when our introduction to ok place as he has described.
I was delighted at seeing him, and much more
delighted when I discovered that MJ Linant was
a v e ry agreeable man. I observed that there
was a vast difference between his treatment o f
his men and the manner in which I treated mine,
and that his intercourse with the Waganda was
conducted after e x a c tly opposite principles to
those which governed my conduct. He adopted
a half military style which the Waganda ill
brooked, and many things uncomplimentary to
him were uttered b y them. He stationed guards at
the entrance to his courtyard to keep the W a ganda
at a distance, except those bearing messages
from Mtesa, while my courtyard was nearly
full o f Watongolehs, soldiers, pages, children,
with many a dark-brown woman listening with
open ears to my conversation with the Waganda.
In fact, my courtyard from morning to night
swarmed with all classes-, for I loved to draw
the natives to talk, so that perfect confidence
might be established between us, and I might
gain an insight into their real natures. B y this
freer converse with them I became, it seemed,
a universal favourite, and obtained information
sufficient to fill two octavo volumes.
M. Linant passed many pleasant hours with
me. Though he had started from Cairo previous
to my departure from Zanzibar, and consequently
[A p Rubaga.875'] MTESA’S CONVERSION FURTHERED. 269
could communicate no news from Europe, I still
felf that for a brief period I enjoyed civilized
life. His cu isin e was after the French fashion.
He possessed French beans and olive oil, various
potted meats o f Paris brands, p â tés de fo ie gras
and Bologna sausage, sardines and Marseilles
biscuits, white sugar, coffee, cocoa, chocolate,
and tea. If we add to this list the articles that
the natives and Mtesa’s bounty furnished— milk,
beef, kid, green and ripe bananas, e g g s , sweet
potatoes, tomatoes, melons, and cassava flour—
it will be seen that his cook had abundance o f
material wherewith to supply and satisfy our
moderate gastronomic tastes. The pleasure we
mutually felt in each other’s company, and the
exceptional good health which blessed us, sharpened
our appetites and improved our digestion.
The religious conversations which I had begun
with Mtesa were maintained in the presence o f
M. Linant de Bellefonds, w h o , fortunately for
the cause I had in view, was a Protestant.* F o r
when questioned b y Mtesa about the facts which
I had uttered, and which had been faithfully
transcribed, M. Linant, to Mtesa’s astonishment,
employed: nearly the same words, and delivered
the same responses. The remarkable fact that two
* In the original manuscript, which is in the possession
of General C. P. Stone, Chief of the Staff in his Highness the
Khedive’s service, M. Linant has alluded in the most flattering
manner to these hours devoted to religious instruction.