arms of Uganda were arranged in three ranks; the great
war-drum, covered with a leopard-skin, and standing on a
large carpeting of them, was placed in advance; behind
this, propped or hung on a rack of iron, were a variety of
the implements of war in common use, offensive and defensive,
as spears—of which two were of copper, the rest
iron—and shields of wood and leather; whilst in the last
row or lot were arranged systematically, with great taste
and powerful effect, the supernatural arms, the god of
Uganda, consisting of charms of various descriptions and
in great numbers. Outside the square again, in a line
with the king, were the household arms, a very handsome
copper kettledrum, of French manufacture, surmounted
on the outer edge with pretty little brass bells depending
from swan-neck-shaped copper wire, two new spears, a
painted leather shield, and magic wands of various devices,
deposited on a carpet of leopard-skins—the whole
scene giving the effect of true barbarous royalty in its
uttermost magnificence.
Approaching, as usual, to take my seat beside the king,
some slight sensation was perceptible, and I was directed
to sit beyond the women. The whole ceremonies of this
grand assemblage were now obvious. Each regimental
commandant in turn narrated the whole services of his
party, distinguishing those subs who executed his orders
well and successfully from those who either deserted before
the enemy or feared to follow up their success. The
king listened attentively, making, let us suppose, very
shrewd remarks concerning them; when to the worthy
he awarded pombd, helped with gourd-cups from large
earthen jars, which was n’yanzigged for vehemently; and
to the unworthy, execution. When the fatal sentence was
pronounced, a terrible bustle ensued, the convict wrestling
and defying, whilst the other men seized, pulled and tore
the struggling wretch from the crowd, bound him hands
and head together, and led or rather tumbled him away.
After a while, and when all business was over, the
y^cf begged me to follow him into the palace. He asked
again for stimulants—a matter ever uppermost in his mind
. and would not be convinced that such things can do
him no* possible good, but would in the end be deleterious.
Grant’s letter was then read to him before his women, and
I asked for the dismissal of all the Wanyambo, for they
had not only destroyed my peace and home, but were
always getting me into disrepute by plundering the Wa-
ganda in the highways. No answer was given to th is ;
and on walking home, I found one of the king s women at
my hut, imploring protection against the Wanyambo, who
had robbed and bruised her so often, she could not stand
such abuse any longer.
4 th.—I sent Maúla, early in the morning, with the
plundered woman, and desired him to request that the
Wanyambo might be dismissed. He returned, saying he
delivered my message, but no reply was given. I then
searched for the king, and found him at his brothers’ suite
of huts playing the flute before them. On taking my seat,
he proudly pointed to two vultures which he had shot
with bullet, saying to his brothers, “ There, do you see
these birds ? Bana shoots with shot, but I kill with
bullets.” To try him, I then asked for leave to go to
Usoga, as Grant was so far off; but he said, “ No, wait
until he comes, and you shall both go together then; you
fancy he is far off, but I know better. One of my men
saw him coming along carried on a stretcher. I said,
“ No; that must be a mistake, for he told me by letter he
would come by water.”
Heavy rain now set in, and we got under cover; but
the brothers never moved, some even sitting in the streaming
gutter, and n’yanzigging whenever noticed. The
eldest brother offered me his cup of pombé, thinking I
would not drink i t ; but when he saw its contents vanishing
fast, he cried “ lékerow!” (hold fast!) and as I pre