huts of humbler pretensions, also surrounded by
courts, where we may behold the females of
the family at work. Some are busy kneading
the bananas to extract their juice, which, when
fermented, is called marambairr:delicious in flavour
when well made; others are sorting herbs for
broth-food, medicines, or some cunning charm;
others, again, are laying out tobacco leaves to
dry, whilst the most elderly are engaged in
smoking from long-stemmed pipes, retailing between
the leisure-drawn draughts of smoke the
experiences of their lives.
Such is the kopi at home.
If the picture is not a faithful one of all his
class, it may be attributed to his own indolence,
or to some calamity lately befallen him. From
it will be seen that the average native of Uganda
has an abundance and a variety of good food,
that he is comfortably lodged, as far as his
wants require, is well and often married, and is
secure from enemies so far as a powerful sovereign
and warlike multitudes can command
security. Still, there is one thing more that is
necessary for his happiness — protection from
his sovereign.
t h e MKUNGU O R C H I E F .
It might be supposed that, if a peasant’s lot
appears so enviable in that land, a Mkungu’s or
chief’s of the first rank would be happier a
thousandfold. That such is not always the case
will be seen from the following sketch o f the
present Premier, or Katekiro, of Uganda, whose
name originally, now almost forgotten, was Ma-
gassa. It may be proper to state here that all
Waganda, from the Emperor to the peasant,
change their names . according as they advance
in popular estimation.
About the time that Mtesa succeeded his
father and beheaded the senior chiefs o f Uganda,
there was observed at the court a smart, clever,
cleanly looking lad, assiduous in his attendance
on the monarch, and attentive to his smallest
wishes. He was the son o f a Mtongoleh or
sub-chief, and his name was Magassa. T o his
other desirable qualities might be added a fine
set o f white teeth, bright eyes, and general good
looks. Mtesa became enamoured o f him, and
made him guardian over the imperial lavatory,
an office o f great trust in Uganda.
A s Mtesa grew to man’s estate, Magassa the
boy also became a young man, for he was about
the same age as his master, and, retaining and
improving those qualities which first attracted
the monarch’s eyes, was promoted in time to be
a Mtongoleh o f the bodyguard, and a double-
barrelled gun was put into his hands, with the
power o f gunpowder, and a few bullets and percussion
caps, which caused the heart o f young
Magassa to bound with jo y . Perhaps he was
t h r o u g h t h e d a r k c o n t in e n t . VOL. II. 0