The Cutlers
Show Knives And Forks Made Of Iron Inlaid With Brass And Copper;
The Furriers, Most Beautifully-Sewn Patchwork
Of antelopes'
skins; the habit-maker, sheets of mbugu barkcloth; the
blacksmith, spears; the maker of shields, his productions; - and
So forth; but nothing is ever given without rubbing it down, then
rubbing the face, and going through a long form of salutation for
the gracious favour the king has shown in accepting it.
When tired of business, the king rises, spear in hand, and,
leading his dog, walked off without word or comment leaving his
company, like dogs, to take care of themselves.
Strict as the discipline of the exterior court is, that of the
interior is not less severe. The pages all wear turbans of cord
made from aloe fibres. Should a wife commit any trifling
indiscretion, either by word or deed, she is condemned to
execution on the spot, bound by the pages and dragged out.
Notwithstanding the stringent laws for the preservation of
decorum by all male attendants, stark-naked full-grown women are
the valets.
On the first appearance of the new moon every month, the king
shuts himself up, contemplating and arranging his magic horns -
the horns of wild animals stuffed with charm-powder - for two or
three days. These may be counted his Sundays or church festivals,
which he dedicates to devotion. On other days he takes his
women, some hundreds, to bathe or sport in ponds; or, when tired
of that, takes long walks, his women running after him, when all
the musicians fall in, take precedence of the party, followed by
the Wakungu and pages, with the king in the centre of the
procession, separating the male company from the fair sex. On
these excursions no common man dare look upon the royal
procession. Should anybody by chance happen to be seen, he is at
once hunted down by the pages, robbed of everything he possessed,
and may count himself very lucky if nothing worse happens.
Pilgrimages are not uncommon, and sometimes the king spends a
fortnight yachting; but whatever he does, or wherever he goes,
the same ceremonies prevail - his musicians, Wakungu, pages, and
the wives take part in all.
But the greatest of all ceremonies takes place at the time of the
coronation. The prince-elect then first seeks favour from the
kings of all the surrounding countries, demanding in his might
and power one of each of their daughters in marriage, or else
recognition in some other way, when the Ilmas makes a pilgrimage
to the deceased king's tomb, to observe, by the growth an other
signs of certain trees, and plants, what destiny awaits the king.
According to the prognostics, they report that he will either
have to live a life of peace, or after coronation take the field
at the head of an army to fight either east, west, or both ways,
when usually the first march is on Kittara, and the second on
Usoga. The Mgussa's voice is also heard, but in what manner I do
not know, as all communication on state matters is forbidden in
Uganda.
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