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AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
THE MKUNGU OR CHIEF. 
It might be supposed that, if a peasant’s lot appears 
so enviable in that land, a Mkungu’s or chiefs of the 
first rank would be happier a thousandfold. That such 
is not always the case will be seen from the following 
sketch of the present Premier, or Katekiro, of Uganda, 
whose name originally, now almost forgotton, was 
Magassa. It may be proper to state here that all 
Waganda, from the Emperor to the peasant, change 
their names according as they advance in popular esti- 
mation. 
About the time that Mtesa succeeded his father and 
beheaded the senior chiefs of Uganda, there was ob- 
served at the court a smart, clever, cleanly looking lad, 
assiduous in his attendance on the monarch, and atten- 
tive to his smallest wishes. He was the son of a Mton- 
goleh or sub-chief, and his name was Magassa. To his 
other desirable qualities might be added a fine set of 
white teeth, bright eyes, and general good looks. Mtesa 
became enamoured of him, and made him guardian over 
the imperial lavatory, an office of great trust in Uganda. 
As Mtesa grew to man’s estate, Magassa the boy also 
became a young man, for he was about the same age as 
his master, and, retaining and improving those qualities 
which first attracted the monarch’s eyes, was promoted 
in time to be a Mtongoleh of the body-guard, and a 
double-barrelled gun was put into his hands, with the 
power of gunpowder, and a few bullets and percussion 
caps, which caused the heart of young Magassa to bound 
with joy. Perhaps he was even prouder in the posses- 
sion of a gun than he was of his rank, for frequently 
the Mtongoleh of the body-guard has only the empty 
name to boast of. 
However, being Mtongoleh (or colonel), he was liable 
to be despatched at a moment’s notice to distant parts 
of the Empire on special service, and the day came 
finally when Magassa was chosen. 
Imagine a young British subaltern despatched by the 
Queen’s command, specially chosen by the Queen for 
