The Poor Boy, In A Dreadful Fright, Said He Had Acted Under The
Instructions Of The Kamraviona:
There was no harm done, for
Bana's men were not hurt.
"Well, then," said the king, "if they
were not injured, and you only did as you were ordered, no fault
rests with you; but begone out of my sight, for I cannot bear to
see you, and the Kamraviona shall be taught a lesson not to
meddle with my guests again until I give him authority to do so."
I now hoped, as I had got the king all by himself, and apparently
in a good humour with me, that I might give him a wholesome
lesson on the manners and customs of the English nation, to show
how much I felt the slights I had received since my residence in
Uganda; but he never lost his dignity and fussiness as an Uganda
king. My words must pass through his Mkungu, as well as my
interpreter's, before they reached him; and, as he had no
patience, everything was lost till he suddenly asked Maula,
pretending not to know, where my hut was; why everybody said I
lived so far away; and when told, he said, "Oh! that is very far,
he must come nearer." Still I could not say a word, his
fussiness and self-importance overcoming his inquisitiveness.
Rain now fell, and the king retired by one gate, whilst I was
shown out of another, until the shower was over. As soon as the
sky was clear again, we returned to the little court, and this
time became more confidential, as he asked many questions about
England - such as, Whether the Queen knew anything about
medicines?
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