The Boys Shall Not Go To England,
Neither Will Any Other White Men Come This Way." The Kamraviona
Made The Following Answer:
- "But there are two more things the
king wishes to know about:
He has asked the question before, but
forgotten the answers. Is there any medicine for women or
children which will prevent the offspring from dying shortly
after birth? - for it is a common infirmity in this country with
some women, that all their children die before they are able to
walk, whilst others never lose a child. The other matter of
inquiry was, What medicine will attach all subjects to their
king? - for Kamrasi wants some of that most particularly." I
answered, "Knowledge of good government, attended with wisdom and
justice, is all the medicine we know of; and this his boys can
best learn in England, and instruct him in when they return."
7th. - We went to meet Kamrasi at his Kafu palace to bid good-bye.
After all the huckstering and begging with which he had tormented
us, the state he chose to assume on this occasion was very
ludicrous. He sat with an air of the most solemn dignity, upon
his throne of skins, regarding us like mere slaves, and asking
what things we intended to send to him. On being told we did not
like being repeatedly reminded of our promises, he came down a
little from his dignity, saying, "And what answer have you about
the business on the island?" - meaning the request to fight his
brothers. That, of course, could not be listened to, as it was
against the principle of our country. Grant's rings were then
espied, and begged for, but without success. We told him it was
highly improper to beg for everything he saw, and if he persisted
in it, no one would ever dare to come near him again.
Then, to change the subject, we begged K'yengo's men might be
allowed to go as far as Gani with us; but no reply was given,
until the question was put again, with a request that the reason
might be told us for his not wishing it, as we saw great benefit
would be derived to Unyoro, as the Wanyamuezi instead of trading
merely with Karague and Zanzibar, would bring their ivory through
this country and barter it, thus converting Unyoro into a great
commercial country; when Kamrasi said, "We don't want any more
ivory in Unyoro; for the tusks are already as numerous as grass."
Kidgwiga was then appointed to receive all the things we were to
send back from Gani; our departure was fixed for the 9th; and the
king walked away as coldly as he came, whilst we felt as jolly as
birds released from a cage.
Floating islands of grass were seen going down the Kafu,
reminding us of the stories told at Kaze by Musa Mzuri, of the
violent manner in which, at certain season, the N'yanza was said
to rise and rush with such velocity that islands were uprooted
and carried away. In the evening a pot of pombe was brought,
when the man in charge, half-drunk, amused us with frantic
charges, as if he were fighting with his spear; and after
settling the supposed enemy, he delighted in tramping him under
foot, spearing him repeatedly through and through, then wiping
the blade of the spear in the grass, and finally polishing it on
this tufty head, when, with a grunt of satisfaction, he
shouldered arms and walked away a hero.
8th. - As the king seemed entirely to disregard our comfort on the
journey, we made a request for cows, butter, and coffee, in
answer to which we only got ten cows, the other things not being
procurable without delay. Twenty-four men were appointed us to
escort us and bring back our presents from Gani, which were to
be - six carbines, with a magazine of ammunition, a large brass or
iron water-pot, a hair-brush, lucifers, a dinner-knife, and any
other things procurable that had never been seen in Unyoro.
Two orphan boys, seized by the king as slaves, were brought for
education in England; but as they were both of the common negro
breed, with nothing attractive about them, and such as no one
could love but their mothers, we rejected them, fearing lest no
English boys would care to play with them, and told Kamrasi that
his offspring only could play with our children, and unless I got
some princes of that interesting breed, no one would ever
undertake to teach children brought from this country. The king
was very much disappointed at this announcement; said they were
his adopted children, and the only ones he could part with, for
his own boys were mere balls of fat, and too small to leave home.
Chapter XIX
The March to Madi
Sail down the Kafu - The Navigable Nile - Fishing and Sporting
Population - The Scenery on the River - An Inhospitable Governor -
Karuma Falls - Native Superstitions - Thieveries - Hospitable
Reception at Koki by Chongi.
After giving Kamrasi a sketching-stool, we dropped down the Kafu
two miles in a canoe, in order that the common people might not
see us; for the exclusive king would not allow any eyes but his
won to be indulged with the extraordinary sight of white men in
Unyoro! The palace side of the river, however, as we paddled
away, was thronged with anxious spectators amongst whom the most
conspicuous was the king's favourite nurse. Dr K'yengo's men
were very anxious to accompany us, even telling the king, if he
would allow the road to be opened to their countrymen, all would
hongo, or pay customs-duty to him; but the close, narrow-minded
king could not be persuaded. Bombay here told us Kamrasi at the
last moment wished to give me some women and ivory; and when told
we never accepted anything of that sort, wished to give them to
my head servants; but this being contrary to standing orders
also, he said he would smuggle them down to the boats for Bombay
in such a manner that I should not find out.
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