a brutal man; be killed one of bis women because be did
not like ber, and now be bad cbpped one of this poor
creature s ears off for trying to run away from bim ; and
when abused for bis brutality, be only replied, “ It was no
fault of bis, as tbe king set tbe example in tbe country.”
In tbe evening I took a walk with Kahala, dressed in
a red scarf, and in company with Liigoi, to show my
children off in tbe gardens to my fair friends of yesterday.
Everybody was surprised. Tbe Mgemma begged us to
sit with bim and drink pombfi which be generously supplied
to our heart's content; wondered at tbe beauty of
Kahala, wished I would give bim a wife like ber, and
lamented that tbe king would not allow bis to wear such
pretty clothes. We passed on a little farther, and were
invited to sit with another man, Lukanikka, to drink
pombd and chew coffee—which we did as before, meeting
with tbe same remarks; for all Waganda, instructed by
the court, know tbe art of flattery better than any people
in tbe world, even including tbe French.
7th—In tbe morning, whilst it rained bard, tbe king
sent to say be bad started buffalo-shooting, and expected
me to join him. After walking a mile beyond tbe palace,
we found bim in a plantain garden, dressed in imitation
of myself, wideawake and all, tbe perfect picture of a
snob. He sent me a pot of pombfi which I sent home
to tbe women, and walked off for tbe shooting-ground,
two miles farther on, tbe band playing in tbe front, followed
by some hundred Wakungii—then tbe pages/then
the king, next myself, and finally tbe women—tbe best
in front, tbe worst bringing up tbe rear, with tbe king's
spears and shield, as also pots of pombd, a luxuiy the
king never moves without. It was’ easy to see there would
be no sport, still more useless to offer any remarks, therefore
all did as they were bid. Tbe broad road, like all
m Uganda, went straight over bill and dale, the heights
covered with high grass or plantain groves, and the valleys
with dense masses of magnificent forest-trees surrounding
swamps covered with tall rushes half bridged.
Proceeding on, as we came to tbe first water, I commenced
flirtations with Mtfea's women, much to tbe surprise
of tbe king and every one. Tbe bridge was broken,
as a matter of course; an i tbe logs which composed it,
lying concealed beneath tbe water, were toed successively
by the leading men, that those who followed should not
be tripped up by them. This favour tbe king did for
me, and I in return for tbe women behind; they bad
never been favoured in their lives with such gallantry,
and therefore could not refrain from laughing, which
attracted the king’s notice and set everybody in a giggle ;
for till now no mortal man bad ever dared communicate
with bis women.
Shortly after this we left tbe highway, and, turning
westwards, passed through a dense jungle towards tbe
eastern shores of tbe Murchison Creek, cut by runnels
and rivulets, where on one occasion I offered, by dumb
signs, to carry tbe fair ones pick-a-back over, and after
crossing a second myself by a floating log, offered my
band. Tbe leading wife first fears to take it, then grows
bold and accepts it; wben tbe prime beauty, Lubfiga,
following in ber wake, and anxious to feel, I fancy, what
tbe white man is like, with an imploring face bolds out
both ber bands in such a captivating manner, that though
I feared to draw attention by waiting any longer, I could
not resist compliance. Tbe king noticed i t ; but instead
of upbraiding me, passed it off as a joke, and running up
to tbe Kamraviona, gave bim a poke in tbe ribs, and
whispered what be bad seen, as if it bad been a secret.
“ Woh, wob 1” says tbe Kamraviona, “ what wonders will
happen next ?”
We were now on tbe buffalo ground; but nothing could
be seen save some old footprints of buffaloes, and a pitfall
made for catching them. By this time tbe king was tired;