her mind to marry a second time; but before I could
advise for tbe bodily complaints, it would be necessary for
me to see ber tongue, feel ber pulse, and perhaps, also, her
sides. Hearing this, tbe Wakungu said, “ Ob, that can
never be allowed without tbe sanction of tbe king; ” but
tbe queen, rising in ber seat, expressed ber scorn at tbe
idea of taking advice from a mere stripling, and submitted
herself for examination.
I then took out two pills, tbe powder of which was
tasted by tbe Wakungii to prove that there was no devilry
in “ tbe doctor,” and gave orders for them to be eaten at
night, restricting ber pombd and food until I saw ber again.
My game was now advancing, for I found through ber I
should get tbe key to an influence that might bear on tbe
king, and was much pleased to bear ber express herself
delighted with me for everything I bad done except
stopping ber grog, which, naturally enough in this great
pombd-drinking country, she said would be a very trying
abstinence.
Tbe doctoring over, ber majesty expressed herself ready
to inspect tbe honorarium I bad brought for ber, and tbe
articles were no sooner presented by Bombay and Nasib,
with tbe usual formalities of stroking to insure their purity,
than she, boiling with pleasure, showed them all to ber
officers, who declared, with a voice of most exquisite
triumph, that she was indeed tbe most favoured of queens.
Then, in excellent good taste, after saying that nobody
bad ever given ber such treasures, she gave me, in return,
a beautifully - worked pombd sucking - pipe, which was
acknowledged by every one to be tbe greatest honour she
could pay me.
Not satisfied with this, she made me select, though
against my desire, a number of sambo, called here gundu,
rings of giraffe hair wound round with thin iron or copper
wire, and worn as anklets; and crowned all with sundry
pots of pombd, a cow, and a bundle of dried fish, of tbe
description given in tbe woodcut, called by my men
Samaki Kambari. This business over, she begged me
K am b a ri Fish.
to show ber my picture-books, and was so amused with
them that she ordered ber sorceresses and all tbe other
women in again to inspect them with ber. Then began a
warm and complimentary conversation, which ended by an
inspection of my rings and all tbe contents of my pockets,
as well as of my watch, which she called Lubari—a term
equivalent to a place of worship, tbe object of worship
itself, or tbe iron bom or magic pan. Still she said I bad
not yet satisfied b er; I must return again two days hence,
for she liked me much—excessively—she could not say
bow much; but now tbe day was gone, I might go.
With this queer kind of adieu she rose and walked away,
leaving me with my servants to carry tbe royal present
home.
28th. — My whole thoughts were now occupied in
devising some scheme to obtain a but in tbe palace, not
only the better to maintain my dignity, and so gain
superior influence in tbe court, but also that I might have
a better insight into tbe manners and customs of these
strange people. I was not sorry to find the king attempting
to draw me to court, daily to sit in attendance on him
as bis officers are obliged to do all day long, in order that
be might always have a full court or escort whenever by
chance be might emerge from bis palace, for it gave me an
opening for asserting a proper position.
Instead, therefore, of going at tbe call of bis pages this