MEDICINE. 9

often turned away, or kept waiting for a long time,

before it was his pleasure to see me. I felt that

this must not be allowed to continue, that I could

not treat the king properly unless I had access to

him at all times ; so I rebelled against this practice,

and on two or three occasions, when kept waiting,

returned home without seeing Mtesa. In the end I

carried my point, and was permitted to visit the

king whenever it was requisite. This of course met

with considerable opposition from the chiefs, who

were greatly aggrieved at a rule, which was always

strictly enforced in their own case, being relaxed

in favour of a European. There were other diffi-

culties with which I had to contend, chief among

which was his want of obedience to my instructions. With regard to outward applications, bandages, etc.,

he was exceedingly careful, doing exactly what he

was told ; but far otherwise was it with his medi-

cines. The Arabs and the chiefs were constantly

telling him that I intended to poison him ; the

result was that he was most irregular in taking

the draughts I prepared for him. Natives can

understand outward treatment ; but inward appli-

cations are mysteries to them, and this ignorance

can only be overcome by experience. However, in

course of time, he placed less reliance on his chiefs,

and was far more regular in taking his medicine.

In fact, toward the end of my stay, he would not

let the chiefs and pages drink so much physic. On