of Edinburgh, Session 1885 — 86 . 
739 
one. The latter are protected by shields hung to the thwarts of the 
boat. The canoes are apportioned out to the various chiefs under 
whose command they fight, the whole fleet being under the chief 
admiral, who distributes them mostly amongst the islands in the 
lake. 
Government . — The head of the government of Uganda is nomin- 
ally the king (Kabakka). Succession to the throne is hereditary, 
but the new king is selected from a minor, the three hereditary 
chiefs and the young king’s mother carrying on the government 
until he is of age. (I believe this takes place when his first son is 
born.) This arrangement prevents the king becoming too power- 
ful, and also avoids intrigues during his lifetime. Directly a king 
dies all strangers who may happen to be in the country are 
compelled to live in certain places under a strong guard. They 
are quite safe there, but should they leave the enclosure they would 
certainly be killed. A meeting of the three hereditary chiefs is 
held to elect the new king; should they not agree in their choice 
they fight, and the victor places his nominee on the throne. With 
the exception of two or three of the young king’s brothers, the whole 
of the late king’s sons are burned; the former are kept in strict 
confinement, but their preservation is necessary in case of the king 
dying childless.* The king’s power is distinctly limited, that is to 
say, in vital matters he would never dare to go against the will of 
the hereditary chiefs. It is true that he is on the throne, and that 
everything is referred to him ; but he is placed and maintained 
there by his chiefs, who are wise enough to know that there must 
be a king or there would be everlasting fighting for the supremacy. 
The king is not permitted to have much property of his own, but 
he can requisition women, cattle, food, in fact almost anything, to 
any extent, except land. The reigning family in Uganda is 
descended from the Wahuma tribe. Mtesa professed to trace back 
his descent to Kintu (or Ham), the founder of the dynasty. The 
names of the kings are as follows, but I have grave doubts as to the 
list being correct. Kintu (or Ham), Chwa, Kalemala, Kimela, 
Rumaansi, Tembo, Kigala Wampamba, Kaima, Nachibinge, 
* Europeans have exercised so much influence on the people that when 
Mtesa, the late king of Uganda, died, his son Mwanga was placed on the throne 
without any bloodshed. 
