2 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

About 8 A.M. a page and several soldiers came from the king to ask us to get ready, as the time for our reception was drawing near. Being aware of Mtesa's great impatience, we made haste, and were all waiting, when at the appointed time a chief, with an escort of soldiers carrying drums and flags, came to conduct us into the august presence.

No sooner had we started, than three or four pages, neatly dressed in white kuftans (garments resembling nightdresses), rushed off to tell Mtesa that we were on our way ; and for the whole distance between our house and the palace we were met every few minutes by breathless pages, giving the king's compliments ; and begging us to make haste, as he was waiting, impatient to receive us. When we were about five hundred yards from the palace the great flag was hoisted to the mast-head, and a salute was fired. A guard of soldiers dressed in well-made uniforms, with Turkish caps and shoes, headed by a band, consisting of drums, flutes, and a few bugles, and carrying Mtesa's own flag, turned out to receive us. Arriving at the outer gate of the palace, we found another company of soldiers drawn up, while a line was formed by troops in the five courts through which we had to pass before we reached the throneroom. We were rather amused by a trifling irregularity in the uniform of the soldiers. The king