The Whole Ceremonies Of This Grand Assemblage
Were Now Obvious.
Each regimental commandant in turn narrated
the whole services of his party, distinguishing those subs who
executed his orders well and successfully from those who either
deserted before the enemy or feared to follow up their success.
The king listened attentively, making, let us suppose, very
shrewd remarks concerning them; when to the worthy he awarded
pombe, helped with gourd-cups from large earthen jars, which has
n'yanzigged for vehemently; and to the unworthy execution. When
the fatal sentence was pronounced, a terrible bustle ensued, the
convict wrestling and defying, whilst the other men seized,
pulled and tore the struggling wretch from the crowd, bound him
hands and head together, and led or rather tumbled him away.
After a while, and when all business was over, the king begged me
to follow him into the palace. He asked again for stimulants - a
matter ever uppermost in his mind - and would not be convinced
that such things can do him no possible good, but would in the
end be deleterious. Grant's letter was then read to him before
his women, and I asked for the dismissal of all the Wanyambo, for
they had not only destroyed my peace and home, but were always
getting me into disrepute by plundering the Waganda in the
highways. No answer was given to this; and on walking home, I
found one of the king's women at my hut, imploring protection
against the Wanyambo, who had robbed and bruised her so often,
she could not stand such abuse any longer.
4th. - I sent Maula, early in the morning, with the plundered
woman, and desired him to request that the Wanyambo might be
dismissed. He returned, saying he delivered my message, but no
reply was given. I then searched for the king, and found him at
his brothers' suite of huts playing the flute before them. On
taking my seat, he proudly pointed to two vultures which he had
shot with bullet, saying to his brothers, "There, do you see
these birds? Bana shoots with shot, but I kill with bullets."
To try him, I then asked for leave to go to Usoga, as Grant was
so far off; but he said, "No, wait until he comes, and you shall
both go together then; you fancy he is far off, but I know
better. One of my men saw him coming along carried on a
stretcher." I said, "No; that must be a mistake, for he told me
by letter he would come by water."
Heavy rain now set in, and we got under cover; but the brothers
never moved, some even sitting in the streaming gutter, and
n'yanzigging whenever noticed. The eldest brother offered me his
cup of pombe, thinking I would not drink it; but when he saw its
contents vanishing fast, he cried "lekerow!" (hold fast!) and as
I pretended not to understand him, continuing to drink, he rudely
snatched the cup from my lips. Alternate concerts with the
brothers, and conversation about hunting, in consequence of a
bump caused by a fall with steeple-chasing, which as discovered
on my forehead, ended this day's entertainment.
5th. - As all the Wanguana went foraging, I was compelled to stop
at home. The king, however, sent an officer for Grant, because I
would not believe in his statement yesterday that he was coming
by land; and I also sent a lot of men with a litter to help him
on, and bring me an answer.
6th. - I went to the palace at the king's command. He kept us
waiting an hour, and then passing out by a side gate, beckoned us
to follow. He was dressed in European clothes, with his guns and
tin box of clothes leading the way. His first question was,
"Well, Bana, where are your guns? for I have called you to go
shooting." "The pages never said anything about shooting, and
therefore the guns were left behind." Totally unconcerned, the
king walked on to his brothers, headed by a band and attendants,
who were much lauded for being ready at a moment's notice. A
grand flute concert was then played, one of the younger brothers
keeping time with a long hand-drum; then the band played; and
dancing and duets and singing followed. After the usual
presentations, fines, and n'yanziggings, I asked for leave to go
and meet Grant by water, but was hastily told that two boats had
been sent for him when we returned from the N'yanza, and that two
runners, just returned from Karague, said he was on the way not
far off. The child-king then changed his dress for another suit
of clothes for his brothers to admire, and I retired, much
annoyed, as he would neither give pombe for myself, nor plantains
for my men: and I was further annoyed on my arrival at home, to
find the Wanguana mobbing my hut and clamouring for food, and
calling for an order to plunder if I did not give them beads,
which, as the stock had run short, I could only do by their
returning to Karague for the beads stored there; and, even if
they were obtained, it was questionable if the king would revoke
his order prohibiting the sale of provisions to us.
7th. - To-day I called at the queen's, but had to wait five hours
in company with some attendants, to whom she sent pombe
occasionally; but after waiting for her nearly all day, they were
dismissed, because excess of business prevented her seeing them,
though I was desired to remain. I asked these attendants to sell
me food for beads, but they declared they could not without
obtaining permission. In the evening the queen stumped out of
her chambers and walked to the other end of her palace, where the
head or queen of the Wichwezi women lived, to whom everybody paid
the profoundest respect. On the way I joined her, she saying, in
a state of high anger, "You won't call on me, now I have given
you such a charming damsel:
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