THE ROYAL VISIT. 



191 



His walk resembled rather the waddling of a duck than the 

 firm and easy gait wliich we are wont to associate with roy- 

 alty. Moreover, he was in a state of almost absolute nudity, 

 which showed him oflf to the greatest possible advantage. It 



INTEKVIEW WITH KING NANGORO. 



appeared strange to us that he should be the only really fat 

 person in the whole of Ondonga. This peculiarity no doubt 

 is attributable to the custom that prevails in other parts of 

 Africa, viz., that of selecting for rulers such persons only 

 who have a natural tendency to corpulence, or, more com- 

 monly, fattening them for the dignity as we fatten pigs.* 



With the exception of a cow and an ox, Nangoro appeared 

 to appreciate few or none of the presents which Mr. Galton 

 bestowed on him. And as for my friend's brilliant and en- 



* In speaking of the Matabili, Captain Harris says, "To be fat is 

 the greatest of all crimes, no person being allowed that privilege but 

 the king." Here, then, we have a new kind of lese-majeste. Accord- 

 ing to some of the African tribes, obesity in plebeians is high-treason ! 



