HAVING TEA

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1929, Page 8

HAVING TEA

WITH AX AFRICAN KING. (By SIR. PERCH VAT. PI 11 FLIPS.) KAMPALA, Uganda. A big yellow touring car. Hying a bine and yellow flag surmounted by tbe figure of a surprised lion, a shield and crossed spears, dashed through tbe gates and up the driveway. Hie two black servants setting out the tea tilings under the trees gave it one glance, and stiffened curiously. Their pose implied curiosity, awe, pride and fear. It was difficult to see the reason for their emotion. In the hack of the ear was a diminutive, woolly headed boy in a spotless 'cotton smock, his solemn face a mere smudge against the dying sun. In the front seat sat a plump litth African lady in an afternoon frock and a determined hat. beside a driver of her own colour, who wore a linen coat. The driver jumped out briskly, hand ed the lady to the gravel path, and approached my host, who is an official in the Colonial service. He was a pleasant featured man. in the early thirties; hatless, like all the men of I'gnnda when the sun has passed lour o’clock, and wearing new grey flannel trousers and brown shoes. His face was kindly and intelligent, but there was nothing to distinguish him in any way from hundreds of other Negroes who are representative of the new missionary-trained generation .ol Rugandn. The servants in the background knew differently, ’["hey watched him, roundeyed and motionless, as hw shook hands with a cheerful smile, and the lady with him followed his example. ‘‘l am afraid we are a little late.” he said, as he sat down with an appreciative glance at the trim flower beds. ” 1 do hope we are going to have some ram after all.” »**•»* Thus has civilisation transformed the Royal House of Rugandn. The quiet young man, chatting easily with his host, is the ruler of some 000.000 people and 24.000 square miles of territory, forming one ot live provinces of vim Uganda Protectorate. Ruler, that is, within certain reservations imposed hy his friend and counsellor the British Government. The little woman with him, speaking hut a few words of English and speaking them shyly, is his wife, known hy oourtosv to a European element of Kampala which pursues the theory of native sovereignty to excess as “Queen Irene.” The natives call her husband “The King.” hut in the eyes of Britain lie is the Ivabaka. He is addressed thus in conversation, as you would address a duke. He represents an order of things fnr removed from the dark-days of his predecessor Mutesa, whose tombhonse is the sacred shrine of Buganda. Tn Mutesa’s time State criminals were executed bv crocodiles in the so-called “King’s lake,” a few miles distant, alter their legs had been publicly broken. The Kahaka is a convert to 'Christ ainity. like many of his pcAple. ami he worships in the new Protestant cathedral on one of the seven hills of Kampala. He maintains a good many ol the trappings of kingship. He has his Court and his three principal Ministers, ms Parliament House, and the lull etiquette handed down for generations by th(> members ot the Buganda dynasty. He is the direct descendant of the superior Bahinia or Hninitio stock that imposed themselves on the inferior Bantu peoples long before the British came. From the hoginning of British influence in l ganda. the Kahaka s people have heon friendly and responsive to the policy of steady progress and development. The Kahaka himself realises that some of his subjects want to run before they can walk. “They show a tendency to progress too rapidly.” lie syid to me. They are too eager.” He is very progressive himself, hut. at the same time he never forgets that he is a Sovereign. He would like to display more tangible evidence of his position as the head of the largest native State in this part of Atriea. He is wishful to institute an Order like that of the Sultan of Zanzibar. He calls it the Order ol the Shield and Spear. The designs for the insignia of the live classes have been prepared, and there has been much correspondence hack and forth with the Colonial Office. * * * * * 'flic Kahaka is loud of sport. Tic plays tennis with Sir William (lowers, the Governor, at Government House. Ho is very keen on football, to which his people have taken with marked enthusiasm. He is well versed in English literature. He wrote a memorandum giving his views on the effect of any form of federation on Buganda which is excellently phrased and very lucid. His "Ministers are fond of comimsing State papers couched in the language of diplomacy. He would receive a salute of 11 guns if there were any guns. In effect, the Kahaka has not as great power as the- Sultan of Zanzibar or even ‘mine of the lesser Indian rajahs, lie is actually a paramount chief with authority only over His own | people, and even Ibis is limited by bis > treaty with Great Britain. | Nevertheless his Kingdom is a pici t.n.r-'sque structure, sufficiently imr«" j ing in exterior, and Lie see him entlir- ! oiled ill his state robes of blue and gold j brocade, and wearing his high crown, is to he convinced of liis own eaniestj ness in maintaining the traditions : bequeathed to him hy a long line of . mlers who were real Kings of the Bae- | anda people. i