The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-23 00:00:00

//.2,4''

-rf-'-'7797-X. ,
marvellously file, and he coned n t‘titt-O•talls,d,
that there was anytning like it ipipa..^ `.4,t\l
Africa. (Hear, hear.) Capt. G liLitti;:loiii‘ ;.r—)
(4\6
r.ceived at the hind of Kinra ev `ri' .r-44141.-iVTA,,
,ideration, who, when- he first hear reitie-iiatee \--•',/
tion to go northward, was, however, muclfaippoild, S
sod endeavoured to dissuade us by every Argu-
ment in his power. The King was a most intelli-
gent and inquiring man. His Majesty asked ques-
tions about the geography of the world, and cape-
chilly About the north, and was astonished to hear
of the land surrounded by water. He asked about
the stars and sun, and what beeaMe of the old suns
and moons. (Laughter.) His anxious desire was
to obtain knowledge upon every topic which came
under his notice. The King had heard of the ex-
traordinary power 'of the Ns hite ',tropic, and wishad
to know from us whether it was not so (..:Teat that,
if we chose, we could blow up Afti,ta. (14 iughter.)
Scarcely a day passed while in this kiegaorn
without going to pay a visit to the King ;
and many strange stories were told which he could
not now remember. This amiable King gave him
much valuable information, inc:uding all that
about the system of lakes and rivers draining
into the Nile, and others rising in the Mouutaina
of the Moon and in Uganda. Indeed, from
this information he was enabled to send home—a—riaap
very nearly as good as that which he had since b6en
able to prepare after his journey to the Nyanza.
We went out shooting together, and sometimes his
sons accompanied him, and they always acted in the
most courteous, and, he would say, gentlemanly
manner. If he shot a rhinoceros they would conic
up and congratulate him on his success, shaking
him by the hand. When about to resume his jour-
ney the King sent an officer to the King of Uganda,
expressing his wish to visit the country, and 'pray-
ing his brother potentate to afford every facility in
his power. But he still did not wish him to pass
to the northwird. His conduct in this respect
seemed very strange, and was the only thing, in
fact, that was not agreeable during his stay in this
part of the country. The gallant speaker referred
to the illness which had overtaken his fellow-travel-
ler, Capt. Grant, at this stage of the journey, and
proceeded to give some interesting accounts of ,his
visit to and reception by another sable monarch in
the territory adjoining. Here he was surprised at
the neatness and tidiness of the people, the manner
in which they deported themselves, and the style of
the native dress, which, he said, would not disgrace
a fashionable promenade in London. These people
of Uganda were a most superior set. The King had
prepared a grand reception for him. On arriving
at the place indicated he found the palace filled
with men and women ; cattle were being led about
the approaches tc the palace; there were bands of
musicians, and a great display of public rejoicing.
When he reached the front of the palace the King
had not arrived, and he was requested to sit upon,
the ground and wait the King's leisure, for his Ma-
jesty was dressing. This, however, he declined to
do, and walked back to his camp. The reason he did
not sit down upon the ground was that he wa3
anxious to assert a high position, and to obtain influ-
ence among the people which might be useful to him
in his future travels. When the King arrived and
found that the Englishman had gone, he sent an offi-
cer to summon him back, and when he returned he
explained to the King that he did not like to Bit
upon the ground, and that it was little better than
an insult to ask him to do so. In Uganda no one had
ever sat upon a chair or stool in the presence of the
King, but he was allowed to sit upon a stool, so that
he was the first person who had ever enjoyed the
honour of thus sitting in the presence of the ruler
of that nation. (Cheers.) The King was seated on u
throne of brass, beautifully dressed, and carried his
shield and spear, and his warriors round him were
also armed with spears. The officers squtted around
the King, and with these a general conversation
was kept up. Wearied with sitting so long in the
sun, he (Captain Speke) put up his umbrella, to the
intense wonder of the court and its sovereign. At
last the courtiers and warriors left, and while in full
stare at him, the King said, " Have you seen me p"
He replied that he had had that pleasure, and look-
ing at his watch, found that he had enjoyed that
gratification for exactly half an hour, and hoped his
Majesty was quite well. (Laughter.) The King then
went into the palace, to which he also had the
honour of being invited. When he arrived there he
found, to his great surprise, that the King was sit-
ting, not with men, as he had been just before, but
in the midst of his wives—at least 200 or 300 in
number. (Laughter.) Here again the same gazing
at each other ensued, and. at the end of about half
an hour the King again inquired if he (Capt Speke)
had seen him ? (Laughter.) In addition to this the
King asked him where he had come from, and said,
he should like very much to see him again. He re-
plied that he should be happy to be favoured with
the opportunity of visiting his Majesty, and added
that, as was always the custom with him on ap-
proaching men of rank, he had brought with him,
and begged his Majesty's acceptance of, some small
presents. The King said, "Let me see them," The
first of the presents shown him was a revolver pistol.
This the King took up and played with in the most
ridiculous manner, for he had no idea of its use. At
the end of our interview he said, "It is now getting
dark; would you like some liquor? what will you
take?"—(alaugh)—and said that he would send some
thing to-morrow. He appointed the following day
for a second visit, but subsequently said, "Oh no,
that day won't do, because I am going to show all
these pretty things that you have given me to my
mother the Queen Dowager and all my officers."
The following day was accordingly fixed. He visited
i,he King not only upon that but upon almost every
other day during his stay. The King took a great
fancy to shooting, and several shooting parties were
arranged, the King having practised beforehand by
shooting the cows in his yard. The shooting parties
pleased the King amazingly ; they were accompa-
nied by bands of musicians—and very good bands
too they were—by officers, and by many of his
wives. The arrangement of the procession was a
somewhat difficult affair, and it was arranged that
the Englishman should go before the King. To this,
however, he (Capt. Speke) objected, on the ground
that he never went before royalty. The King was
in some difficulty, because, by placing him after
him, he would be between his Majesty and his
wives. (A laugh.) The point, however, was con-
ceded, and he found that the best place in the pro-
cession, for the women were as amiable as amiable
could be. (A laugh.) Whenever any vulture or
other bird flew up the King shouted out, "Now,
shoot that," and he was kept firing as fast as be
could, and each time that a bird was knocked over
the King and his officers and his ladies clapped their
hands, and shouted and danced in the most extraor-
dinary and ridiculous manner. The speaker next
referred to his visit to Murchison Creek, a beautiful
piece of water on the north side of the Lake Nyanza,
one of the most lovely spots which he had met with
in all Africa, and which he had named after the
is
spot
man who had been the first to take him in hand in
well
lt
the
hematter
found
at
sh the
ay
a s
.expedition.so b
0(
aCths e, earlsi .)
made
and well manned. It was h-. 8 wish to go northward
and make his way thence for the Lake, following
the whole course of the Nile. Everybody,
and Queen
w a 8 Mother
who was, how-
we yheor, ,
was opposed
greatly t o this
attachedplan,
soughtgood to dissuade him on
otohmee grou(nad
sort of creature in her way
mysterious y!
laugh)—
great shot,
great festivities that were to
nation of her son—for as yet he off on the c.oro-
asetohnleed: tca.oonnryoStnhwoameitvaieoecvnsirotsyhfs
ieoKrnei
nit::
saa.l as but the prince
things take place at
As each sovereignld has,
ffa
newrgwe
itnh kingutm
hb alle r
exceptionhoi of
s ch i
brothers r e
onf,
and sisters are killed o
two, who are kindly reserved againset any eontin-
geney that may happen. (A laugh.) The king
was Willing to allow him to proceed northward, for
ho said the "Englishmen live in the north, and it
is from
on h
mnthenorits journey,
hthatAfrica must be opened up."
Captain Speke told the
Meeting how he was opposed by the natives of
Usoca, how boats filled with armed men threatened
to impede their progress, and how a complete
victory was gained by the discharge of one or two
rifles, the effect of which spread the utmost conster-
nation among the native warriors. The lateness of
the hour prevented the gallant captain from detail-
ing any more of the interesting incidents of his
journey, and he resumed his seat amid much cheer-
, ing.
, with a few appro.
prie woonrEdag
the hands of Captairis
ai
Sr Rniatudno inlalSil
Speke and Grant a gel:: medal which the King eof
Italy had forwarded to the Geographical Society,
with a request that it should be presented to the
suecessful explorers of the source of the Nile.
The compliment was acknowledged in a few
words, and the thanks of the meeting, proposed by
Sir Roderick Murchison, brought the proceedings
to a close,