as specimens of his country, but they shall all go back,,
and the things the king has received shall go hack also,
for we are all of one family;’ and then won’t Bana be
very sorry ? Moreover, Wakungu will be killed by dozens,
and lamentations will reign throughout the court to propitiate
the devils who brought such disasters on them.”"
Bombay, also in a fright, said, “ Pray don’t do so; you
don’t know these savages as we do; there is no knowing
what will happen; it may defeat our journey altogether.
Further, we have had no food these four days, because-
row succeeds row. If we steal, you flog u s ; and if Ave-
ask the Waganda for food, they beat us. We don’t know
what to do.” I was imperative, however, and said, “ Maula
must take back these things in the morning, or stand the
consequences.” In fact, I found that, like the organ-
grinders in London, to get myself moved on I must make-
myself troublesome.
17th.—The queen’s presents were taken back by Ma.fi 1 a
and Nasib, whilst I went to see the Kamraviona. Even
this gentleman kept me waiting for some time to show
his oavu importance, and then admitted me into one of
his interior courts, where I found him sitting on the
ground Avith several elders; whilst Wasoga minstrels-
played on their lap-harps, > and sang songs in praise of
their king, and the noble stranger Avho Avore fine clothes-
and eclipsed all previous visitors. At first, on my approach,
the haughty young chief, very handsome, and
twenty years of age, did not raise his head; then he-
begged me to be seated, and even inquired after my
health, in a listless, condescending kind of manner, as if
the exertion of talking was too much for his constitution
or his rank; but he soon gave up this nonsense as I
began to ta lk ; inquired, amongst other things, why I did
not see the Waganda at my house, Avhen I said I should
so much like to make acquaintance Avith them, and begged
to be introduced to the company who were present.
I was now enabled to enlarge the list of topics on which
it is prohibited to the Waganda to speak or act under pain'
of death. No one even dare ever talk about the royal
pedigree, of the countries that have been conquered, or
even of any neighbouring countries; no one dare visit the
king’s guests, or be visited by them, without leave, else
the king, fearing sharers in his plunder, would say, What
are you plucking our goose for? Neither can any one
cast his eye for a moment on the women of the palace,
whether out walking or at home, lest he should be
accused of amorous intentions. Beads and brass Afire,
exchanged for ivory or slaves, are the only, articles of
foreign manufacture any Mganda can hold in his possession.
Should anything else be seen in his house—for
instance, cloth—his property would be confiscated and
his life taken.
I was now introduced to the company present, of Avhom
one Mgdma, an elderly gentleman of great dignity, had
the honour to carry Sunna the late king; Mpungu, who
cooked for Sunna, also ranks high in court; then Usungfi
and Kunza, executioners, rank very high, enjoying the
greatest confidence with the king; and, finally, Jumba
and Natigo, who traced their pedigree to the age of the
first Uganda king. As I took doAvn O O a note of their several
names,: each seemed delighted at finding his name Avritten
doAvn by me; and Kunza, the executioner, begged as a
great favour that I would plead to the king to spare his
son’s life, who, as I have mentioned, was ordered out to
execution on the last levee day. At first I thought it
necessary, for the sake of maintaining my dignity, to raise
objections, and said it would ill become one of my rank to
make any request that might possibly be rejected; but as
the Kamraviona assured me there would be no chance of
failure, and everybody else agreed with him, I said it
would give me intense satisfaction to serve him; and the
old man squeezed my hand as if overpowered with joy.