To This The
Sages Said, "Bana Speaks Beautifully, Feelingly, And Moderately.
Of course he is displeased at seeing his property preferred
before himself; all the right is on his side:
We will now return
and see what can be done - though none but white men in their
greatest dare send such messages to our king."
Dr K'yengo's men were now attacked by Kidgwiga for having taken a
cow from me yesterday, and told they should not eat it, because
both they and myself were the king's guests, and it ill became
one to eat that which was given as a dinner for the other.
Fortunately, foreseeing this kind of policy, as Kamrasi had been
watching our actions, I invariably gave in presents those cows
which came with us from Uganda, and therefore defied any one to
meddle with them. This elicited the true facts of the case. Dr
K'yengo's men had been sent out to our camp to observe if anybody
received presents from us, as Kamrasi feared his subjects would
have the fleecing of us before his turn came; and these men had
reported the two cows given by me as mentioned above. Kamrasi no
sooner heard of this than he took the cows and kept them himself.
In their justification, Dr K'yengo's men said that had they not
been in the country before us, Kamrasi would not have had such
guests at all; for when he asked them if the Waganda reports
about our cannibalism and other monstrosities were true, their
head man denied it all, offered to stand security for our
actions, and told the king if he found us cannibals he might make
a Mohammedan of him, and sealed the statement with his oath by
throwing down his shield and bow and walking over them. To this
Kamrasi was said to have replied, "I will accept your statements,
but you must remain with me until they come."
Kajunju came with orders to say Kamrasi would seize anybody found
staring at us. I requested a definite answer would be given as
regards Kamrasi's seeing us. Dr K'yengo's men then said they
were kept a week waiting before they could obtain an interview,
whilst Kajunju excused his king by saying, "At present the court
is full of Kidi, Chopi, Gani, and other visitors, who he does not
wish should see you, as some may be enemies in disguise. They
are all now taking presents of cows from Kamrasi, and going to
their homes, and, as soon as they are disposed of, your turn will
come."
16th. - We kept quiet all day, to see what effect that would have
upon the king. Kidgwiga told us that, when he was a lad, Kamrasi
sent him with a large party of Wanyoro to visit a king who lived
close to a high mountain, two months' journey distant, to the
east or south-east of this, and beg for a magic horn, as that
king's doctor was peculiarly famed for his skill as a magician.
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