The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29
.t>.<C.s
Frank, G. Carpenter Has Am Au-
dieHce With Him Inn His Palace


Copyright, 1908, by Frank G. Carpenter.)
Kampala, Uganda.
HAVE just returned from an audience
with his royal highness. Daudi Chau,
4 the boy king of Uganda He is the
ruler, under the English protectorate, of
more than 100000 people, and the owner
of a country twice as large as either Ohio,
Virginia or Kentucky. His subjects are
the most intelligent Of the native races
of Central Africa. They have a civiliza-
ton of their own. They wear clothes of
their own manufacture made largely of
Lark, and they consider any exposure Of
their persons indecent They do not mu-
tiiate their bodies by slashing them and
soaring them into welts and scars, like
their near neighbors. They do not wear
plugs in their ears nor rings in their
noses, and do not file sharp or knock out
their front teeth. They have a Language
of their own. They have their own books
and many Of the native chiefs keep rec
ords of their court and official proceed
ings in typewriting, having secretaries
who use machines for that purpose. They
ere rapidly advancing in civilization and
are to large extent Christians.
These people are called the Baganda
and their country is Uganda. They have
long been the dominant race of this part
ct Africa, and they have, time and again,
conquered the other peoples about Lake
Victoria In war. Their neighboring tribes
have always paid them tribute and they
are still the most promising Of the negro
races of the continent. Their little ruler
may do much in Fastening their advance
ment
A Descendant of Kings.
This boy king has as blue blood as any
monarch who sits on European throne.
The Baganda are an old nation, and they
have had kings for generations. Their
first king is said to have sprung from
monster pithon, whose outline is carved
on one of the great rocky hills of this
country His name was Bemba, and he
killed thousands of his subjects before
he was able to rule. The king that we
know best was Mutesa, who was reigning
when the explorer Spoke came into
Uganda, and was still on the throne dur
ing the expedition of Henry NJ Stanley.
Mutesa was converted to Christianity by
Stanley. He was this boys grandfather,
and his father was the notorious King
Mwanza, one OF the bloodiest and wick
edest tyrants on earth. Mwanza rebellei
against the English, about IL years ago,
and was conquered by Them They de-
posed him and chose this boy, who was
then baby in arms, as king in his stead.
Daudi Chau Is now about u years OF
hSe, huu III Six OF seven years more he
will take the rens Of government and as
sumo the throne In the meantime his
kingdom and estates are being admins
tered by regency of three ministers, aid
ed by the lukiko, or imperial council, con-
sisting OF about 20 of the native chiefs of
Uganda. In addition to the revenue from
his own farms the boy has an allowance
of $1,000 a year from the British govern
ment; and this will be increased to $500
year when he reaches the age of IS. In
the meantime the three regents act for
him at a salary of $1,000 each.
Uganda's Native Capital.
But first let me give You some idea Of
this town of Kampala, the native capital
Of Uganda. 1t Is 26 miles from Entebbe.
where the British government has its Of
fees. Entebbe is the chief port on this
side of Lake Victoria, and Kampala is
reached by wide road over which one
goes in jinrikishas or on horseback or on
foot / came here in jinrikisha hauled
by a half dozen Baganda clad in bark
clothing.
Kampala Itself is one of the largest of
the native African settlements. Its houses
are scattered over six great hills, which
rise out of low, swampy lands. each
swamp being crossed by roads and
bridges. The hills are divided up into lit
tie plantations, and each hill has its own
class OF people and its own speciality. The
hill upon which the king dwes is known
~ Mengo; that where the chief stores
Axs and HAsxA the British governor lives