KING SUNA. 



189 



whilst riding "pickaback" — the state carriage of 

 Central Africa — upon a minister's shoulders, he was 

 struck by the shaft of the destroyer in the midst of 

 his mighty host. As is the custom of barbarous and 

 despotic races, the event was concealed for some months. 

 When the usual time had expired, one of his many 

 sons, exchanging his heir-elective name " Samunjii" for 

 Mtesa, became king. The court usage compels the 

 newly elected chief to pass two years in retirement, 

 committing state affairs to his ministers ; little, therefore, 

 is yet known of him. As he will certainly tread in the 

 footsteps of his sire, the Arabs may again be allowed to 

 describe the state and grandeur of the defunct Suna; 

 and as Suna was in fact the whole kingdom of Uganda, 

 the description will elucidate the condition of the people 

 in general. 



" The army of Uganda numbers at least 300,000 men ; 

 each brings an egg to muster, and thus something like 

 a reckoning of the people is made. Each soldier carries 

 one spear, two assegais, a long dagger, and a shield, 

 bows and swords being unknown. When marching the 

 host is accompanied by women and children carrying 

 spare weapons, provisions, and water. In battle they 

 fight to the sound of drums, which are beaten with 

 sticks like those of the Franks : should this performance 

 cease, all fly the field. Wars with the Wanyoro, the 

 Wasoga, and other neighbours are rendered almost 

 chronic by the policy as well as the pleasure of the 

 monarch, and there are few days on which a foraging 

 party does not march from or return to the capital. 

 When the king has no foreign enemies, or when the 

 exchequer is indecently deficient, he feigns a rebellion, 

 attacks one of his own provinces, massacres the chief 

 men, and sells off the peasantry. Executions are 



