Page:Two kings of Uganda.djvu/78

"Namasolè," mother of the king, and "Lubuga," sister of the king; but possibly they may possess the privilege of making their fences in the same style as the king. The difference between these sacred and royal palisades and the ordinary enclosure consists in the fact that the former are made with the reeds or tiger-grasscrossed and wattled, while in the latter they are simply placed side by side.

Strange it seemed to find oneself, for the first time, in one of the great capitals of Africa. It was a bright and busy scene, and we were soon surrounded by a curious and noisy crowd. Here were people of all shades and complexions, from a light copper colour to jetty black. In front of us, going in the direction of thenext gateway, towered the gigantic figure (nearly seven feet high) of Katorogo, the king's head "Muhuma," herdsman, though Sebalija is the Muganda chief who is responsible for the Kabaka's cattle. Katorogo was followed by a skin-clad company, whose dress presented a striking contrast to the brighter and more showy garments of the other courtiers. Among the ever-moving throng were musicians from Busoga, with their mud-coloured back-cloths easily distinguishable from the light brown or red cloths of the Baganda. Again, the "Bajona," or potters, are passing along, bearing on their heads enormous earthenware vessels, which they are about to present as tribute to the Kabaka. Behind us a great chief has just entered,clothed in a scarlet coat of fine English cloth richly