Outside The Square Again, In A Line With The King, Were
The Household Arms, A Very Handsome Copper Kettledrum, Of
French
manufacture, surmounted on the outer edge with pretty little
brass bells depending from swan-neck-shaped copper wire, two
New
spears, a painted leather shield, and magic wands of various
devices, deposited on a carpet of leopard-skins - the whole scene
giving the effect of true barbarous royalty in its uttermost
magnificence.
Approaching, as usual, to take my seat beside the king, some
slight sensation was perceptible, and I was directed to sit
beyond the women. The whole ceremonies of this grand assemblage
were now obvious. Each regimental commandant in turn narrated
the whole services of his party, distinguishing those subs who
executed his orders well and successfully from those who either
deserted before the enemy or feared to follow up their success.
The king listened attentively, making, let us suppose, very
shrewd remarks concerning them; when to the worthy he awarded
pombe, helped with gourd-cups from large earthen jars, which has
n'yanzigged for vehemently; and to the unworthy execution. When
the fatal sentence was pronounced, a terrible bustle ensued, the
convict wrestling and defying, whilst the other men seized,
pulled and tore the struggling wretch from the crowd, bound him
hands and head together, and led or rather tumbled him away.
After a while, and when all business was over, the king begged me
to follow him into the palace. He asked again for stimulants - a
matter ever uppermost in his mind - and would not be convinced
that such things can do him no possible good, but would in the
end be deleterious. Grant's letter was then read to him before
his women, and I asked for the dismissal of all the Wanyambo, for
they had not only destroyed my peace and home, but were always
getting me into disrepute by plundering the Waganda in the
highways. No answer was given to this; and on walking home, I
found one of the king's women at my hut, imploring protection
against the Wanyambo, who had robbed and bruised her so often,
she could not stand such abuse any longer.
4th. - I sent Maula, early in the morning, with the plundered
woman, and desired him to request that the Wanyambo might be
dismissed. He returned, saying he delivered my message, but no
reply was given. I then searched for the king, and found him at
his brothers' suite of huts playing the flute before them. On
taking my seat, he proudly pointed to two vultures which he had
shot with bullet, saying to his brothers, "There, do you see
these birds? Bana shoots with shot, but I kill with bullets."
To try him, I then asked for leave to go to Usoga, as Grant was
so far off; but he said, "No, wait until he comes, and you shall
both go together then; you fancy he is far off, but I know
better. One of my men saw him coming along carried on a
stretcher." I said, "No; that must be a mistake, for he told me
by letter he would come by water."
Heavy rain now set in, and we got under cover; but the brothers
never moved, some even sitting in the streaming gutter, and
n'yanzigging whenever noticed.
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