The Perk Monkeys, However, Turned Up Their Noses At Such Menial
Service, And Uledi Was Instructed In Their Stead.
10th. - To surprise the queen, and try another dodge, I called on
her with all my dining things and bedding, to make a day of it,
and sleep the night.
She admitted me at once, when I gave her
quinine, on the proviso that I should stop there all day and
night to repeat the dose, and tell her the reason why I did not
come before. She affected great anger at Mtesa having interfered
with my servants when coming to see her - sympathised with me on
the distance I had to travel - ordered a hut to be cleared for me
ere night - told me to eat my breakfast in the next court - and,
rising abruptly, walked away. At noon we heard the king
approaching with his drums and rattle-traps, but I still waited
on till 5 p.m., when, on summons, I repaired to the throne-hut.
Here I heard, in an adjoining court, the boisterous, explosive
laughs of both mother and son - royal shouts loud enough to be
heard a mile off, and inform the community that their sovereigns
were pleased to indulge in hilarity. Immediately afterwards, the
gate between us being thrown open, the king, like a very child,
stood before us, dressed for the first time, in public, in what
Europeans would call clothes. For a cap he wore a Muscat alfia,
on his neck a silk Arab turban, fastened with a ring.
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