Ten years in Equatoria; . with him, are reasons whichmay admit men to this highestof all distinctions in the king-dom. Night having fallen,and the kings tables being set,those invited to the ceremonyenter the grand hall of theroyal mansion; the drumsbeat, the fifes whistle the royalmarch ; the king takes a vasefull of milk, drinks, and thenpasses it on to those present,who in turn drink also. Whenthe ceremony is finished thedoors are opened, and thefriends of the great men are admitted to the daily entertain-ment of getting intoxicated on copious libations, the king settingthe example. The mil
Ten years in Equatoria; . with him, are reasons whichmay admit men to this highestof all distinctions in the king-dom. Night having fallen,and the kings tables being set,those invited to the ceremonyenter the grand hall of theroyal mansion; the drumsbeat, the fifes whistle the royalmarch ; the king takes a vasefull of milk, drinks, and thenpasses it on to those present,who in turn drink also. Whenthe ceremony is finished thedoors are opened, and thefriends of the great men are admitted to the daily entertain-ment of getting intoxicated on copious libations, the king settingthe example. The milk ceremony was fatal to Kamissua, the son of Rionga,Sovereign of Foweira, and tributaiy to the king of Unyoro. Hehad hardly arrived at Muimba, having been invited to this greathonour, than he was arrested, conducted to Muenghe, and theremurdered. Superstition in Unyoro even extends to the food. The. AN UNYORO IKIXCESS. 268 TEN YEARS IN EQUATORIA. king does not eat poultry ; and woe to the chief that does notconform to a similar restriction. Moreover, he limits his dishesto veal boiled with bananas, tclabun porridge, and banana beer,fermented with germinating corn, which is called muenya. The beating of drums announces that the king is movingtowards the room where the royal table is laid ; the flight of thewomen and children from the royal court is general; thepassages through which the kings dishes pass are deserted; hisfood is cooked by persons of tested faith, and is closely covered, inorder that the evil eye should not cast a malignant spell upon it. During the Sovereigns repast the Prime Minister watches atthe door of ingress, turning his back upon the king while eating ;and, as an honourable recompense, he is allowed to feed on theroyal leavings, seated upon the ground at his post of vigilance. The population of Unyoro lively by their natural intelligence,devoted and submiss
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