The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-04-24

dramatic account OF his many CONVEX.
sations with Mtesa about civilization
ard Christianity. As we know, the result
of Mr.. SANKEY'S visit was that Protes-
tant missions were established in the
country. and, according to the mission
aries own reports, have had gratifying
success. But Mtesa was much per-
picked when he learned that there are
two Christian religo ns, the adherents
of which are as hostile to each other as
both are 10 MOhammedanism or heath
anism. For a time, we believe, the
Roman Catholic emissaries succeeded
in placing their Protestant brethren
under the shadow of M,esa's neglect,
if not absolute dispieasure. and in the
end he and his chiefs abandoned both
and reverted to Mohammedanism. As
might be expected. the missionaries
from their point of view do not speak
so favorably of the late King as the ex-
plorers. Certainly from the European
point of view Mtesa was guilty of great
cruelties: but. as Colonel Grant shows,
these apparently indiscriminate sacri-
fees of human life were really the recog-
nized and organized modes of admin
istering justice in Uganda. Mtesa him.
self was evidently man governed
largely by impulse. 1t was good point
in his character that, when Colonel
Grant visited him, he made a point of
visiting his mother every two days at
least. When Baker. as Colonel Grant
reminds us, was all but defeated by the
Wanyoro, a force from Uganda arr;v-
ing in the distance was the cause of the
dispersion of the enemy. Mtesa for
warded letters from Baker to Living
stone by his swift-footed soldiers, who,
after a journey OF six hundred miles.
found the veteran traveller was dead.
These and other facts, which may be read
in the pages of the travellers we have
mentioned, show that Mtesa was capa-
bic of taking real interest in matters
far outside the range of the ord nary
savage mind. His army, wonderfully
organized and diciplined, MIR. Stanley
estimates at 125,00O men, and his fleet
at 500 canoes. The population of
Uganda proper is probably about a
million, but with neighbor nc depen-
dent territories about three millions. The
capital is finely situated on the slopes
of the north shore of Lake Victoria Ny
ANA, from which, as Mr.. Stanley's il
luStration shows, n broad path leads up
20 the royal quarters. 1t is gratifying
TO learn that there have been compare
lively Little violence and bloodshed at
the change of monarchy. 1t used to be
the custom at the coronation OF the new
King to sacrifice his brothers, a custom
which the latter evidently regarded as
perfectly natural. Mtcsa's brothers, at
the time of Colonel Grants visit, went
about in chains, but all the same, and
though conscious Of their fate, soon
versed, and attended picnics. and
boated, and played musical instruments
with their brother. the King. witt, per-
feet freedom of action and of speech"
What all the outside influences have
been that have had ciyiiizing effect on
Uganda before it was discovered by
we do not know; what tl'ey
have been since we do know pr tty
fully. and the results so far have been
OF the whole good. 1t is to be hopel
that, under tie Young prince who now
succ eds his father. this native state
may be allowed 20 develop itself along
its own lines. without any undue at
tempt TO force it into European grooves;
above al! things both prince and peo-
pie pray 90 be delivered from European
"protectiOn. '-LOnd0H Times.