BUGANDA: On the Old Stool

High on a red hill above the sunburned plains of Equatorial Africa, in the hereditary palace surrounded by flame trees, Mutesa II, 35th directly descended Kabaka (ruler) of Buganda, one of Uganda's three provinces, last week ascended the old stool which serves as throne for the Kingdom.

Promptly on his 18th birthday, Mutesa II put on his eight-inch-high gold crown, newly rushed from London, encrusted with sapphires, fire opals and carbuncle garnets, fronted with the tall, traditional white ostrich plume. This made him ruler, under a British "agreement of non-interference," of a cotton-growing territory roughly the size of Ireland.

His 877,000...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!