MTESA'S PALACE. 3

had given orders for them to dress in red tunics

and white trousers ; some, mistaking the order,

had made white tunics and red trousers. However,

variety has its charm.

The crowd, which had accompanied us as far as

the palace gates, remained outside. We were very- much struck with the great order and quiet which

was preserved within the precincts of the palace.

The two chiefs and the guide who had escorted us

from Mruli met us outside the throne-room, and

conducted us into a side room on the left, where

Mtesa was reclining, as he was not sufficiently well

to sit on his throne.

At the entrance of the large hall sat the king's

executioners, a body of stalwart men, each wearing

a coil of rope—the sign of their office—as a tur-

ban, with a fringe of cord hanging before their

faces as a mask, a decoration which did not en-

hance their personal appearance. The chiefs of

second rank were sitting on wooden stools, ranged

along either side of the hall, while at each pillar

stood one of the king's body-guard, presenting

arms as we passed. After going through the

hall we entered, amid profound silence, the small room where Mtesa lay, surrounded by the greatest

chiefs of his realm, who were seated, Arab fashion,

on mats Stools had been placed for us near the

king's couch, and, after bowing to his majesty, we

took our seats. For five or six minutes all pre-

B 2