Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-02-21


portant empire, and has given that and
the main facts about the country in
fascinating detail. The people of Uganda
Africans. They are not at all like the
typical negroes of the west coast and the
south. They are tall and finely formed,
have good heads and straight noses,
wear good clothes of cotton cloth, manu-
and are brave and skillful in war. And
by steady conquest for three generations
they have established an empire cover
ing some 10000 square miles and con-
tanning near 100000 people. The
Ugandas are the ruling race; the Wasoga
and many other tribes are subject to
them. x*x
Suna, father of Mtessa, was of the third
generation of conquering kings, and from
his last expedition against the Wasoga
and 5000 children. Not many men are
taken alive in these African wars. The
Uganda historians told Stanley of line
of thirty-five sovereigns, the last three
Of whom had extended their rule till
they became emperors instead Of kings.
They also told of wonderful missionary,
ago visited and taught them many valua-
BILE truths; but their accounts were of
such nature that Stanley set down the
Nance Capac in Peru, Kadmus in
Greece, and the first great warrior
among the Aztecs. In short, it was a
sort of incarnation of the progress of the
people and the empire.
h. s%o1 0f <1,o
pire (of which sketch is here presented,
where Stanley was royalty entertained
by Mtesa, is on the summit Of knoll
from which the slopes in all directions
are thick set with bananas, sugar cane
and plantains. Here Mtesa held his
royal court and gave audience to Off
cials and ambassadors in a straw COW
cred hall, 60 feet long, IS feet wide
and 25 feet high. 1t had been the
intention of Suna that his warlike
son Kajumba should succeed him; but
the chiefs, dreading the latter's furious
temper, deposed him and enthroned
Mtesa, who was supposed to be Of a
milder temper. Once firm in power,
however, he slew all his brothers and the
most pretentious Of the chiefs, to provide
against disputed succession. Soon af-
ter he was converted to Mohammedanism
by the Arab missionary Muley bin
Salim, and as this caused him to abstain
from all intoxicants he became much
more humane. He confded to Stanley,
however, that he was not altogether
satisfied with his new religion, and under
the latter's instructions he was nominally
converted to Christianity.
All this time the Mohammedans were
pushing their conquests, and after the
death Of Mtesa there was great schism
In Uganda. Mwanga, the emperor, be-
gan by being i'll tempered, and finally
became ferocious; distrusting his body
guard, he tried to have them massacred,
when they turned On him and made
Kiwewa emperor. The latter at once
adopted the policy of Mtesa, appointed
Christians to the principal offices and de-
sired to establish trade ana friendly rela-
tions with the white men. On this the
Mohammedans, stirred up by the Arabs,
revolted, slew many of the Christians and
compelled all the missionaries to fly from
the country. Such are the incidents OF
this curious war Of races and religions in
equatorial Africa, Islamism and Chris
tianity contending for the trade and the
souls of the blacks.
Stanley thinks the Uganda region as
fertile as any on earth. The people say,
"We live in a land of wine and butter,
milk and fullness," and their appearance
proves it. They are cleanly and modest,
have considerable skill and industry
enough for their needs, and with peace
full intercourse the trade OF. the empire
would be very valuable. But the gov
ernment is thoroughly despotic, depend
ing entirely on the character of the
monarch, and just at present the Arabs
appear to have the upper hand.