The Mother Of The King By This Measure
Became Queen-Dowager, Or N'yamasore.
She halved with her son all
the wives of the deceased king not stationed at his grave, taking
second
Choice; kept up a palace only little inferior to her son's
with large estates, guided the prince-elect in the government of
the country, and remained until the end of his minority the
virtual ruler of the land; at any rate, no radical political
changes could take place without her sanction. The princesses
became the wives of the king; no one else could marry them.
Both mother and son had their Ktikiros or commander-in-chief,
also titled Kamraviona, as well as other officers of high rank.
Amongst them in due order of gradation are the Ilmas, a woman who
had the good fortune to have cut the umbilical cord at the king's
birth; the Sawaganzi, queen's sister and king's barber; Kaggao,
Polino, Sakibobo, Kitunzi, and others, governors of provinces;
Jumab, admiral of the fleet; Kasugu, guardian of the king's
sister; Mkuenda, factor; Kunsa and Usungu, first and second class
executioners; Mgemma, commissioner in charge of tombs; Seruti,
brewer; Mfumbiro, cook; numerous pages to run messages and look
after the women, and minor Wakungu in hundreds. One Mkungu is
always over the palace, in command of the Wanagalali, or guards
which are changed monthly; another is ever in attendance as
seizer of refractory persons. There are also in the palace
almost constantly the Wanangalavi, or drummers; Nsase, pea-gourd
rattlers; Milele, flute-players; Mukonderi, clarionet-players;
also players on wooden harmonicons and lap-harps, to which the
players sing accompaniments; and, lastly, men who whistle on
their fingers - for music is half the amusement of these courts.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 329 of 767
Words from 90419 to 90707
of 210958
