Page:Two kings of Uganda.djvu/94

treat me politely, and that this was only an officious order prompted by the jealousy of the chiefs, I simply turned to Mutesa and said, "Sikiriza okutula ebweru" ("I do not agree to sit outside"), and then turned away to walk off in a huff. I was called back immediately, and the king said to me, "Where do you want to sit ?" "Here, in your presence," I replied; and the gracious monarch immediately motioned to me to sit down beside Earl Mukwenda.

The proceedings began by a display of native dancing, as already described, accompanied by a Musoga minstrel on the "Nanga," a kind of banjo. When there was a lull in the music, I thought that it would be a good opportunity to present my letter, which I produced, and the king's eye fell upon it. I said, “I have brought a letter;" but the king pretended not to hear, and looked away from me, so that he might not see my outstretched hand.

At this juncture, the king's Koran was brought and handed to the little Arab mwalimu; but before reading he turned the book over, and pointed out something to the king. Mutesa's countenance, usually so benign, suddenly changed to scowling anger, and with flashing eyes he caught the book from the Arab, and shook it in his outstretched hand towards me, saying at the same time, "You have spoilt my book. Do you wish to insult me?" As may be imagined, I was perfectly astonished at this unlooked-for outburst of anger, nor did it dawn upon me at first what connection there