The Mother Of The King By This Measure
Became Queen-Dowager, Or N'yamasore.
She halved with her son all
the wives of the deceased king not stationed at his grave, taking
second
Choice; kept up a palace only little inferior to her son's
with large estates, guided the prince-elect in the government of
the country, and remained until the end of his minority the
virtual ruler of the land; at any rate, no radical political
changes could take place without her sanction. The princesses
became the wives of the king; no one else could marry them.
Both mother and son had their Ktikiros or commander-in-chief,
also titled Kamraviona, as well as other officers of high rank.
Amongst them in due order of gradation are the Ilmas, a woman who
had the good fortune to have cut the umbilical cord at the king's
birth; the Sawaganzi, queen's sister and king's barber; Kaggao,
Polino, Sakibobo, Kitunzi, and others, governors of provinces;
Jumab, admiral of the fleet; Kasugu, guardian of the king's
sister; Mkuenda, factor; Kunsa and Usungu, first and second class
executioners; Mgemma, commissioner in charge of tombs; Seruti,
brewer; Mfumbiro, cook; numerous pages to run messages and look
after the women, and minor Wakungu in hundreds. One Mkungu is
always over the palace, in command of the Wanagalali, or guards
which are changed monthly; another is ever in attendance as
seizer of refractory persons. There are also in the palace
almost constantly the Wanangalavi, or drummers; Nsase, pea-gourd
rattlers; Milele, flute-players; Mukonderi, clarionet-players;
also players on wooden harmonicons and lap-harps, to which the
players sing accompaniments; and, lastly, men who whistle on
their fingers - for music is half the amusement of these courts.
Everybody in Uganda is expected to keep spears, shields and dogs,
the Uganda arms and cognisance; whilst the Wakungu are entitled
to drums. There is also a Neptune Mgussa, or spirit, who lives
in the depths of the N'yanza, communicates through the medium of
his temporal Mkungu, and guides to a certain extent the naval
destiny of the king.
It is the duty of all officers, generally speaking, to attend at
court as constantly as possible; should they fail, they forfeit
their lands, wives, and all belongings. These will be seized and
given to others more worthy of them; as it is presumed that
either insolence or disaffection can be the only motive which
would induce any person to absent himself for any length of time
from the pleasure of seeing his sovereign. Tidiness in dress is
imperatively necessary, and for any neglect of this rule the head
may be the forfeit. The punishment for such offences, however,
may be commuted by fines of cattle, goats, fowls, or brass wire.
All acts of the king are counted benefits, for which he must be
thanked; and so every deed done to his subjects is a gift
received by them, though it should assume the shape of flogging
or fine; for are not these, which make better men of them, as
necessary as anything?
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