Through the Dark Continent, Vol. 1 (of 2) : $b or, The sources of the Nile around the Great Lakes of Equatorial Africa and down the Livingstone River to the Atlantic OceanStanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
History
Through the Dark Continent, Vol. 1 (of 2) : $b or, The sources of the Nile around the Great Lakes of Equatorial Africa and down the Livingstone River to the Atlantic Ocean
Stanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton)
Africa, Central -- Description and travel; Stanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton), 1841-1904 -- Travel -- Africa, Central
Kamiera was succeeded by his gigantic son Kimera, who distinguished
himself as a hunter. He first introduced dogs for the chase, and was so
fond of them that he always led one by the cord wherever he went. It was
from this king that his successors inherited their partiality for the
canine race, and in the memory of many yet living Suna is remembered for
his extraordinary attachment to dogs, for the special subsistence of
which he surrendered whole districts. Mtesa was also seen by Speke
showing great fondness for a dog, but the present monarch has long ago
abandoned this traditional predilection, and he now prohibits their
presence in his court.
Kimera was of such size, strength, and weight that his feet made marks
in rocks, and the impress of one of his feet is shown to this day by the
antiquarians of Uganda in a rock situated not far from the capital,
Ulagalla. It is said that this mark was made by one of his feet slipping
while he was in the act of launching his spear at an elephant. Kimera
also explored countries remote and near, searching all the forests, the
wilderness, the plains, the fastnesses of the mountains, the summits of
hills and the caves, and travelled along all the river-banks in vain
quest for the lost Kintu.
The fact seemed to be impressed on the minds of all that Kintu was only
lost, not dead, that he was immortal, and Kimera, even more than his
predecessors, was indefatigable in his efforts to verify this belief. He
led in person large expeditions, and offered great rewards to peasants,
promising to make him who discovered Kintu next to the king in power—the
Katekiro of Uganda. But he likewise failed in the search, and finally
died.
Almass (which name, if Arabic, rendered into English, means “Diamond”)
succeeded Kimera the hunter. This king’s name is a favourite one among
the Arabs, which I take to be further evidence that the founder of the
Uganda monarchy had Asiatic blood in his veins. Of Almass, tradition
says nothing save that, like his father, he hoped to find Kintu. On his
death he was succeeded by his son Tembo.
After Tembo came Kigara, Wanpamba, Kaeema, and Nakivingi, the last being
remembered for his heroic valour and many conquests.
Nakivingi fought and subjected the Wanyoro, who, from their predilection
for sweet potatoes, may have deemed themselves long ago a separate
people from the Waganda, a theory by no means supported by the authority
of venerable tradition.
After Nakivingi we have a long list of kings, about whom tradition,
fable, and history are all alike silent. Morondo succeeded Nakivingi—the
Charlemagne of Uganda—and after him followed Sekamanya, Jemba, Suna I.,
Kimbugwé, Katerega, Ntewi, and Juko. This last, it is said, had a
headstrong, violent, and disobedient son, named Kyemba, whom he was
obliged to pacify with the island of Uvuma, whence afterwards he
appeared in Uganda, deposed his father Juko, and, slaying him, reigned
in his stead.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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