worth to go one yard in advance of this until the king’s
leave was obtained. I said, rather than be starved to
death in this ignominious manner, I would return to
Karagud; to which he replied, laughing, “ Whose leave
have you got to do that ? Do you suppose you can do as
you like in this country ? ”
Next day (17th), in the evening, N’yamgundh returned
full of smirks and smiles, dropped on his knees at my feet,
and, in company with his “ children,” set to n yanzigging,
according to the form of that state ceremonial already
described.* In his excitement he was hardly able to say
all he had to communicate. Bit by bit, however, I learned
that he first went to the palace, and, finding the king had
gone off yachting to the Murchison Creek, he followed
him there. The king for a long while would not believe
his tale that I had come, but, being assured, he danced
with delight, and swore he would not taste food until he
had seen me. “ Oh,” he said, over and over again and
again, according to my informer, t can this be true ? Can
the white man have come all this way to see me ? What
a strong man he must be too, to come so quickly! Here
are seven cows, four of them milch ones, as you say he
likes milk, which you will give him; and there are three
for yourself for having brought him so quickly. Now,
hurry off as fast as you can, and tell him I am more
delighted at the prospect of seeing him than he can be to
see me. There is no place here fit for his reception. I
was on a- pilgrimage which would have kept me here
seven days longer; but as I am so impatient to see him, I
will go off to my palace at once, and will send word for
him to advance as soon as I arrive there.”
About noon the succeeding day, some pages ran in
To Sunna’s 1° s&y we were to come along without a
Kibfiga, nth. moment’s delay, as their king had ordered it.
He would not taste food until he saw me, so that every-
•* See p. 256.