Page:Two kings of Uganda.djvu/80

the door, then seizing the bridle of the donkey in one hand and waving his stick in the other, he led me triumphantly through, the guards fleeing right and left upon our approach. We soon squeezed through another gateway. Here I dismounted, and we now entered the third court, and made straight for one of the largest houses which it contained-the usual straw-built, pole-supported, beehive-shaped hut of the country. Within this, on a mat, was sitting a splendid-looking man with a very handsome face; all about him were seated chiefs,like himself, blazing in crimson and gold, and so thought I this must be the far-famed Mutesa. He motioned me to be seated near him, and then entered into conversation with my companion. The space behind the chieftain was occupied by a miscellaneous assemblage of peasants, retainers, litigants, slaves, and minstrels. The supposed king was evidently of the Bahuma tribe, or else, like so many of the Baganda, had much Bahuma blood in his veins. When we had sat here for some time, Mr. O'Flaherty got up, saying, "Let us go now and see the 'Katikiro,' 'chief judge.' On getting outside I asked him who the handsome chief might be. That," he replied, "is Kyambalango, the ‘Kymbugwe'or keeper of the palace."

Passing through yet another gateway we came to the chief judge's court-house or "Kigango." The chief judge or chancellor, like the chief whom we had just left, was seated on a mat and surrounded by a still greater crowd. On our approach he rose and came out to meet us, and