wo of his children, I would have them instructed
in England; for I admired his race, and believed them to have sprung
from our old friends the Abyssinians, whose king, Sahela Selassie,
had received rich presents from our Queen. They were Christians like
ourselves, and had the Wahuma not lost their knowledge of God they would
be so also. A long theological and historical discussion ensued, which
so pleased the king, that he said he would be delighted if I would take
two of his sons to England, that they might bring him a knowledge of
everything. Then turning again to the old point, his utter amazement
that we should spend so much property in travelling, he wished to know
what we did it for; when men had such means they would surely sit down
and enjoy it. "Oh no," was the reply; "we have had our fill of the
luxuries of life; eating, drinking, or sleeping have no charms for us
now; we are above trade, therefore require no profits, and seek for
enjoyment the run of the world. To observe and admire the beauties of
creation are worth much more than beads to us. But what led us this way
we have told you before; it was to see your majesty in particular, and
the great kings of Africa--and at the same time to open another road to
the north, whereby the best manufactures or Europe would find their
way to Karague, and you would get so many more guests." In the highest
good-humour the king said, "As you have come to see me and see sights, I
will order some boats and show you over the lake, with musicians to play
before you, or anything else that you like." Then, after looking over
our pictures with intensest delight, and admiring our beds, boxes, and
outfit in general, he left for the day.

In the afternoon, as I had heard from Musa that the wives of the king
and princes were fattened to such an extent that they could not stand
upright, I paid my respects to Wazezeru, the king's eldest brother--who,
having been born before his father ascended the throne, did not come in
the line of succession--with the hope of being able to see for myself
the truth of the story. There was no mistake about it. On entering the
hut I found the old man and his chief wife sitting side by side on a
bench of earth strewed over with grass, and partitioned like stalls for
sleeping apartments, whilst in front of them were placed numerous
wooden pots of milk, and hanging from the poles that supported the
beehive-shaped hut, a large collection of bows six feet i