girdles of long-haired goatskin (from Usoga) hanging
from their backs and waists. Daily these wild-looking
creatures shouted and rushed with all their might
along the roads, spears and shields being held high in
the a ir; they were M’tessa’s men preparing and drilling
for a slave-hunting campaign. The day after my
first visit to the king, he came to return the call
without giving us any warning. We heard a noisy
crowd passing outside our enclosure, and immediately,
through the fence, came the young king in a tremendous
hurry. He was not the puppet of yesterday,
but dressed, like a negro sailor, in an open coat of
bed-curtain chintz, loose white trousers or “ pyjamas,”
having a broad stripe of scarlet; his feet and head
were naked. He was shown into an iron chair, and
seeing some books he turned over their pages as a
monkey would; asked to see the picture of Rumanika,
and said he would like to know when his own portrait
was to be done. His brothers, a mob of little ragamuffins,
several in handcuffs, sat behind him chattering
very familiarly, and tearing all the while at
sugar-cane. I was told to show them my hair by
taking off my hat. We were asked if we did not
admire the leather wideawake made by one of the
brothers?—and the vulture, the dove, and the horn-bill
his highness had just shot? This scene over, the king
rose, ordered Speke to follow him, and, led by the
mob of brothers, all rushed madly away. On following
them, the chained lads, escorted by two servants,
were very much in the rear, and hobbled along, poor
little fellows, in perfect good-humour, looking as
strong, healthy, and contented as any of the othefs.
I t was said that the king, before coming to the throne,
always went about in irons, as his small brothers now
do. Where could they have got this custom ? Wishing
to know what had become of Speke, I went in
search of him, and found on the way a flight of pages
—there is no other name for it, as they always go at
frill speed, their robes flying, when serving the king.
They were going with torches to light his highness
home; but they knew not what route he had taken.
It afterwards appeared that he had entered a house to
dine upon boiled beef and wine, a share of which he
offered to Speke; then, taking a suit of clothes out
of the tin box he had got from us, and which was
carried to this picnic, he cast aside his torn and dirty
suit for another, and went home by torchlight and
drums.
My introduction to the king’s mother took place
on the 1st of June. Captain Speke and myself
went with five or six Seedees carrying pads of grass
(stools not being permitted), with our gourds of
pombd, our sucking-reeds, and umbrellas. The dowager
lady had been informed of our intention, but
took her time as to seeing us. Walking over one hill
to the top of another, in three-quarters of an hour we
were at her royal highness’s gate. On getting as far
as the second courtyard, we were told to wait, with
the other visitors, in the drum or ante-house. Here
for an hour we were left to smoke, drink, and doze.
A musical instrument in the place was new to me—a
harmonicon of twelve blocks of wood, which, on being
struck, gave out notes as glasses do when played.
They rested upon the trunks of plantain, and were
isolated from each other by thin reeds. We took our
hats off on approaching the old lady, who laughed
p