their country—but they would merely gouge out his eyes
and set him at large again; for without the power of
sight he could do them no harm.
I then recommended, as the best advice I could give
him for the time being, to take some strong measures
against Suwarora and the system of taxation carried on
in Usui. These would have the effect of bringing men
with superior knowledge into the country — for it was
only through the power of knowledge that good government
could be obtained. Suwarora at present stopped
eight-tenths of the ivory-merchants who might be inclined
to trade here from coming into the country, by the foolish
system of excessive taxation he had established. Next I
told hfm, if he would give me one or two of his children,
I would have them instructed in England; for I admired
his race, and believed them to have sprung from our old
friends the Abyssinians, whose king, Sabdla S ¿lassie, had
received rich presents from our Queen. They were Christians
like ourselves, and had the Wahuma not lost their
knowledge of God they would be so also.
A long theological and historical discussion ensued,
which so pleased the king, that he said he would be delighted
if I would take two of his sons to England, that
they might bring him a knowledge of everything. Then
turning again to the old point, his utter amazement that
we should spend so much property in travelling, he wished
to know what we did it fo r; when men had such means
they would surely sit down and enjoy it. “ Oh no,” was
the reply ; “we have had our fill of the luxuries of life;
eating, drinking, or sleeping have no charms for us now;
we are above trade, therefore require no profits, and seek
for enjoyment the run of the world. To observe and
admire the beauties of creation are worth much more than
beads to us. But what led us this way we have told you
before; it was to see your majesty in particular, and the
great kings of Africa—and at the same time to open
another road to the north, whereby the best manufactures
of Europe would find their way to KaragtUi, and you
would get so many more guests.” In the highest good-
humour the king said, “ As you have come to see me and
see sights, I will order some boats and show you over the
lake, with musicians to play before you, or anything else
that you like.” Then, after looking over our pictures with
intensest delight, and admiring our beds, boxes, and outfit
in general, he left for the day.
In the afternoon, as I had heard from Miisa that the
wives of the king and princes were fattened to such an extent
that they could not stand upright, I paid my respects
to Wazezdrii, the king’s eldest brother—who, having been
born before his father ascended his throne, did not come
in the line of succession—with the hope of being able to
see for myself the truth of the story. There was no mistake
about it. On entering the hut I found the old man
and his chief wife sitting side by side on a bench of earth
strewed over with grass, and partitioned like stalls for
sleeping apartments, whilst in front of them were placed
numerous wooden pots of milk, and, b a n g i n g from the
poles that supported the beehive - shaped hut, a large
collection of bows six feet in length, whilst below them
were tied an even larger collection of spears, intermixed
with a goodly assortment of heavy-headed assages. I was
struck with no small surprise at the way he received me,
as well as with the extraordinary dimensions, yet pleasino-
beauty, of the immoderately fat fair one his wife. She
could not rise; and so large were her arms that, between
the joints, the flesh hung down like large, loose-stuffed
puddings. Then in came their children, all models of the
Abyssinian type of beauty, and as polite in their manners
a^s thorough - bred gentlemen. They had heard of my
picture-books from the king, and all wished to see them ;
which they no sooner did, to their infinite delight, espeo