LIFE AND MANNERS IN UGANDA. 
301 
watchfulness of a sincerely pious pastor can effect. And 
it is because I am conscious of the insufficiency of my 
work, and his strong evil propensities, that I have not 
hesitated to describe the real character of my “ convert.” 
The grand redeeming feature of Mtesa, though founded 
only on self-interest, is his admiration for white men. 
When the traveller first enters Uganda, his path 
seems to be strewn with flowers, greetings with welcome 
gifts follow one another rapidly, pages and courtiers 
kneel before him, and the least wish is immediately 
gratified, for to make a request of the Emperor is to 
honour him with the power of giving. So long as the 
stranger is a novelty, and his capacities or worth have 
not yet been sounded, his life in Uganda seems to be a 
sunshiny holiday. 
Meanwhile, however, the 
pages, pursuivants, mes- 
sengers, and courtiers have 
been measuring him by 
rules and methods of their 
own. His faculties have 
been calculated, his abili- 
ties keenly observed and 
noted, and his general storage for grain. stool. 
utility and value become 
accurately gauged, and all the time he has been enter- 
tained royally, and courted and favoured beyond all liis 
expectations. 
But now approaches the time for him to make return, 
to fulfil the promise tacitly conveyed by his ready and 
friendly acceptance of gifts and favours. He is sur- 
prised by being asked if he can make gunpowder, 
manufacture a gun, cast a cannon, build a ship, or 
construct a stone or a brick house. If a priest ordained, 
and his garb and meek, quiet behaviour prove it, his 
work is ready cut for him : he has only to teach and 
preach. But if a soldier, why should he not know how 
to make guns, cannon, ships, brick houses, &c. ? If he 
informs the Emperor that he is ignorant of these things, 
why then he must pay in other coin. He has guns with 
