The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-01-27
SANKEY'S Reception by King Mtesa.

ley's last letter to the New York Her.
aid:
Arriving at Beya, we were welcomed
by feet of canoes sent by Mtesa to
conduct us to Murchison Creek. On
the 4th of April / landed amid a 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 i'm
mense quantity of bananas, plantains,
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 broad street 80 feet wide and a
half mile long, which was lined by his
personal guards and attendants, his
Captains and their respective retinues,
to the number of about 5000. At the
extreme end Of this street and fronting
it was the Kings audience-house, in
whose shadow I saw dimly the figure
of the King sitting in chair. AS | adj
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 I became conscious that
all this display was far beyond my
merits, and consequently felt greatly
embarrassed by so fattering recep-
ton. Arrived before the audience
house the King rosa tall and slender
figure, dressed in Arab costume-ap-
preached me few PAGES, held out his
hand mutely, while the drums continued
their terrible noise, and we stood silent
" 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 flies, 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 81 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. His
eyes 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 a true gentleman
about tit was at once amiable, grace
full and friendly. 1t assured me that in
Mtesa had found friend, a generous
King, and an intelligent ruler. He is
infinitely superior to Sevd Burghash, the
Arab Sultan of Zanzibar, and he APP
pears to me like a colored gentleman
who has visited European courts, whence
he has caught a certain polish and ease
of manner and vast amount of in
formation which he has collected for
the improvement of his race. If you
will recollect that Mtesa is a native of
Central Africa, and that he had seen
but three white. men until came, You
will, perhaps, be as much astonished as
was. And if you will but think of the
enormous extent of country he rules,
extending from east longitude 81 to east
longitude 81, and from north latitude l
to south latitude $3.50, you will perceive
the immense influence he could WELD
toward the civilization of Africa. In
deed, could not regard this King or
look at him in any other light than the
Augustus by whose means the light of
the Gospel will be brought to benight-
ed Middle Africa. Undoubtedly the
Mtesa of to-day is vastly superior to
the vain youth whom Spoke and Grant
saw. There is no butchery of men or
women; seldom one suffers the extreme
punishment. Spoke and Grant left him
a raw, vain youth, and a heather. He
is now a gentleman, and, processing
Islamism, submits to other laws than
his own erratic will, which, we are told,
led to severe and fatal consequences.
All his Captains and chief officers pro-
fess the same creed, dress in Arab cos
tune, and in other ways affect Arab
custom. He has guard of 200 men
renegadoes from Bakers Expedition,
Zanzibar defalcators, few OMAN, and
the elect of Uganda. Behind his throne,
an armchair of native manufacture, the
Royal shield bearers, lance-bearers, and
gun-bearers stand erect and staid. On
either side of him are his grand chiefs
andcourtiers, sons of Governors of his
provinces, chiefs of districts, etc. Out
side the audience-house the lengthy
lines of warriors begin with the chief
drummer and The noisy gonna heaters.
Next come the screaming fifers, the
| flag and banner bearers, the fusiliers,
| and 90 on Saeminrlv ad infinifnm with