THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 95 



crying, in the names of the kamraviona and mzungu (Speke), for 

 help and protection ; while Lubuga, the pet sister, and all the 

 other women, clasped the king by his legs and, kneeling, im- 

 plored forgiveness for their sister. The more they craved for 

 mercy the more brutal he became, till at last he took a heavy 

 stick and began to belabor the poor victim on the head. Speke 

 says that hitherto he had been extremely careful not to interfere 

 with any of the king's acts of arbitrary cruelty, knowing that 

 such interference, at an early stage, would produce more harm 

 than good. This last act of barbarism, however, was too much 

 for his English blood to stand ; and, as he heard his name im- 

 ploringly pronounced, he rushed at the king, and, staying his 

 uplifted arm, demanded from him the woman's life. Of course 

 he ran imminent risk of losing his own life, in thus thwarting 

 the capricious tyrant; but his caprice proved the friend of both. 

 The novelty of interference even made him smile, and the woman 

 was instantly released. 



Upon returning from the picnic, a little page brought a mes- 

 sage to the king, which was of course oral ; but it happened that 

 the message was not given exactly correct, whereupon Mtesa cut 

 the little boy's ears off and sent him away from the palace. 



THE KING AND HIS ARMY. 



ON the day following this incident, Colonel Congow, com- 

 mandant of the king's army, returned from a neighboring district, 

 where they had been plundering the Unyoro people, and drew 

 his troops up before the palace for review. The king soon ap- 

 peared, armed with spears and shield, and accompanied by his 

 little dog and his chiefs, who sat upon the ground. The battalion, 

 consisting of what might be termed three companies, each con- 

 taining 200 men, being drawn up on the left extremity of the 

 parade-ground, received orders to march past in single file from 

 the right of companies, at a long trot, and re-form again at the 

 other end of the square. 



Nothing conceivable could be more wild or fantastic than the 

 sight which ensued the men all nearly naked, with goat or cat 

 skins depending from their girdles, ancl smeared with war colors 



