In their rear,
squatting quiet as mice, were all the king's sons, some six or
seven lads, who wore leather middle-coverings, and little dream-
charms tied under their chins.
The first greetings of the king,
delivered in good Kisuahili, were warm and affecting, and in an
instant we both felt and saw we were in the company of men who
were as unlike as they could be to the common order of the
natives of the surrounding districts. They had fine oval faces,
large eyes, and high noses, denoting the best blood of Abyssinia.
Having shaken hands in true English style, which is the peculiar
custom of the men of this country, the ever-smiling Rumanika
begged us to be seated on the ground opposite to him, and at once
wished to know what we thought of Karague, for it had struck him
his mountains were the finest in the world; and the lake, too,
did we not admire it? Then laughing, he inquired - for he knew
all the story - what we thought of Suwarora, and the reception we
had met with in Usui. When this was explained to him, I showed
him that it was for the interest of his own kingdom to keep a
check on Suwarora, whose exorbitant taxations prevented the Arabs
from coming to see him and bringing things from all parts of the
world. He made inquiries for the purpose of knowing how we found
our way all over the world; for on the former expedition a letter
had come to him for Musa, who no sooner read it than he said I
had called him and he must leave, as I was bound for Ujiji.
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