He Sometimes Ate With A Copper Knife And
Picker, Not Forked - But More Usually Like A Dog, With Both Hands.
The bits too tough for his mastication he would take from his
mouth and give as a treat to the pages, who n'yanzigged, and
swallowed them with much seeming relish.
Whatever remained over
was then divided by the boys, and the baskets taken to the cooks.
Pombe served as tea, coffee, and beer for the king; but his
guests might think themselves very lucky if they ever got a drop
of it.
Now for the lake. Everybody in a hurry falls into his place the
best way he can - Wakungu leading, and women behind. They rattle
along, through plantains and shrubs, under large trees, seven,
eight, and nine feet in diameter, till the beautiful waters are
reached - a picture of the Rio scenery, barring that of the higher
mountains in the background of that lovely place, which are here
represented by the most beautiful little hills. A band of
fifteen drums of all sizes, called the Mazaguzo, playing with the
regularity of a lot of factory engines at work, announced the
king's arrival, and brought all the boats to the shore - but not
as in England, where Jack, with all the consequence of a lord at
home, invites the ladies to be seated, and enjoys the sight of so
many pretty faces. Here every poor fellow, with his apprehensions
written in his face, leaps over the gunwale into the water -
ducking his head for fear of being accused of gazing on the fair
sex, which is death - and bides patiently his time. They were
dressed in plantain leaves, looking like grotesque Neptunes. The
king, in his red coat and wideawake, conducted the arrangements,
ordering all to their proper places - the women, in certain
boats, the Wakungu and Wanguana in others, whilst I sat in the
same boat with him at his feet, three women holding mbugus of
pombe behind. The king's Kisuahali now came into play, and he
was prompt in carrying out the directions he got from myself to
approach the hippopotami. But the waters were too large and the
animals too shy, so we toiled all the day without any effect,
going only once ashore to picnic; not for the women to eat - for
they, poor things, got nothing - but the king, myself, the pages,
and the principal Wakungu. As a wind-up to the day's amusement,
the king led the band of drums, changed the men according to
their powers, put them into concert pitch, and readily detected
every slight irregularity, showing himself a thorough musician.
This day requires no remark, everything done being the
counterpart of yesterday, excepting that the king, growing bolder
with me in consequence of our talking together, became more
playful and familiar - amusing himself, for instance, sometimes by
catching hold of my beard as the rolling of the boat unsteadied
him.
We started early in the usual manner; but after working up and
down the creek, inspecting the inlets for hippopotami, and tiring
from want of sport, the king changed his tactics, and, paddling
and steering himself with a pair of new white paddles, finally
directing the boats to an island occupied by the Mgussa, or
Neptune of the N'yanza, not in person - for Mgussa is a spirit -
but by his familiar or deputy, the great medium who communicates
the secrets of the deep to the king of Uganda.
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