Page:Two kings of Uganda.djvu/81

received us very graciously; he was dressed in Arab costume, a snowy white gown of fine cotton, over which he wore a long mantle or robe of rich black cloth, heavily embroidered with gold. He was small, very handsome, evidently of Bahuma bllod, though darker than the Bahuma usually are. This is the man of whom Stanley has given so admirable a description ― suave, polite, shrewd, far-seeing; but also cold, cruel, cunning, false and treacherous. The Bismarck of Buganda and virtual ruler of the kingdom - this was the man of boundless ambition and intolerable pride whose self-will and masterdom would not endure to be thwarted, and woe to any one who crossed his path! This was the man who in stormy passion had flung down his cap in presence of the king, and had refused to relinquish his suit until Mutesa had stripped a powerful rival chief of everything to gratify the spite of his imperious chancellor.

The Katikiro made room for me on his own mat-a high honour which I am afraid at that time I took as a matter of course.

I watched the great man as he listened to the counsel who were arguing the cases on which he was to give judgment, "sala musango," "cut judgment," he all the while playing the game of "Mweso."* He was never-

_{* The game of "Mweso," or "Bao," is played on a board, in which are cut thirty-two square holes; hard nuts, beans, or bullets are used as counters. It is common all over East Africa. The object of the game is to secure your adversaries' counters. It requires quickness in counting.}