2 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

About 8 A.M. a page and several soldiers came

from the king to ask us to get ready, as the time

for our reception was drawing near. Being aware

of Mtesa's great impatience, we made haste, and

were all waiting, when at the appointed time a

chief, with an escort of soldiers carrying drums

and flags, came to conduct us into the august

presence.

No sooner had we started, than three or four

pages, neatly dressed in white kuftans (garments

resembling nightdresses), rushed off to tell Mtesa

that we were on our way ; and for the whole

distance between our house and the palace we

were met every few minutes by breathless pages,

giving the king's compliments ; and begging us

to make haste, as he was waiting, impatient to

receive us. When we were about five hundred

yards from the palace the great flag was hoisted

to the mast-head, and a salute was fired. A guard

of soldiers dressed in well-made uniforms, with

Turkish caps and shoes, headed by a band, consist-

ing of drums, flutes, and a few bugles, and carrying

Mtesa's own flag, turned out to receive us. Arriv-

ing at the outer gate of the palace, we found

another company of soldiers drawn up, while a line

was formed by troops in the five courts through

w^hich we had to pass before we reached the throne-

room. We were rather amused by a trifling irre-

gularity in the uniform of the soldiers. The king