458 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



breast, from which hangs a fringe of peculiar monkey skin j a 

 red cloth turban, around which is wound in tasteful coils a finely 

 plaited rope-cord, badge and instrument of their deadly office. 

 These monsters surround Mtesa on all public occasions, and at 

 a nod from their master they rush upon their victims and behead 

 them with their long keen-bladed knives. 



This incident is so utterly at variance with the character given 

 to Mtesa by Stanley and other explorers, that it seems hardly 

 worthy of credit ; yet it will be remembered that Capt. Speke, 

 in the commencement of this volume, represents the great 

 African ruler as exceedingly bloodthirsty and vain. It is evi- 

 dent that he is a man of varying moods, as each visitor gives 

 him a different character. He has also been improved by 

 intercourse with foreigners, and having but recently embraced 

 the Muslim faith, he was on his best behavior when Stanley saw 

 him. 



A GRAND REVIEW. 



ON the 7th of April Mtesa invited Stanley to witness a sham 

 naval battle, between forty magnificent canoes, each containing 

 thirty soldiers, so that twelve hundred men were engaged. The 

 captain of each canoe was dressed in a white cotton shirt and a 

 cloth head-cover, neatly folded turban-fashion, while the admiral 

 wore over his shirt a crimson jacket* profusely decorated with 

 gold braid, and on his head the red fez of Zanzibar. Each cap- 

 tain, as he passed, seized shield and spear, and, with the bravado 

 of a matador addressing the Judge of the Plaza to behold his 

 prowess, went through the performance of defense and attack 

 by water. The admiral won the greatest applause, for he was 

 the Hector of the fleet, and his actions, though not remarkably 

 graceful, were certainly remarkably extravagant. The naval 

 review over, Mtesa commanded one of the captains of the canoes 

 to try and discover a crocodile or a hippopotamus. After fifteen 

 minutes he returned with the report that there was a young croc- 

 odile asleep on a rock about two hundred yards away. " Now, 

 Stamlee," said Mtesa, " show my women how white men can 

 shoot." Stanley fired a three-ounce ball with such admirable 



