into execution. After walking about till after dark, on
returning to the empty house, I had some misgivings as
to the apparent cruelty of abandoning one so helpless to
the uncertainties of tins wicked world. Ilmas’s woman
also ran away, doubtless at the instigation of Rozaro’s
sister, for she had been denied any further access to the
house as being at the bottom of all this mischief.
3 c?.—I was haunted all night by my fancied cruelty,
and in the morning sent its victim, after Uganda fashion,
some symbolical presents, including a goat, in token of
esteem; a black blanket, as a sign of mourning; a bundle
of gundu anklets; and a packet of tobacco, in proof of
my forgiveness.
CHAP T E R X1Y.
PALACE, UGANDA—Continued.
RECEPTION OF A VICTORIOUS ARMY AT COURT — ROYAL SPORT A
REVIEW OF THE TROOPS— NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE OPENING OF
THE ROAD ALONG THE NILE—GRANT’S RETURN—PILLAGINGS
COURT MARRIAGES—THE KING’S BROTHERS— DIVINATIONS AND
SACRIFICES— THE ROAD GRANTED AT LAST—THE PREPARATIONS
FOR CONTINUING THE EXPEDITION— THE DEPARTURE.
I now received a letter from Grant to say he was coming
by boat from Kitangiil^, and at once went to the palace
to give the welcome news to the king. The road to the
palace I found thronged with people; and in the square
outside the entrance there squatted a multitude of attendants,
headed by the king, sitting on a cloth, dressed
in his national costume, with two spears and a shield by
his side. On his right hand the pages sat waiting for
orders, while on his left there was a small squatting
cluster of women, headed by Wichw^zis, or attendant
sorceresses, offering pombd In front of the king, in
form of a hollow square, many ranks deep, sat the victorious
officers, lately returned from the war, variously
dressed; the nobles distinguished by their leopard-cat
skins and dirks, the commoners by coloured mbugu and
cow or antelope skin cloaks; but all their faces and arms
were painted red, black, or smoke-colour. Within the
square of men, immediately fronting the king, the war