752 Proceedings of the Poyal Society 
generally managing to bring in a few verses flattering to the host, 
which are always much applauded by the guests, and also sing songs 
which have been handed down by tradition, and are well known by 
all the people and often called for. Comic songs are also much in 
request, and are greeted by roars of laughter from the audience, but 
many of them are very lewd. These bards, as well as being supplied 
with as much food and drink as they can consume, are rewarded for 
their services by a present of cowries, mbugu, or even a goat. The 
songs which pleased me most were those in which solo and chorus 
followed each other in rapid succession ; the pleasing effect was 
heightened by the surroundings, for generally these gatherings take 
place under spreading trees, lit up by the silvery light of the moon 
or the ruddy glare of enormous bonfires. 
Mtesa’s envoys who accompanied me to England had their harps 
with them, and I was often surprised to hear them, after they had 
retired for the night, persevering until they had reproduced some 
catching melody they had heard during the day. One of them was 
very fond of sitting down to the piano, and managed to learn in a 
few days to play two or three simple tunes. 
Trade . — There is not very much home trade in Uganda, and it 
is limited to the barter of native manufactures. Several times a 
year caravans arrive from Zanzibar, bringing calico of various 
qualities, guns of cheap Belgian manufacture, powder mostly made 
in Germany and of a very bad quality, files, knives, needles, 
coloured pocket handkerchiefs, suits of Arabic clothes and cowries, 
&c. These articles they exchange for ivory and slaves. This 
foreign trade has increased immensely during the last ten years, and 
the people are already beginning to feel the necessity of finding 
some other commodity with which to procure foreign produce. 
Ivory is becoming scarce, the price of slaves is rising enormously, 
and little by little the people are beginning to understand that 
either they will have to work themselves or else stop the exportation 
of slaves, of whom about 1000 are exported annually. When an 
Arab caravan first arrives in Uganda, it is etiquette for the leader 
to first pay a visit to the king, make him a present, and at the same 
time give him a list professedly of the whole contents of his caravan. 
He also gives presents to the katikiro and the three hereditary 
chiefs. The king and his council then decide what guns and 
