IDNO

N.19523.ROS

Description

Half-length frontal portrait of ‘Paulo ?Kalyebala; Sir Samuel Baker’s messenger for King Kabarega,’ wearing a kanzu (white tunic) and, what appears to be, some rosary beads around his neck, seated on a chair in an interior.

Place

E Africa; Uganda; Bunyoro

Cultural Affliation

Banyoro? Bahuma? Bahera?

Named Person

Paulo Kalyebala

Photographer

?Roscoe, John R.

Collector / Expedition

Roscoe, John R. [Mackie Ethnological Expedition, Uganda, 1919 - 1920]

Date

1919 - 1920

Collection Name

Roscoe Collection

Source

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in an envelope marked C31/146/ by the cataloguer. The envelope was kept in box marked C31/ by the cataloguer.
Previously stored on Shelf 4, in group of 4 wooden boxes numbered 180.

Publication: Similar image published in Roscoe, J., 1922. The Soul of Central Africa: An Account of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition. (London: Cassell and Co.), p. 136 with the caption: "Bunyoro: Sir Samuel Baker’s Assistant: Messenger between Sir Samuel Baker and King Kabarega.” [ED 1/11/2007]

Context: "When they found that they were dealing with a man who was acquainted with many customs and beliefs similar to their own, they became quite willing to divulge their religious secrets, and the investigation at once became not only interesting and easy, but most valuable.
One of these men had been the messenger of a former king, Kabarega, and had carried messages between his master and Sir Samuel Baker, both on the latter’s first visit and later on when he came again and stayed for some time. I found I was on the spot where Baker and Lady Baker had made their camp in King Kabarega’s day. From this man, Paul, I heard from the Banyoro point of view, the story of the trouble which had led Baker to fight the Banyoro and necessitated his leaving the country in a hurry. It appears that some beer had been sent to Baker for his troops, and that they had become excessively drunk. Concluding that the beer had been "doctored,” Baker, in order to have the matter explained, sent for the chief who was responsible. He, however, refused to obey the request, and when Baker sent another messenger, this time accompanied by a soldier, the messenger was speared down. The soldier, fearing he would also be attacked, fired upon the assailant and killed him, whereupon the people at once rushed to arms. Baker, seeing that he might easily be overpowered and killed, brought out a maxim gun, and when the excited natives rushed up towards the camp he fired on them and quickly put them to flight. Then, with a party of soldiers, he went to see the king to obtain an explanation. Kabarega, however, fearing for his own safety, left the royal enclosure and took up a position on a hill near. Baker, completely puzzled by the situation, set fire to the royal enclosure, returned to his camp, packed his goods, and beat a hasty retreat over the Nile, feeling it would be unsafe to stay longer in a country so hostile. The natives now look on the whole affair as a mistake and misunderstanding, but its effect on King Kabarega was serious, for from that time he regarded all Europeans with deep suspicion, and was ever after hostile to them and objected to the intrusion of foreigners into his country. Emin Pasha was on friendly terms with him, but some of the other men who attempted to pass through were made visitors, and one- I think it was Captain Casati, one of Gordon’s officers-was detained for some months, and only escaped by entering blood-brothership with a chief, who, on being sent to drown him in Lake Albert, put him instead into a canoe and sent him away by night, concealing his escape from the king, who thought the order had been carried out and the man drowned.” (Roscoe, J., 1922. The Soul of Central Africa: An Account of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition. (London: Cassell and Co.), p. 136 - 138). [ED 1/11/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 1/11/2007]