impetuous, which, the Waganda noticed, and from fear of
the consequences, they began to close the gate to prevent
my walking away. I flew out on them, told Bombay to
notice the disrespect, and shamed them into opening it
again. The king immediately, on hearing of this, sent
me pombb to keep me quiet; but as I would not touch it,
saying I was sick at heart, another page rushed out to say
the king was ready to receive me; and, opening a side
gate leading into a small open court without a hut in it,
there, to be sure, was his majesty, sitting on an Arab’s
donkey-rug, propped against one page, and encompassed
by four others.
On confronting him, he motioned me to sit, which I did
upon my bundle of grass, and, finding it warm, asked leave
to open my umbrella. He was much struck at the
facility with which I could make shade, but wondered
still more at my requiring it. I explained to him that
my skin was white because I lived in a colder country
than his, and therefore was much more sensitive to the
heat of the sun than his black skin; adding, at the same
time, if it gave no offence, I would prefer sitting in the
shade of the court fence. He had no objection, and opened
conversation by asking who it was that gave me such offence
in taking my guard from me to seize his Wakungii.
The boy who had provoked me was then dragged in, tied
by his neck and hands, when the king asked him by whose
orders he had acted in such a manner, knowing that I
objected to it, and wished to speak to him on the subject
first. The poor boy, in a dreadful fright, said he had
acted under instructions of the Kamraviona: there was
no harm done, for Bana’s men were not hurt. “Well,
then,” said the king, “ if they were not injured, and you
only did as you were ordered, no fault rests with you; but
begone out of my sight, for I cannot bear to see you, and
the Kamraviona shall be taught a lesson not to meddle
with my guests again until I give him authority to do so.”
I now hoped, as I had got the king all by himself, and
apparently in a good humour with me, that I might give
him a wholesome lesson on the manners and customs of
the English nation, to show how much I felt the slights I
had received-since my residence in Uganda ; but he never
lost his dignity and fussiness as an Uganda king. My
words must pass through his Mkungfi, as well as my
interpreter’s, before they reached him; and, as he had
no patience, everything was lost, till he suddenly asked
Maula, pretending not to know, where my hut was; why
everybody said I lived so far away; and when told, he
said, “ Oh! that is very far, he must come nearer.” Still
I could not say a word, his fussiness and self-importance
overcoming his inquisitiveness.
Bain now fell, and the king retired by one gate, whilst
I was shown out of another, until the shower was over.
As soon as the sky was clear again, we returned to the
little court, and this time became more confidential, as he
asked many questions about England—such as, Whether
the Queen knew anything about medicines ? whether
she kept a number of women as he did ? and what her
palace was like ?—which gave me an opportunity of saying
I would like to see his ships, for I heard they were
very numerous—and also his menagerie, said to be full of
wonderful animals. He said the vessels were far off, but
he would send for them; and although he once kept a
large number of animals, he killed them all in practising
with his guns. The Whitworth rifle was then brought in
for me to take to pieces and teach him the use of; and then
the chronometer. He then inquired if I would like to go
shooting ? I said, “ Yes, if he would accompany me—not
otherwise.” “ Hippopotami?” “ Yes; there is great fun
in that, for they knock the boats over when they charge
from below.” “ Can you swim ? ” “ Yes.” “ So can I.
And would you like to shoot buffalo ? ” “ Yes, if you
will go.” “At night, then, I will send my keepers to