music, all are startled at the loud report o f a
gun!
A dozen ejaculations are uttered, and as many
chiefs rush out to enquire the cause; but they
have been forestalled b y the adroit and eager
lords o f the cord, who have thrown their nooses
round the man’s neck and, half strangling him,
drag him into the Presence, whose imperial
nerves have been somewhat disturbed b y the
sudden discharge o f gunpowder. The lords of
the cord, kneeling, sa y that the man let his gun
fall while on guard, and their eyes seem to ask,
“What shall we do to him?” “ Give him fifty
blows with a s tick , ” cries the angry Emperor,
and the unfortunate fellow is hauled away to
receive such a punishment as will lame him for
a month.
There is now heard a lowing o f cattle, of
fat beeves and milch-cows, in the court before
the audience-hall, and a man advances, a.nd after
prostration and “ Twiyanzis ” says he has brought
a. present from JMankorongo, king o f Usui.
“ H’m. See to them, Katekiro, and give one
to my steward Kauta to dress up, and let each
chief have an o x to-day, and give ten to my
bodyguard.” A t this liberality all the chiefs
rush forward, abase themselves in the dust, and
cry aloud their fervid “ Twiyanzis.”
The chiefs resume their seats after this exhibition
o f their gratitude, and a messenger arrives
from the banks o f the Victoria Nile, and relates,
to the monarch’s surprise, that Namionju, a p e tty
prince near Unyoro, has cast off his allegiance
to him, and opened negotiations with Kabba
Rega, king of Unyoro.
On hearing the messenger’s news, the Emperor
exclaims, his eyes expanding widely, and projecting,
“ What! are all my people dead at Naka-
ranga? Have I no chief, no people left, that
Namionju treats me so?”
T he answer is heard in the voices o f the
chiefs, who spring to their feet simultaneously
and rush out before the entrance o f the audience-
hall, seize their spears or walking-sticks, and
call aloud on the Emperor to behold and number
his chiefs, and with wild impressive gestures
toss their spears and arms on high until a
stranger would fancy that a revolution had
suddenly begun. The Emperor, however, calmly
answers, “ It is w e ll,” upon which the chiefs
leave their spears without and regain their seats.
Then casting his eyes about him, he selects
a fiery-looking young c h i e f — Maoor-ugungu b y
name— who instantly darts forward from his
seat, and prostrating himself exclaims, “ Kabaka,
I am here.”
“ Go, Maoor-ugungu, take five Watongoleh and
•their men, and eat up Namionju and his country.”
Maoor-ugungu, prompt as tinder upon receiving
such an order, utters many “ Twiyanzis,” then
t h r o u g h Th e d a r k c o n t in e n t , v o l . i i .