Then Turning Again To The Old Point, His Utter Amazement That We
Should Spend So Much Property In Travelling, He Wished To Know
What We Did It For; When Men Had Such Means They Would Surely Sit
Down And Enjoy It.
"Oh no," was the reply; "we have had our fill
of the luxuries of life; eating, drinking, or sleeping have no
charms for us now; we are above trade, therefore require no
profits, and seek for enjoyment the run of the world.
To observe
and admire the beauties of creation are worth much more than
beads to us. But what led us this way we have told you before;
it was to see your majesty in particular, and the great kings of
Africa - and at the same time to open another road to the north,
whereby the best manufactures or Europe would find their way to
Karague, and you would get so many more guests." In the highest
good-humour the king said, "As you have come to see me and see
sights, I will order some boats and show you over the lake, with
musicians to play before you, or anything else that you like."
Then, after looking over our pictures with intensest delight, and
admiring our beds, boxes, and outfit in general, he left for the
day.
In the afternoon, as I had heard from Musa that the wives of the
king and princes were fattened to such an extent that they could
not stand upright, I paid my respects to Wazezeru, the king's
eldest brother - who, having been born before his father ascended
the throne, did not come in the line of succession - with the hope
of being able to see for myself the truth of the story.
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