The Books Of Birds And Animals Had Next To Be Seen, And Being
Admired Were Coveted, The King Offering One Of The Books I First
Gave Him In Exchange For One Of These.
In fact, he wanted to
fleece us of everything; so, to shut him up, I said I would not
Part with one bird for one hundred tusks of ivory; they were all
the collections I had made in Africa, and if I parted with them
my journey would go for nothing; but if he wanted a few drawings
of birds I would do some for him - at present I wished to speak
to him. "Well, what is it? we are all attention." "I wish to
know positively if you would like English traders to come here
regularly, as the Arabs do to trade at Karague? and if so, would
you give me a pembe (magic horn) as a warrant, that everybody may
know Kamrasi, king of Unyoro, desires it?"
Kamrasi replied, "I like your proposition very much; you shall
have the horn you ask for, either large or small, just as you
please; and after you have gone, should we hear any English are
at Gani wishing to come here, as my brothers are in the way we
will advance with spears whilst they approach with guns, and
between us both, my brothers must fly - for I myself will head the
expedition. But now you have had your say I will have mine if you
will listen." "All right, your majesty; what is it?" "I am
constantly stricken with fever and pains, for which I know no
remedy but cautery; my children die young; my family is not large
enough to uphold my dignity and station in life; in fact, I am
infirm and want stimulants, and I wish you to prescribe for me,
which considering you have found your way to this, where nobody
came before, must be easy to you." Two pills and a draught for
the morning were given as a preliminary measure, argument being
of no avail; and to our delight the king said it was time to go.
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