Her Councillors
Were In Attendance; And In The Yard A Band Of Music, With Many
Minor Wakungu Squatting In A Semicircle, Completed Her Levee.
Maula on my behalf opened conversation, in allusion to her
yesterday's question, by saying I had applied to Mtesa for a
palace, that I might be near enough both their majesties to pay
them constant visits.
She replied, in a good hearty manner, that
indeed was a very proper request, which showed my good sense, and
ought to have been complied with at once; but Mtesa was only a
Kijana or stripling, and as she influenced all the government of
the country, she would have it carried into effect. Compliments
were now passed, my presents given and approved of; and the
queen, thinking I must be hungry, for she wanted to eat herself,
requested me to refresh myself in another hut. I complied,
spread my bedding, and ordered in my breakfast; but as the hut
was full of men, I suspended a Scotch plain, and quite eclipsed
her mbugu curtain.
Reports of this magnificence at once flew to the queen, who sent
to know how many more blankets I had in my possession, and
whether, if she asked for one, she would get it. She also
desired to see my spoons, fork, and pipe - an English meerschaum,
mounted with silver; so, after breakfast, I returned to see her,
showed her the spoons and forks, and smoked my pipe, but told her
I had no blankets left but what formed my bed. She appeared very
happy and very well, did not say another word about the blankets,
but ordered a pipe for herself, and sat chatting, laughing, and
smoking in concert with me.
I told her I had visited all the four quarters of the globe, and
had seen all colours of people, but wondered where she got her
pipe from, for it was much after the Rumish (Turkish) fashion,
with a long stick. Greatly tickled at the flattery, she said,
"We hear men like yourself come to Amara from the other side, and
drive cattle away." "The Gallas, or Abyssinians, who are tall
and fair, like Rumanika," I said, "might do so, for they live not
far off on the other side of Amara, but we never fight for such
paltry objects. If cows fall into our hands when fighting, we
allow our soldiers to eat them, while we take the government of
the country into our hands." She then said, "We hear you don't
like the Unyamuezi route, we will open the Ukori one for you."
"Thank your majesty," said I, in a figurative kind of speech to
please Waganda ears; and turning the advantage of the project on
her side, "You have indeed hit the right nail on the head. I do
not like the Unyamuezi route, as you may imagine when I tell you
I have lost so much property there by mere robbery of the people
and their kings. The Waganda do not see me in a true light; but
if they have patience for a year or two, until the Ukori road is
open, and trade between our respective countries shall commence,
they will then see the fruits of my advent; so much so, that
every Mganda will say the first Uganda year dates from the
arrival of the first Mzundu (white) visitor.
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