THE KINGDOM OF ANKOLE IN UGANDA 137
called the 'moon', for through the moon he had power to drive away evil and bring fortune to the tribe. Power, then, both physical and spiritual, was the inherent quality of kingship. And when the physical powers of the king waned, through approaching age, these kingly powers were believed to wane with them. No king, therefore, was permitted to age or weaken. When sickness or age brought on debility, the Mugabe took poison, which was prepared for him by his magicians, and died, making way for a new, virile king who could maintain the unity of the kingdom and wage successful wars against external enemies.
The legal status of the Mugabe gave him the highest political authority. Appointments to office were ultimately in his hands, as was the decision for war or peace. From among his relatives, the Mugabe appointed the leaders of his military bands and his favourite chief, or enganzi. Even those functionaries which custom decreed should be selected from certain clans, as his drum-keepers and personal servants, the Mugabe could refuse to recognize. In other words, while the clan held the office, the Mugabe selected the individual who was to fill that office. Moreover, the Mugabe could demand the services of any individual in his kingdom as he could demand any woman for his wife or could claim any cattle he wished. As one would suspect, the Mugabe could dismiss, office-holders for incompetency, personal incompatibility, or because they brought him bad luck.
The Mugabe's legal status gave him also the position of supreme judicial authority. He had the right to punish individuals by death, exile, beating, torture, and cursing. He could confiscate the cattle of any of his subjects. He could prevent the execution of his people by his chiefs for criminal offences and could override the judicial decisions of the kinship-groups. In disputes involving two lineages, the Mugabe alone could grant the right of blood revenge. Excepting among rebellious subjects, the Mugabe did not initiate legal action. All other cases had to be brought before him.
Although the political and judicial powers of the Mugabe were great, they were in the last analysis circumscribed powers. The Mugabe, like all individuals in his kingdom, with the exception, perhaps, of slaves, was bound by custom. It was his duty to defend the cattle and lives of his subjects, to perform certain magical and religious rites, to offer economic help to people in