Four Young
Women, Virgins, The Daughters Of These High Officers, Nicely
Dressed, Were Shown In As Brides, And Ordered To Sit With The
Other Women.
A gamekeeper brought in baskets small antelopes,
called mpeo - with straight horns resembling those of the
saltiana, but with coats like the hog-deer of India - intended for
the royal kitchen.
Elderly gentlemen led in goats as commutation
for offences, and went through the ceremonies due for the favour
of being relieved of so much property. Ten cows were then driven
in, plundered from Unyoro, and outside, the voices of the brave
army who captured them were heard n'yanzigging vehemently.
Lastly, some beautifully made shields were presented, and,
because extolled, n'yanzigged over; when the king rose abruptly
and walked straight away, leaving my fools of men no better off
for food, no reparation for their broken heads, than if I had
never gone there.
22d. - I called on the queen to inquire after her health, and to
know how my men were to be fed; but, without giving me time to
speak, she flew at me again about my men plundering. The old
story was repeated; I had forty-five hungry men, who must have
food, and unless either she or the king would make some proper
provision for them, I could not help it. Again she promised to
feed them, but she objected to them bearing swords, "for of what
use are swords? If the Waganda don't like the Wanguana, can
swords prevail in our country?" And, saying this, she walked
away. I thought to myself that she must have directed the attack
upon my camp last night and is angry at the Wanguana swords
driving her men away. At 3 p.m. I visited the king, to have a
private chat, and state my grievances; but the three shots fired
brought him out to levee, when animals and sundry other things
were presented; and appointments of Wakungu were made for the
late gallant services of some of the men in plundering Unyoro.
The old executioner, Kunza, being present, I asked the king to
pardon his son. Surprised, at first Mtesa said, "Can it be
possible Bana has asked for this?" And when assured, in great
glee he ordered the lad's release, amidst shouts of laughter from
everybody but the agitated father, who n'yanzigged, cried, and
fell at my feet, making a host of powerful signs as a token of
his gratitude; for his heart was too full of emotion to give
utterance to his feelings. The king them, in high good-humour,
said, "You have called on me many times without broaching the
subject of Usoga, and perhaps you may fancy we are not exerting
ourselves in the matter; but my army is only now returning from
war" (meaning plundering in Unyoro), "and I am collecting another
one, which will open Usoga effectually." Before I could say
anything, the king started up in his usual manner, inviting a
select few to follow him to another court, when my medicine-chest
was inspected, and I was asked to operate for fistula on one of
the royal executioners. I had no opportunity of incurring this
responsibility; for while professing to prepare for the
operation, the king went off it a fling.
When I got home I found Sangoro, whom we thought lost or
murdered, quietly ensconced in camp. He had been foraging by
himself a long way from camp, in a neighbourhood where many of
the king's women are kept; and it being forbidden ground, he was
taken up by the keepers, placed in the stocks, and fed, until to-
day, when he extricated his legs by means of his sword, and ran
away. My ever-grumbling men mobbed me again, clamouring for
food, saying, as they eyed my goats, I lived at ease and
overlooked their wants. In vain I told them they had fared more
abundantly than I had since we entered Uganda; whilst I spared my
goats to have a little flesh of their cows as rapidly as
possible, selling the skins for pombe, which I seldom tasted;
they robbed me as long as I had cloth or beads, and now they had
all become as fat as hogs by lifting food off the Waganda lands.
As I could not quiet them, I directed that, early next morning,
Maula should go to the king and Nasib to the queen, while I
proposed going to Kamraviona's to work them all three about this
affair of food.
23d. - According to the plan of last night, I called early on the
Kamraviona. He promised me assistance, but with an air which
seemed to say, What are the sufferings of other men to me? So I
went home to breakfast, doubting if anything ever would be done.
As Kaggo, however, the second officer of importance, had
expressed a wish to see me, I sent Bombay to him for food, and
waited the upshot. Presently the king sent to say he wished to
see me with my compass; for the blackguard Maula had told him I
possessed a wonderful instrument, by looking at which I could
find my way all over the world. I went as requested, and found
the king sitting outside the palace on my chair dressed in
cloths, with my silk neckerchief and crest-ring, playing his
flute in concert with his brothers, some thirty-odd young men and
boys, one half of them manacled, the other half free, with an
officer watching over them to see that they committed no
intrigues.
We then both sat side by side in the shade of the courtwalls,
conversed and had music by turns; for the king had invited his
brothers here to please me, the first step towards winning the
coveted compass. My hair must now be shown and admired, then my
shoes taken off and inspected, and my trousers tucked up to show
that I am white all over. Just at this time Bombay, who had been
in great request, came before us laden with plantains.
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