Now Were Brought In Some Thirty-Odd Women For Punishment And
Execution, Which The King, Who Of Late Had Been
Trying to learn
Kisuahili, in order that we might be able to converse together,
asked me, in that language, if
I would like to have some of these
women; and if so, how many? On my replying "One," he begged me
to have my choice, and a very pretty one was selected. God only
knows what became of the rest; but the one I selected, on
reaching home, I gave to Ilmas, my valet, for a wife. He and all
the other household servants were much delighted with this
charming acquisition; but the poor girl, from the time she had
been selected, had flattered herself she was to be Bana's wife,
and became immensely indignant at the supposed transfer, though
from the first I had intended her for Ilmas, not only to favour
him for his past good services, but as an example to my other
men, as I had promised to give them all, provided they behaved
well upon the journey, a "free-man's garden," with one wife each
and a purse of money, to begin a new life upon, as soon as they
reached Zanzibar. The temper of Meri and Kahala was shown in a
very forcible manner: they wanted this maid as an addition to my
family, called her into the hut and chatted till midnight,
instructing her not to wed with Ilmas; and then, instead of
turning into bed as usual, they all three slept upon the ground.
My patience could stand this phase of henpecking no longer, so I
called in Manamaka, the head Myamuezi woman, whom I had selected
for their governess, and directed her to assist Ilmas, and put
them to bed "bundling."
21st. - In the morning, before I had time to write letters, the
king invited me to join him at some new tank he was making
between his palace and the residence of his brothers. I found
him sitting with his brothers, all playing in concert on flutes.
I asked him, in Kisuahili, if he knew where Grant was? On
replying in the negative, I proposed sending a letter, which he
approved of; and Budja was again ordered to go with an army for
Petherick.
22d. - Mabruki and Bilal, with Budja, started to meet Petherick,
and three more men, with another letter to Grant. I called on
the king, who appointed the 24th instant for an excursion of
three days' hippopotamus-shooting on the N'yanza.
23d. - To-day occurred a brilliant instance of the capricious
restlessness and self-willedness of this despotic king. At noon,
pages hurried in to say that he had started for the N'yanza, and
wished me to follow him without delay. N'yanza, as I have
mentioned, merely means a piece of water, whether a pond, river,
or lake; and as no one knew which N'yanza he meant, or what
project was on foot, I started off in a hurry, leaving everything
behind, and walked rapidly through gardens, over hills, and
across rushy swamps, down the west flank of the Murchison Creek,
till 3 p.m., when I found the king dressed in red, with his
Wakungu in front and women behind, travelling along in the
confused manner of a pack of hounds, occasionally firing his
rifle that I might know his whereabouts.
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