A Dish Of Plantains And Goat-Flesh Was Then
Prepared; But Though Kahala Wished To Eat It, Meri Rejected The
Goat's Flesh, And Would Not Allow Kahala To Taste It Either; And
Thus Began A Series Of Domestic Difficulties.
On inquiring how I
could best deal with my difficult charge, I was told the Wahuma
pride was so great, and their tempers so strong, they were more
difficult to break in than a phunda, or donkey, though when once
tamed, they became the best of wives.
31st. - I wished to call upon the queen and thank her for her
charming present, but my hungry men drove me to the king's palace
in search of food. The gun firing brought Mtesa out, prepared
for a shooting trip, with his Wakungu leading, the pages carrying
his rifle and ammunition, and a train of women behind. The first
thing seen outside the palace gate was a herd of cows, from which
four were selected and shot at fifty paces by the king, firing
from his shoulder, amidst thunders of applause and hand-shakings
of the elders. I never saw them dare touch the king's hand
before. Then Mtesa, turning kindly to me, said, "Pray take a
shot"; but I waived the offer off, saying he could kill better
himself. Ambitious of a cut above cows, the king tried his hand
at some herons perched on a tree, and, after five or six
attempts, hit one in the eye. Hardly able to believe in his own
skill, he stood petrified at first, and then ran madly to the
fallen bird, crying, "Woh, woh, woh! can this be? - is it true?
Woh, woh!" He jumped in the air, and all his men and women
shouted in concert with him. Then he rushes at me, takes both my
hands - shakes, shakes - woh, woh! - then runs to his women, then to
his men; shakes them all, woh-wohing, but yet not shaking or
wohing half enough for his satisfaction, for he is mad with joy
at his own exploit.
The bird is then sent immediately to his mother, whilst he
retires to his palace, woh-wohing, and taking "ten to the dozen"
all the way and boasting of his prowess. "Now, Bana, tell me - do
you not think, if two such shots as you and I were opposed to an
elephant, would he have any chance before us? I know I can
shoot - I am certain of it now. You have often asked me to go
hippopotamus-shooting with you, but I staved it off until I
learnt the way to shoot. Now, however, I can shoot - and that
remarkably well too, I flatter myself. I will have at them, and
both of us will go on the lake together." The palace was now
reached; musicians were ordered to play before the king, and
Wakungu appointments were made to celebrate the feats of the day.
Then the royal cutler brought in dinner-knives made of iron,
inlaid with squares of copper and brass, and goats and vegetables
were presented as usual, when by torchlight we were dismissed, my
men taking with them as many plantains as they could carry.
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