suous indulgence have stamped on the mind:
this only the unflagging zeal, the untiring devotion
to duty, and the paternal watchfulness o f a
sincerely pious pastor can effect. And it is because
I am conscious o f the insufficiency of my
w o rk , and his strong evil propensities, that I
have not hesitated to describe the real character
o f my “ convert.” The grand redeeming feature
o f Mtesa, though founded only on self-interest,
is his admiration for white men.
When the traveller first enters Uganda, his
path seems to be strewn with flowers, greetings
with welcome gifts follow one another rapidly,
pages and courtiers kneel before him, and the
least wish is immediately gratified, for to make
a request o f the Emperor is to honour him with
the power o f giving. So long as the stranger
is a novelty, and his capacities or worth-have
not y e t been sounded, his life in Uganda seems
to be a sunshiny holiday.
Meanwhile, however, the pages, pursuivants,
messengers, and courtiers have been measuring
him b y rules and methods o f their own. His
faculties have been calculated, his abilities keenly
observed and noted, and his general utility and
value become accurately gauged, and all the
time he has been entertained roy ally, and courted
and favoured beyond all his expectations.
But now approaches the time for him to make
return, to fulfil the promise tacitly conveyed b y
his ready and friendly acceptance o f gifts and
favours. He is surprised b y being asked i f he.
can make gunpowder, manufacture a gun, cast a
cannon, build a ship, or construct a stone or a
brick house. If a priest ordained, and his garb
and meek, quiet behaviour prove it, his work is
ready cut for him: he has only to teach and
preach. But if a soldier, w h y should he not
know how to make guns, cannon, ships, brick
houses, & c .? If he informs the Emperor that
he is ignorant o f these things, w h y then he must
pay in other coin. He has guns with him, he
must “ g iv e ” ; he has watches, “ g iv e ” ; he has
various trifles o f value, such as a gold pencil-
case, or a ring, “ g iv e ” ; he wears go od clothes,
“ g iv e ” ; he has beads, cloth, wire, “ Give, give,
g iv e ” ; and so “ g iv e ” to his utter b eg g a ry and
poverty. If he does not give with the liberality
o f a “ S p e k i” or a “ Standee,” who will henceforth
be quoted to his confusion and shame,
there will be found other ways to rid him of
his superfluities. His men will be found unfaithful,
and will desert, attracted b y the rewards o f
Mtesa and glowing descriptions o f his liberality,
and one day, when he is about to congratulate
himself that he is more fortunate than others, he
will find himself suddenly bereft o f half or three-
fourths o f his entire stock o f goods. If the traveller
states that he is acquainted with a few
arts, he is expected to prove his words, to the