- "But There Are Two More Things The
King Wishes To Know About:
He has asked the question before, but
forgotten the answers.
Is there any medicine for women or
children which will prevent the offspring from dying shortly
after birth? - for it is a common infirmity in this country with
some women, that all their children die before they are able to
walk, whilst others never lose a child. The other matter of
inquiry was, What medicine will attach all subjects to their
king? - for Kamrasi wants some of that most particularly." I
answered, "Knowledge of good government, attended with wisdom and
justice, is all the medicine we know of; and this his boys can
best learn in England, and instruct him in when they return."
7th. - We went to meet Kamrasi at his Kafu palace to bid good-bye.
After all the huckstering and begging with which he had tormented
us, the state he chose to assume on this occasion was very
ludicrous. He sat with an air of the most solemn dignity, upon
his throne of skins, regarding us like mere slaves, and asking
what things we intended to send to him. On being told we did not
like being repeatedly reminded of our promises, he came down a
little from his dignity, saying, "And what answer have you about
the business on the island?" - meaning the request to fight his
brothers. That, of course, could not be listened to, as it was
against the principle of our country. Grant's rings were then
espied, and begged for, but without success. We told him it was
highly improper to beg for everything he saw, and if he persisted
in it, no one would ever dare to come near him again.
Then, to change the subject, we begged K'yengo's men might be
allowed to go as far as Gani with us; but no reply was given,
until the question was put again, with a request that the reason
might be told us for his not wishing it, as we saw great benefit
would be derived to Unyoro, as the Wanyamuezi instead of trading
merely with Karague and Zanzibar, would bring their ivory through
this country and barter it, thus converting Unyoro into a great
commercial country; when Kamrasi said, "We don't want any more
ivory in Unyoro; for the tusks are already as numerous as grass."
Kidgwiga was then appointed to receive all the things we were to
send back from Gani; our departure was fixed for the 9th; and the
king walked away as coldly as he came, whilst we felt as jolly as
birds released from a cage.
Floating islands of grass were seen going down the Kafu,
reminding us of the stories told at Kaze by Musa Mzuri, of the
violent manner in which, at certain season, the N'yanza was said
to rise and rush with such velocity that islands were uprooted
and carried away. In the evening a pot of pombe was brought,
when the man in charge, half-drunk, amused us with frantic
charges, as if he were fighting with his spear; and after
settling the supposed enemy, he delighted in tramping him under
foot, spearing him repeatedly through and through, then wiping
the blade of the spear in the grass, and finally polishing it on
this tufty head, when, with a grunt of satisfaction, he
shouldered arms and walked away a hero.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 368 of 403
Words from 192391 to 192958
of 210958
