Suddenly from some place in the hall is heard a hawking sound, as from some one likewise afflicted with a cold in the throat, and the eyes of the Emperor are quickly fixed on the person; but the chiefs cry out indignantly, “Out, out with you, quick!” and, peremptorily and sternly, half-a-dozen “lords of the cord” seize upon the unfortunate and eject him in no gentle manner. After this interruption the tones of the native harp are heard, and the Emperor calls to the minstrel and bids him play on his instrument, which the accomplished musician is nothing loth to do. But while we listen to the monotonous music, all are startled at the loud report of a gun! A dozen ejaculations are uttered, and as many chiefs rush out to enquire the cause; but they have been forestalled by the adroit and eager lords of the cord, who have thrown their nooses round the man’s neck and, half strangling him, drag him into the Presence, whose imperial nerves have been somewhat disturbed by the sudden discharge of gunpowder. The lords of the cord, kneeling, say that the man let his gun fall while on guard, and their eyes seem to ask, “What shall we do to him?” “Give him fifty blows with a stick,” cries the angry Emperor, and the unfortunate fellow is hauled away to receive such a punishment as will lame him for a month. There is now heard a lowing of cattle, of fat beeves and milch-cows, in the court before the audience-hall, and a man advances, and after prostration and “Twiyanzis” says he has brought a present from Mankorongo, king of Usui. “H’m. See to them, Katekiro, and give one to my steward Ka-uta to dress up, and let each chief have an ox to-day, and give ten to my bodyguard.” At this liberality all the chiefs rush forward, abase themselves in the dust, and cry aloud their fervid “Twiyanzis.” The chiefs resume their seats after this exhibition of their gratitude, and a messenger arrives from the banks of the Victoria Nile, and relates, to the monarch’s surprise, that Namionju, a petty prince near Unyoro, has cast off his allegiance to him, and opened negotiations with Kabba Rega, king of Unyoro. On hearing the messenger’s news, the Emperor exclaims, his eyes expanding widely, and projecting, “What! are all my people dead at Nakaranga? Have I no chief, no people left, that Namionju treats me so?” The answer is heard in the voices of the chiefs, who spring to their feet simultaneously and rush out before the entrance of the audience-hall, seize their spears or walking-sticks, and call aloud on the Emperor to behold and number his chiefs, and with wild impressive gestures toss their spears and arms on high until a stranger would fancy that a revolution had suddenly begun. The Emperor, however, calmly answers, “It is well,” upon which the chiefs leave their spears without and regain their seats.