22 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN. —and this will be clone by the report of those of their countrymen who have visited England—it will grow, and the desire to learn more of the marvels of civilisation will become so strong, that I am firmly convinced that instead of opposing, as they do at present, the settlement of Europeans in Uganda, they will set aside their prejudices and be ready to welcome foreigners, and will give to them freedom of speech and action, which they do not now possess.

I will add a few words about the domestic arrangements of the palace, which, by the way, is not one building, but a collection of different-sized huts, surrounded by several enclosures, in various j)arts of which live the king's wives, pages, servants, and guard of soldiers. The king has rather a large household to provide for, and he is very particular that it should be well supplied. The king's cook, butcher, and pombe-maker are very important officials, and take high rank among his numerous attendants. Every day when the food is cooked, it is divided into messes and put into banana-leaves, and placed in a basket covered by a nicely plaited cover to protect it from the evil eye. About noon all the food and beer is brought before Mtesa, who tastes both, and woe betide the unhappy cooks if either is not according to his liking. After his inspection the divers portions are carried to the chiefs and j other members of his household. Mtesa himself ' eats alone ; he drinks very little beer, and that