3d. - I Was Haunted All Night By My Fancied Cruelty, And In The
Morning Sent Its Victim, After Uganda Fashion,
Some symbolical
presents, including a goat, in token of esteem; a black blanket,
as a sign of mourning; a bundle
Of gundu anklets; and a packet of
tobacco, in proof of my forgiveness.
Chapter XIV
Palace, Uganda - Continued
Reception of a Victorious Army at Court - Royal Sport - A Review of
the Troops - Negotiations for the Opening of the Road along the
Nile - Grant's Return - Pillagings - Court Marriages - The King's
Brothers - Divinations and Sacrifices - The Road granted at last -
The Preparations for continuing the Expedition - The Departure.
I now received a letter from Grant to say he was coming by boat
from Kitangule, and at once went to the palace to give the
welcome news to the king. The road to the palace I found
thronged with people; and in the square outside the entrance
there squatted a multitude of attendants, headed by the king,
sitting on a cloth, dressed in his national costume, with two
spears and a shield by his side. On his right hand the pages sat
waiting for orders, while on his left there was a small squatting
cluster of women, headed by Wichwezis, or attendant sorceresses,
offering pombe. In front of the king, in form of a hollow
square, many ranks deep, sat the victorious officers, lately
returned from the war, variously dressed; the nobles
distinguished by their leopard-cat skins and dirks, the commoners
by coloured mbugu and cow or antelope skin cloaks; but all their
faces and arms were painted red, black, or smoke-colour.
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