As
Usual, She Kept Us Waiting Some Time, Then Appeared Sitting By An
Open Gate, And Invited Us, Together With Many Wakungu And
Wasumbua To Approach.
Very lavish with stale sour pombe, she
gave us all some, saving the Wasumbua, whom she addressed very
angrily, asking what they wanted, as they have been months in the
country.
These poor creatures, in a desponding mood, defended
themselves by saying, which was quite true, that they had left
their homes in Sorombo to visit her, and to trade. They had,
since their arrival in the country, been daily in attendance at
her palace, but never had the good fortune to see her excepting
on such lucky occasions as brought the Wazungu (white men) here,
when she opened her gates to them, but otherwise kept them shut.
The queen retorted, "And what have you brought me, pray? where is
it? Until I touch it you will neither see me nor obtain
permission to trade. Uganda is no place for idle vagabonds." We
then asked for a private interview, when, a few drops of rain
falling, the queen walked away, and we had orders to wait a
little. During this time two boys were birched by the queen's
orders, and an officer was sent out to inquire why the watch he
had given her did not go. This was easily explained. It had no
key; and, never losing sight of the main object, we took
advantage of the opportunity to add, that if she did not approve
of it, we could easily exchange it for another on arrival at
Gani, provided she would send an officer with us.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 560 of 767
Words from 153750 to 154023
of 210958
