Proceeding To The Palace, As I Found Mtesa Had Gone Out
Shooting, I Called On The Kamraviona, Complained That My Camp Was
Starving, And As I Had Nothing Left To Give The King Said I
Wished To Leave The Country.
Ashamed of its being supposed that
his king would not give me any food because I had no more
presents to give him, the Kamraviona, from his own stores, gave
me a goat and pombe, and said he would speak to the king on the
subject.
1st. - I drew for the king a picture of a guinea-fowl which he
shot in the early morning, and proceeded on a visit with Grant to
the queen's, accompanied only by seven men, as the rest preferred
foraging for themselves, to the chance of picking up a few
plantains at her majesty's. After an hour's waiting, the queen
received us with smiles, and gave pombe and plantains to her new
visitor, stating pointedly she had none for me. There was deep
Uganda policy in this: it was for the purpose of treating Grant
as a separate, independent person, and so obtaining a fresh hongo
or tax. Laughing at the trick, I thanked her for the beer,
taking it personally on my household, and told her when my
property arrived from Karague, she should have a few more things
as I promised her; but the men sent had neither brought my
brother in a vessel, as they were ordered, not did they bring my
property from Karague.
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