The Portland daily press., 1878-12-14
THE PRESS.
SATURDAY 3 ORNING. DECEMBER IA
Uganda.

| tells US that the Emperor Mtesa is anxious to
| open communication with the white races;
| that he is Inclined towards Christianity, and
will welcome, protect and support Christian
| Missionaries; that he rules over territory Of
| 10000 square miles, having 2,775, 900 subjects
and many Chiefs tributary TO him and that
he goes to war with 250,000 followers. 1t is
| true that he has five hundred concubines,
which is strong indication of bigoted pagan
ism, but many distinguished whites like the
late lamented Brigham Young, have so near
| ly equalIed him that we will not criticize his
conduct too closely for little tri1e of that
nature. He is despotic sovereign, but no
| other government can sustain itself among
people who are forty or fifty centuries behind
US In civilization. He has prime minister,
styled "Katekiro," who is nearly as absolute
as his master, but he has always latent fear
of the monarch's displeasure, which means
instant death, and earnestly begged Stanley
| to give him some laudanum after hearing of
its virtues, evidently wishing to be prepared
for an emergency. The prompttude with
which punishment follows guilt is shown in
the fate which befel Sambuzi, who failed to
support Stanley, as he had been hidden, in bis
trip to the Muta Nzige Sambuzl was styled
Mta-usa, the Spoiler, because he had "eaten
up' the lands Of other offenders. When Mite
sa heard that he had failed TO carry out his
orders he said TO the Chief OF his body guard,
"fake warriors, and eat up Sambuzi's coun-
try clean, and bring him chained to me-" and
Saruti prOstrated himself aud swore that he
would eat the SPOILERS" land clean, and be.
come the "Spoi,er" himself, and that Sambu-
Il should be brought to him chained like a
slave, yet Saruti and Sambuzi were as init
mate as sworn brothers. The last Stanley
heard OF Saubuzi he was oa bis way to the
capital in chains, aud Siruti, the '.ea.er,'
was lord over his two hundred wives, his
three hundred milch cows, and his fat lands
in the Katonga valley 'weIl populated with
lusty, Industrious peasants aud warriors, all
OF whom were from henceforth subject to
him."
Uganda is favored land situated in the
lake region of Africa, between three great
lakes, and on a table land 1000 feet above
the level OF the sea. 1t is about 800 miles
long and 80 broad. 1t produces ivory, coffee,
gums, resins, myIrh, lion, leopard, otter and
goat skins 1.-THE latter with fine silky hair
like the famous Angora goats), OK hides,
snow white monkey skins, bark cloths. cattle,
sheep aud goats. Its chiet vegetable prodac-
tions are the papsW, banana, plantain, yams,
sweet potatoes, peas, beans, melons, cucum-
bers, vegetable marrow, manioc and tomatoes.
Its grains are wheat, rice, maize, sesamum,
milets and vetches. The soil is of mex
haustible fertility, and the forests are re-
markable for their density, their Iuxuriance
and their variety. 1t is rolling country
with plenty Of pasture laud. Being situated
on the equator it is prolific in malarial fever
to the white man, bat for the native it is
land of milk and honey.
And there, 10 the centre OF the C5uttnent.
monarchy has been established for four or
five hundred Years. Thirty-fve Kings of
this dynasty have reigued there, the first
''Kntu" being represented ia their traditions
as blameless priest, who came from the
Moth bringing with him Que COW, one goat,
one sheep, one chicken, one banana root and
sweet potato. He found the country unin-
habited. His vile was prolific, bringing
forth four children at q birth each wear, and
his animals aud vegetables we've equally in-
dustrious. Tue patriarch was averse to the
shedding of blood, and when his descendants
grew rebeious and bloodlhirsty he disap-
reared from the land, and was not seen again
until many generations after, when Ma'anda,
the 9th OF his race, found him holding curt
in the depths of the forest, but almost imme-
diately lost sight of him again, by Staying an
indscreet follower who had tracked him into
the mysterious retreat. We shall look anx-
iously to Max Muller TO know if this fable.
so like the German and Scottish legends,
denotes any connection between the African
race and those of Enrope.
The successors Of Kintu have been a
bloodthirsty race, totally unlike their mild
progentor, and Suna, the father OF the pres
ent monarch, was peculiarly cruel. His
eldest SOD, kajunba, attempted to succeed
him, aud proclaimed his intention to rule
with vigor; but his chleis had stood enough
OF that kind of thing, so they bound him
haud and foot, and invited his brot-er Mtess,
mild spoken, large eyed boy, to become
their emperor. Midness did not prove to be
so prominent feature N his character as
they had hoped, ior he slew all his brethren
to save questions as to his title, and all the
chiefs who had placed him in power, so that
they might not remind him of the debt he
owed them. Among these were the leading
was in the habit of Staying his women by the
wholesale when he got ia passion. This
was his condition when Speke visited him but
since the Arab, Muley bin Saim converted
him to Muslimism, he has become more
gentle, and only commits murder when it is
necessary. He has won victories over many
surrounding nations, aud invites the white
man to trade with him, having sent embas.
sizes to the Khedive aud to the Sutans OF
Zanzibar, and having Hospitality entertained
and protected all the white travellers who
have visited him.
His people are described as dark-brown-
colored people, decently clothed, unlike all
their neigbbors,) living in retired convenient
houses, and industriously cultivatiug their
Iauds. The worst trait in their character is
seishness, and Stanley thinks the travellers
fate would be hard If the people were not re-
strained by the pervading authority of the
Emperor.
1t is clear that commerce will soon be es-
tablished With this people, Itle steamers put
upon the lake, and missionaries will be max
ing Uganda the centre of an extended work
of civilization.
To the westward of Uganda, over on Lake
Muta Nzige, aud among the mountains, live a
light complexioned. regular featured people
called the Gambaragaras. They are a pas
total people and are said to have once been
all white. Intermarriages with their neigh
bors have made Que half OF the race black.
The families of the chiefs have preserved
| their exclusiveness and their light complex.
ions, so that they look not unlike dark col
ored Europeans. This is the tribe of whom