, 1885-04-30
k!Ne MrssA. Of AfalcA
The Most Notable Potentate Produced by
the Dark Continent
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D. F1 49,
was probably not more than 4s years Of
age at the time Of his death, and, hay
ing succeeded his father, Suna, in 1851.
he has reigned tw%enty-eight years.
The Waganda have the names of thirty
five kings who have reigned down to
the time OF Mtesa in regular succession.
and this, as Col. Grant points out, may
probably account for the blue blood
and vanity which certainly ran in the
veins OF Mtesa. This vanity comes out
in all the narratives we have from for
eign visitors Spoke and Grant, Stan
ley. aud Wilson and Felkin.
Probably, however, no other native
African prince, not even the Muata
JanNo himself, had heen able to organ
lie a state 80 completely and make %
great an advance toward civilization as
the king who has just died and his pred
ecessors. Col Grant, who knew him
well, speaks of him in terms OF real re-
spect, and his estimate is essentially
supported by such men as Sir Samuel
Baker and Mr.. Stanley. We have all
read the latter's long, interesting and
dramatic account OF his many %oonversa-
tiOns with Mtesa about civilization and
Christianity. AS we know, the result Of
Stanley's visit was that Protestant mis-
sions were established in the country,
and, according to the missionaries own
reports, have had gratifying success.
But Mesa was much perplexed when he
learned that there are two Christian re-
ligions, the adhereuts of which arc n
hostile to each other as both are to Mo-
hammedanisin or heathenism. As
might be expected, the missionaries,
from their point of view, do not speak
so fayorably of the late king as the ex-
plorers. Certainly from the European
point of view Mtesa was guilty Of great
crueltics; but, a Col. Grant shows,
these apparently indiseriminate sacri-
ices Of human life were really the recog-
nized and organized modes OF admins
tering justice in Uganda.
Mtesa himself was evidently n man
governed largely by impulse. 1t wa n
good point in his character that, whom
Col. Grant visited him, he made u point
of visiting his mother every two days NJ
least. When Baker, as Col. Grant re
minds us, was all but defeated by the
Wanyoro, a force from Uganda arriving
in the distance was the cause Of the dis
persion Of the enemy. Mtesa forwarded
lettcrs from Baker TO Livingston by his
swift footed soldiers, who. after u
journey OF 600 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 capable Of taking -
real interest in matters far outside the
range of the ordinary savage mind. His
army, wonderfully organized and disci-
plined, Mr.. stanley estimates Mt 1875, 0O0
men, and his ileet at 500 canoes.
The population of Uganda proper N
probably about 1000, 600. but witt
n~eighboring dependent territories about
5000, 600. The capital is finely stu
ated on the slopes OF the north shore OF
Lake Victoria Nyanza, from which, rs
Mr. Stanley's illustration shows, n broad
path leads up to the royal quarters. H.
is gratifying to learn that there havg
been comparatively little violence and
bloodshed at the change OF mon.
archy. 1t used to be the Gus.
tom at the coronation for a new king
TO sacrifice his brothers, a custom which
the latter evidently regarded as per
fectly natural. Mtesa's brothers, at the
time of Col. Grant visit, went about
in chains, but all the same, and though
conscious Of their fate, -convcrsed, and
attended picnics, and boated, and played
musical instruments with their brother,
the king. with perfect freedom of action
and Of speech.
It is to be hoped that, under the
young prince who now succeeds his
father, this native state may be allowed
TO develop itself along its own lines,
without any undue attempt to force it
into European grooves. above all things
both prince and people pray TO be de
livcred from European projection.
The Chinese Military. Passion for Fiigs.
Foreign Letteri
The military desire for flags in China
has developed into n passion. Every
fortress, intrenched position, camp, city
gate or officers headquarters, has from
one to 100, some of Que bright solid
color, but most are arranged in stripes,
the colors red, white and blue being
preferred. We're but three stripes used
the resemblance to the French tricolor
would be almost exact, but rs they ordi-
narily use five or six the similarity OF
color becomes a mere suggestion. When
blue is not obtainable, black, and rarely
yellow, takes its place.
At the camp of the Tso-tsung-tang
regiment, on u pleasant knoll just out
side the walls of King ehun-foo, more
than 100 large flags were displayed,
ranged with the precision Of the rows
in "a cornfield, there being one for
nearly every white canvas tent, in
which the soldiers were comfortably in
stalled. The material usel is Man
chester cotton, bought white and col
ored by the Chinese. As each is about
the size of a common bed blanket, and
several thousands must be required for
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