BANTU NEGEOES 635 



colour of their skins, the royal family, though often good-looking, is 

 nevertheless quite negro in appearance. It is, however, the Hima element 

 which seems to have given rise to the careful ceremonial and rigid etiquette 

 of the negro courts, and to have instituted a hierarchy of court officials 

 resembling in the quaintest of parallels what grew up in Europe during 

 the Middle Ages. The principal office, as in Uganda, is that of the Katikiro, 

 or first minister. Then comes the Kasegara, or steward of the royal 

 household ; the Omolinzi, or controller of the king's harim ; the ]\Iwobisi 

 wamarwa, the king's cup-bearer or provider of fermented drink ; the 

 jMuchumbi wanyama, or meat-cook; the Alugaragwa, who carries the 

 king's chair or stool ; the ^Mugema wa taba, keeper of the king's pipes 

 and tobacco (who is always required to light the royal pipe) ; the Mukumurizi, 

 or door-keeper ; the Mutuma, or messenger ; the ]Mugurusi, or provider of 

 firewood ; the Omutezi, or drummer ; the Omutezi wa nanga, or harpist ; 

 and the Omutezi wa mbanda, or flute-player. 



