MTESA'S CHILDREX. 13 I think one of the happiest scenes I saw at the palace was when two of Mtesa's wives returned from their period of separation, bringing with them their children, a boy and a girl, sweet little things, each about two years old. The two little beings were made to go to their father in order that he might touch them for the first time. In they toddled without any fear, and went straight up to the king, who made them sit down by him, talking to them and patting their heads. Presently he pointed to me, and • directly they saw my white face they gave vent to their feelings in a shrill cry, and ran away in terror, only to be caught and brought back by their mothers. Mtesa was wild with delight, and made some of the bystanders come and touch me, to show the little mites that there was nothing to be afraid of. But it was to no purpose ; they would not come near me, though at last they sat quietly by their father until my audience was over.

Mtesa is said to have about seven thousand wives, but he himself told me that he did not know how many he possessed ; his great desire now is to have a white woman as wife. He told me that he had seventy sons and eighty-eight daughters. His first and subsequently head wife had died shortly before our arrival in Uganda. This was a great grief to Mtesa, as he had been truly attached to her, and she had taken a prominent part in all his councils ;