THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 99 



they themselves would become doubly related to him. Nothing, 

 however, seemed to be done to promote the union, until one old 

 lady, sitting by the king's side, who was evidently learned in the 

 etiquette and traditions of the court, said, "Wait and see if he 

 embraces, otherwise you may know he is not pleased." At this 

 announcement the girls received a hint to pass on, and the king 

 commenced bestowing on them a series of huggings, first sitting 

 on the lap of one, whom he clasped to his bosom, crossing his 

 neck with hers to the right, then to the left, and, having finished 

 with her, took post in the second one's lap, then on that of the 

 third, performing on each of them the same evolutions. He 

 then retired to his original position, and the marriage ceremony 

 was supposed to be concluded, and the settlements adjusted, 

 when all went on as before. 



Speke says that during this one day they heard the sad voices 

 of no less than four women dragged from the palace to the 

 slaughter-house. It seemed to be the king's method of keeping 

 his harem stocked with fresh wives. 



SACRIFICE OF A CHILD BY COOKING. 



A FEW days before the departure of Speke and Grant from 

 Mtesa's palace, one of his officers, K'yengo, informed him that, 

 considering the surprising events which had lately occurred at 

 court, the king, being anxious to pry into the future, had resolved 

 upon a very strange measure for accomplishing that end. This 

 was the sacrifice of a child by cooking, and K'yengo was detailed 

 to perform the barbarous ceremony, which is described as fol- 

 lows : The doctor places a large earthen vessel, half full of 

 water, over a fire, and over its mouth a grating of sticks, whereon 

 he lays a small child and a fowl side by side, and covers them 

 over with a second large earthen vessel, just like the first, only 

 inverted, to keep the steam in, when he sets fire below, cooks 

 for a certain period of time, and then looks to see if his victims 

 are still living or dead. If dead, as they usually are, the omen 

 is considered propitious, and the king at once proceeds upon 

 whatever enterprise he may have been contemplating. 



