A TBICK OF MTESA'S. 11 be made to understand that our cures are matters of time, and not of magic. Nevertheless, when I left Uganda, Mtesa was nearly well. He had been suffering from a complication of complaints, which had prevented his walking for fifteen months. I had the good fortune to leave him cured of all except one, which required a small operation. Both the king and his wives wished me to perform this, but the chiefs absolutely refused their consent ; so I thought it better not to run any risk. However, he was able to walk about again, although he was very weak after so long and severe an illness. On one occasion Mtesa played me a very pretty trick. I had given him two bottles, one of which contained a lotion, and had particularly told him that it was for outward application only. Soon after I left with one of my companions, but we had only gone a little way when we were overtaken by a page, who had run after us with a jar of banana wine, with the king's salaam, asking me to taste it, and say if he might have a little every day.

This I did, but not being quite sure as to whether it was the strong kind, I gave some to my friend and asked his opinion ; he said that it was not, and drank up the remainder. I gave the required permission to the page, and we pursued our way ; but in a little time my friend inquired, " Do you feel all right ? " " Not quite," said I ; in fact, I felt rather sick. " I hope that wine wasn't drugged,"