Missionary Enterprise. 
87 
a long and lofty building of tiger-grass stems, thatched with 
grass, and fronted by a number of courts having sliding 
doors. Lines of soldiers guarded the approaches to his 
Majesty, who was seated on a chair at the upper end of the 
palace hall, dressed in Turkish costume. Formal presenta- 
tion of letters and credentials then took place, and presents 
were exchanged, after which the missionaries took their 
leave. Next morning another interview with the king took 
place, when M'tesa asked the missionaries if they could 
make guns and gunpowder, hinting that these things were 
among his chief wants just then. He seemed disappointed 
at hearing that he could not be taught these arts by his 
visitors, but also expressed his desire to learn reading and 
writing. In the afternoon a third and more private inter- 
View took place, when the king asked whether they had 
brought the Book — ike Bible, On being informed that 
they had, M'tesa took the missionaries into his palace 
grounds, and showed them two sites which he intended to 
give them — one for the mission-house, and the other for a 
school. In their account of these interviews we are told of 
the honour paid to the name of Jesus Christ at the court of 
this potentate. " At the first part, the king ordered a salute 
to be fired, and a general rejoicing for the latter ; but at the 
end, where it was said that the religion of Jesus Christ was 
the foundation of England's greatness, and would be of his 
kingdom also, he half rose from his seat, called his head 
musician to him, and ordered a more vigorous rejoicing to 
be made, and desired the interpreter to tell us that this 
which we heard and saw was for the name of Jesus. This 
from the centre of Africa, dim as his knowledge may be, 
must rejoice the hearts of all Christians. The king then 
asked, * Have you seen my flag ? I hoist that flag because 
I believe in Jesus Christ.' This ^ Christian flag ' is a medley 
