The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-12-23
Stanley's Reception by King MteSa.

Stanley's Reception by King MteSa.
The followingis is an extract from STAN
Lewis last letter to the New York Her.
aid:
Arriving at Beya, we were welcomed
bv a fleet of canoes sent by Mtesa to
conduct us to Murchison Greek. On
the 4th of April | landed amid con-
course of 1900 people, who saluted me
with deafening volley of musketry and
waving of flags. Katakiro, the chief
Mukungu, or officer in Uganda, then
conducted me to comfortable quarters,
to which shortly afterwards were
brought sixteen goats, ten oxen, an inn
menSe quantity of banauas, plantalns,
sweet potatoes, besides eggs, chickens
milk, rice, ghee and butter. After such
a royal and bountiful gift | felt more
curiosity than ever to see the generous
monarch.
In the afternoon Mtesa, having pre-
pared beforehand for my reception, sent
TO say that he was ready to receive me.
Issuing out of my quarters found my
self in a broad street 50 feet wide and
half mile long, which was lined by his
personal guards and attendants, his
Captains and their respective retlnueS,
to the number of about 5000. At the
extreme end of this street and fronting
it was the Kings audience-hOuse, III
whose shadow | saw dimly the figure
of the King sitting in chair. As | ad-
vanced toward him, the soldiers CON
tinued to fire their guns. The drums,
sixteen in number, beat fearful tenn
pest of sound, and the flags
waved, until became conscious that
all this display was far beyond my
merits, and consequently felt greatly
embarrassed by so Aattering a receps
ton. Arrived before the audience
house the King rose-a tail and slender
! figure, dressed in Arab costume-ap-
preached me a few PAGES, held out his
! hand mutely, while the drums continued
/ their terrible noise, and we stood silent
| lv gazing at each other a few minutes,
! /. indeed. more embarrassed than ever.
But soon, relieved from the oppressive
noise of the huge drums and violence OF
the many screaming, discOrdant tifes, l
was invited to sit, MteSa first showing
the example, followed by his great Cap
tains. about one hundred in number.
More at ease, surveyed the figure and
features of this powerful monarch.
Mtesa is about "a years old, tall and
slender in build, as | have already
stated, but with broad shoulders. His
face is very agreeable and pleasant, and
| indicates intelligence and mildneSs. Ills
ewes are large, his nose and mouth are
a great improvement upon those OF the
common type of negro, and approach
TO those of the MuScat Arab slightly
tainted with negro blood. His teeth are
splendid, and cleaning white. As
soon as Mtesa began to speak | became
captivated by his manner, for there was
much of the polish of Il true gentleman
about tit was at once amiable, grace
I full and friendly. 1t assured me that in
Mtesa had found friend, generous
King, and an intelligent ruler. He is
7 infinitely superior to Sevd Burghash, the
, Arab Sultan of Zanzibar, and he ap-
pears to me like a colOred gentleman
, who has visited European courts, whence
| he has caught certain polish and ease
of manner and vast amount Of in
, formation which he has collected fol
1 the improvement of his race. If you
. will recollect that Mtesa is native o.
2 Central Africa, and that he had seer
r but three white men until | came, yoI
; will, perhaps, be as much astonished a:
r | was. And if you will but think of th'
enormous extent of country he rules
extending from east longitude "a to eas
longitude 81, and from north latitude
3 to south latitude $3.50, you will perceive
2 the immense influence he could wielC
2 toward the civilization of Africa. In
. deed, could not regard this King o
= look at him in any other light than tn
e Augustus by whose means the light o
V the Gospel will be brought to benight
9 ed Middle Africa Undoubtedly tn
: Mtesa of to-day is vastly superior t
d the vain youth whom Speke and Gran
e saw. There is no butchery of men o
1t women; seldom one suffers the extrem
D punishment. Speke and Grant left hin
n a raw, vain youth, and a heather. II
e is now gentleman, and, PROCESSING
IS Islamism, submits to other laws tina
V his own erratic will, which, we are told
led to severe and fatal consequences
= All his Captains and chief officers pre-
n fess the same creed, dress in Arab COS
a tune, and in other ways affect Ara
y custom. He has a guard of 200 men
Y renegadoes from Bakers Expedition
+ Zanzibar defalcators, a few Omani, an
Is the elect of Uganda. Behind his throne
! an armchair of native manufacture, tn
+ Royal shield-bearers, lance bearers, an
o. bearers stand erect and staid. o
I either side of him are his grand chic
N and courtiers, sons of Governors of hi
= provinces, chiefs of districts, etc. Gu
II side the audience-house the length
A. lines of warriors begin with the chit
IN drummer and the noisy gonna beater
70 Next come the screaming tifers, II
le flag and banner bearers, the fusilier
ST and so on seemingly ad infinitum wit
d spearmen.
70 Mtesa asked number of question
: about various things, thereby shown
Rs a vast amount of curiosity and gre;
f