A PROFESSIONAL VISIT. 7

pride ourselves at home, of a nian raising liimself

by his abilities from the lowest to the highest

rank.

Altogether I was exceedingly pleased by the

king's reception of us, and by all I saw at the

palace ; and formed an opinion perhaps rashly,

but nevertheless one which has not abated, but

rather gathered strength, that a people who have

so much good sense and native politeness, and who

preserve such a high state of order, will ultimately

form a centre where Christianity and civilisation may be successfully planted, and from which these

blessings will spread to the surrounding nations.

Soon after we had reached our compound, a page

appeared with a message from the king to me,

saying that he should like a visit from me in my

professional capacity in the afternoon. Of course I

expressed my readiness to fall in with the royal command; and when the strong heat was over, I

was ready to accompany the two pages who had

been sent to conduct me to his majesty. On this

occasion, as on several subsequent ones, Mr. Mackay

accompanied me as interpreter. After a few inter-

views, I carried on my conversation in Arabic.

Mtesa was sitting with three of his chiefs, attended

by his pages ; while to the left were sitting, outside

the hut, some sixty or seventy of his wives, and on

the right an executioner. The king was dressed

simply in a long white sheet, tied over the left