THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA AND THEIR ALLIES 327 



communities and the centralised govern- 

 ment of Uganda. Every district in Unyoro 

 was governed by a chief, responsible to the 

 king, and controlling a number of sub- 

 chiefs and a series of lower officials. In the 

 event of war every governor could appear at 

 the head of his contingent at short notice. 



The Wanyoro appear to have been less 

 altered by the Wahuma than the Waganda, 

 for they retain the widespread Negro custom 

 of extracting the front teeth in the lower 

 jaw; and they practise scar-tattooing, the 

 tribal mark being two rows of scars across 

 the forehead. They are a shorter race than 

 the Waganda, of a lighter and generally 

 redder complexion. Baker's description of 

 Kabaregga, who was king at the time of his 

 visit, shows the general characters of one of 

 the ruling caste. Kabaregga was said to be 

 the sixteenth king since the conquest: 



"Kabaregga was about 5 feet 10 inches 

 in height, and of extremely light com- 

 plexion. His eyes were very large, but 

 projected in a disagreeable manner. A broad 

 but low forehead and high cheek-bones, 

 added to a large mouth, with rather 

 prominent but exceedingly white teeth, 

 complete the description of his face. His 

 hands were beautifully shaped." 



In general culture the people resemble the Waganda, but are in some respects inferior. 

 Their huts, for example, are not so well built, and are beehive-shaped, thatched houses, supported 

 on a central pole. The chief town, Masin.de was described by Baker as composed of several 

 thousands of such huts. The national weapon is the spear, instead of the bow and arrow; and 

 the dress consists of robes of bark-cloth. 



The marriage system, as in Uganda, is unlimited polygamy, and the closest blood-relatives 

 may marry. Mohammedanism has been introduced and has made considerable progress, and 

 will probably limit this system. The national religion is fetishism, and human sacrifices were 

 recklessly offered, especially at the death of a king. The burial rites are described by Baker as 

 follows: "The body of the king is mummified by being roasted over a slow fire, and is 

 then laid out in state in a large hut. His successor plants his spear at the right hand of the 

 corpse as a symbol of his succession and victory over rival claimants. A huge pit is dug and 

 lined with bark-cloth. During the night before the burial the king's own regiment seizes a 

 number of people and brings the captives to the graveside. The body of the king is placed 

 upon the knees of a group of his wives, who sit at the bottom of the pit. The legs and arms of 

 the captives are broken with clubs, and they are thrown into the pit on to the top of the king's 

 body and wives. Earth is shovelled in and stamped into a compact mass by thousands of the 

 people, while the shrieks of the victims are drowned by drums and shouts. The mangled mass is 

 buried and trodden down beneath a tumulus of earth, and all is still. The funeral is over." 



THE MONBUTTU, OR MANGBATTU. 



West of Unyoro, in the basin of the Ubangi, the great north-eastern tributary of the 

 Congo, dwell the Monbuttu (Junker's Mangbattu), who are allied by some of their physical features 



Photo by Richard Buchta. 



A PRINCESS OF UNYORO (PROFILE). 



