I Felt That If I Did Not
Stand Up For My Social Position At Once, I Should Be Treated With
Contempt during the remainder of my visit, and thus lose the
vantage-ground I had assumed of appearing rather as
A prince than
a trader, for the purpose of better gaining the confidence of the
king. To avert over-hastiness, however - for my servants began to
be alarmed as I demurred against doing as I was bid - I allowed
five minutes to the court to give me a proper reception, saying,
if it were not conceded I would then walk away.
Nothing, however, was done. My own men, knowing me, feared for
me, as they did not know what a "savage" king would do in case I
carried out my threat; whilst the Waganda, lost in amazement at
what seemed little less than blasphemy, stood still as posts.
The affair ended by my walking straight away home, giving Bombay
orders to leave the present on the ground, and to follow me.
Although the king is said to be unapproachable, excepting when he
chooses to attend court - a ceremony which rarely happens -
intelligence of my hot wrath and hasty departure reached him in
an instant. He first, it seems, thought of leaving his toilet-
room to follow me, but, finding I was walking fast, and had gone
far, changed his mind, and sent Wakungu running after me. Poor
creatures! they caught me up, fell upon their knees, and implored
I would return at once, for the king had not tasted food, and
would not until he saw me.
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