of Edinburgh, Session 1885 — 86 . 
755 > 
some of the principal chiefs, are usually carried in the former manner. 
No animals are used as beasts of burden. There are no inns, and 
travellers are obliged to obtain accommodation as best they may. 
Heavy weights, such as the trunks of trees, are hauled along the 
ground by ropes attached to them. The men pull by word of 
command. The use of levers is also understood to a limited extent. 
Treatment of Foreigners . — Until the novelty of their presence has 
passed off, foreigners are well treated in Uganda. They are con- 
sidered the guests of the king, and huts are provided for their use at 
the capital. There was, however, a difficulty in obtaining food when 
I was there, as no one was permitted to sell anything to the king’s 
guests. I believe that to some extent this prohibition has been re- 
laxed. The late King Mtesa liked having strangers present at his 
court ; not so however the chiefs, who greatly feared their influence.* 
Strangers travelling through the country, accompanied by an 
escort from the king, are always sure of obtaining good accommoda- 
tion, as the escort goes to the best hut in the village, turns the 
inhabitants out, and takes possession of it for the time being. The 
people are, however, hospitable, and endeavour to make one as 
comfortable as circumstances will permit. Foreigners are nob 
permitted to enter Uganda without permission of the king ; they 
are compelled to halt at the first village until it is granted. One or 
two of the king’s pages, bearing a drum and flag as marks of 
authority, are usually sent with a requisite number of porters to 
transport the stranger and his goods to the capital ; but it is not 
etiquette for this to be done rapidly, and circuitous routes are always 
chosen, and the halts made are frequent and tantalising. The traveller 
is also constantly annoyed by the frequent disputes between his 
escort and the villagers, which sometimes end in blows, and it 
requires great tact on his part to keep the peace. The king’s pages 
are overbearing, and treat the villagers abominably, requiring them 
to perform impossibilities, and beating them if they refuse. On one 
occasion, when travelling with a very small escort, I nearly lost my 
life through their plundering propensities. The drummer, who 
marches at the head of the caravan, gets the head of any cow that 
may be killed for food on the march as a perquisite. 
* The objection of the chiefs to foreigners has lately culminated in the 
murder of Bishop Hannington on the borders of Uganda. 
