the country in a friendly way. The system which they used was to buy from one another by means of exchanging one thing for another. For instance, one who had food could exchange it for fish, a goat for bark cloth, slaves for hoes, etc. That was how people traded among their friends.
The senior people or chiefs could get their trade goods from other countries, such as Bunyoro, where they purchased hoes; Buganda — bark cloth; Masaba, Bugishu — ivory and Bukedi where they could get cattle, goats and sheep. From the islands they bought white ants, fish and edible gnuts, etc.
ANCIENT EXPORTS OF BUSOGA
Slaves were being exported to Buganda, Bukedi, Bunyoro and Kavirondo and most of the other trade goods used to be exchanged locally among the Basoga themselves either in the markets, roads, or villages.