18 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

small presents of food I have mentioned helped us out of grave dilemmas. One day when we were in want I thought of a likeness of the Queen, and took it up to Mtesa ; he was so much pleased, that we received a welcome gift of hananas, which supplied our wants for several days. But it will be easily understood that it is no pleasant thing to be dependent on so capricious a man as Mtesa for all means of subsistence; and until buying and selling are allowed in Uganda, strangers will have only a precarious and uncomfortable existence.

Mtesa much admired the photograph of the Queen, remarking that he thought her dress was very good. He was never tired of talking about her, asking endless questions about her—how she lived, what she wore, how many servants she had, if she killed many people, and such like inquiries. He was most anxious to imitate her, and was often heard to say, " Well, now, Queenee would do so-andso," or " Queenee would say this," though I do not think her Majesty would recognise his interpretation of her doings and sayings.

It is Mtesa's great ambition to be considered a " Big King." His exaggerated notion of his own importance, and of the greatness and magnificence of his court, often made me smile. Yet it is not very surprising that he has such grand ideas of himself, when one remembers that he has always been surrounded by a crowd of courtiers and syco-