- 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.
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