Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/472

 43^ Traditions oj the Baganda and Bushongo.

possible, however, to accept this clearly rationalized account of an eponymous founder of the kingdom. Other Baganda connect Kimera with Unyoro, but in a different way. They call him the grandson of Cwa, Kintu's son, and relate a romantic story of his birth in consequence of an intrigue between a wife of the king of that country and Kalimera^ the son of Cwa.^"- The list of kings given by Sir Harry Johnston from native tradition is in irreconcilable conflict throughout the greater part of its length with that given by Mr. Roscoe ; and it is admitted to "differ slightly" from those given by Wilson, Stanley and Stuhlmann. It only includes thirty-two names, whereas Monseigneur Streicher informed the author that in travelling about Busiro he had counted thirty-eight tombs alleged to be the burial-places of successive kings who reigned before Mutesa, the grand- father of Daudi Cwa, the lately deceased king.^^ The history of the kings narrated by Mr. Roscoe (Sir Harry Johnston reports no details that we can compare) is a long story of royal tyranny, family quarrels and marvels, in the course of which the origin of the various court functionaries,, customs and costume is related. In other words, it is largely a series of aetiological fictions. This would seem indeed to be conceded by Mr. Roscoe himself.^'* A few specimens may be given ; and if I select them from the later reigns it is not because the earlier reigns are wanting in nu'thical material, but to show how late such material persisted.

In the reign of Juko, the sixteenth king, a medicine-man caused the sun to fall. The result was darkness for seven days. At length one of the king's wives suggested that recourse be had to the god Wanga, who dwelt on Sese Island, in the Lake Victoria Nyanza. " Wanga came and set to work, and raised the sun and the moon to their places in the heavens, so that the sun again gave light." ^*

'-Roscoe, 215. ''Johnston, L'.P.,6Sl.

'■* Roscoe, 460. ^■' Ibid., 146, 219. •