This Expression Of Becoming Wrath Brought Every One To A Sense Of
His Duty; And I Then Told Them All
I was excessively angry with
Mtesa for turning back my messenger; nobody had ever dared do
such a thing before,
And I would never forgive the king until my
medicines had been given to the queen. As for my going to the
palace, it was out of the question, as I had been repeatedly
before told the king, unless it pleased him to give me a fitting
residence near himself. In order now that full weight should be
given to my expressions, I sent Bombay with the quinine to the
king, in company with the boys, to give an account of all that
had happened; and further, to say I felt exceedingly distressed I
could not go to see him constantly - that I was ashamed of my
domicile - the sun was hot to walk in; and when I went to the
palace, his officers in waiting always kept me waiting like a
servant - a matter hurtful to my honour and dignity. It now
rested with himself to remove these obstacles. Everybody
concerned in this matter left for the palace but Maula, who said
he must stop in camp to look after Bana. Bombay no sooner
arrived in the palace, and saw the king upon his throne, than
Mtesa asked him why he came? "By the instructions of Bana," was
his reply - "for Bana cannot walk in the sun; no white man of the
sultan's breed can do so."
Hearing this, the king rose in a huff, without deigning to reply,
and busied himself in another court. Bombay, still sitting,
waited for hours till quite tired, when he sent a boy in to say
he had not delivered half my message; he had brought medicine for
the queen, and as yet he had no reply for Bana. Either with
haughty indifference, or else with injured pride at his not being
able to command me at his pleasure, the king sent word, if
medicine is brought for the queen, then let it be taken to her;
and so Bombay walked off to the queen's palace. Arrived there,
he sent in to say he had brought medicine, and waited without a
reply till nightfall, when, tired of his charge, he gave the
quinine into N'yamgundu's hands for delivery, and returned h
home. Soon after, however, N'yamgundu also returned to say the
queen would not take the dose to-day, but hoped I would
administer it personally in the morning.
Whilst all this vexations business had been going on in court -
evidently dictated by extreme jealousy because I showed, as they
all thought, a preference for the queen - Maula, more than tipsy,
brought a Mkungu of some standing at court before me, contrary to
all law - for as yet no Mganda, save the king's pages, had ever
dared enter even the precincts of my camp. With a scowling,
determined, hang-dog-looking countenance, he walked impudently
into my hut, and taking down the pombe-suckers the queen had
given me, showed them with many queer gesticulations, intended to
insinuate there was something between the queen and me.
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