She
said she was ill - it was not feigned; and if I would give her a
goat to sacrifice
She would be well at once; for she had looked
into the magic horn already, and discovered that if I have her a
goat for that purpose it would prove that I loved her, and her
health would be restored to her at once. Hallo! Here was a
transformation from the paternal position into that of a
henpecked husband! Somebody, I smelt at once, had been tampering
with my household whilst I was away. I commenced investigations,
and after a while found out that Rozaro's sister had brought a
magician belonging to her family into the hut during my absence,
who had put Meri up to this trick of extorting a goat from me, in
order that he might benefit by it himself, for the magician eats
the sacrifice, and keeps the skin.
I immediately ordered him to be seized and bound to the flag-
staff, whilst Maula, Uledi, Rozaro, and Bombay were summoned to
witness the process of investigation. Rozaro flew into a
passion, and tried to release the magician as soon as he saw him,
affecting intense indignation that I should take the law into my
own hands when one of Rumanika's subjects was accused; but only
lost his dignity still more on being told he had acknowledged his
inability to control his men so often when they had misbehaved,
that I scorned to ask his assistance any longer. He took huff at
this, and, as he could not help himself, walked away, leaving us
to do as we liked. The charge was fully proved. The impudent
magician, without leave, and contrary to all the usages of the
country, had entered and set my house against itself during my
absence, and had schemed to rob me of a goat. I therefore
sentenced him to fifty lashes - twenty-five for the injury he had
inflicted on my by working up a rebellion in my house, and the
remaining twenty-five for attempting larceny - saying, as he had
wanted my goat and its skin, so now in return I wanted his skin.
These words were no sooner pronounced than the wretched Meri
cried out against it, saying all the fault was hers: "Let the
stick skin my back, but spare my doctor; it would kill me to see
him touched."
This appeal let me see that there was something in the whole
matter too deep and intricate to be remedied by my skill. I
therefore dismissed her on the spot, and gave her, as a sister
and free woman, to Uledi and his pretty Mhmula wife, giving
Bombay orders to carry the sentences into execution. After
walking about till after dark, on returning to the empty house, I
had some misgivings as to the apparent cruelty of abandoning one
so helpless to the uncertainties of this wicked world. Ilmas's
woman also ran away, doubtless at the instigation of Rozaro's
sister, for she had been denied any further access to the house
as being at the bottom of all this mischief.
3d. - I was haunted all night by my fancied cruelty, and in the
morning sent its victim, after Uganda fashion, some symbolical
presents, including a goat, in token of esteem; a black blanket,
as a sign of mourning; a bundle of gundu anklets; and a packet of
tobacco, in proof of my forgiveness.
Chapter XIV
Palace, Uganda - Continued
Reception of a Victorious Army at Court - Royal Sport - A Review of
the Troops - Negotiations for the Opening of the Road along the
Nile - Grant's Return - Pillagings - Court Marriages - The King's
Brothers - Divinations and Sacrifices - The Road granted at last -
The Preparations for continuing the Expedition - The Departure.
I now received a letter from Grant to say he was coming by boat
from Kitangule, and at once went to the palace to give the
welcome news to the king. The road to the palace I found
thronged with people; and in the square outside the entrance
there squatted a multitude of attendants, headed by the king,
sitting on a cloth, dressed in his national costume, with two
spears and a shield by his side. On his right hand the pages sat
waiting for orders, while on his left there was a small squatting
cluster of women, headed by Wichwezis, or attendant sorceresses,
offering pombe. In front of the king, in form of a hollow
square, many ranks deep, sat the victorious officers, lately
returned from the war, variously dressed; the nobles
distinguished by their leopard-cat skins and dirks, the commoners
by coloured mbugu and cow or antelope skin cloaks; but all their
faces and arms were painted red, black, or smoke-colour. Within
the square of men, immediately fronting the king, the war-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.
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