Instead Of Paddling All Down The Lake Again, I Walked Over The
Hill, And, On Crossing At Its Northern End,
Whished to shoot
ducks; but the superstitious boatmen put a stop to my intended
amusement by imploring me not to
Do so, lest the spirit of the
lake should be roused to dry up the waters.
4th. - Rumanika returned in the morning, walking up the hill,
followed by a long train of his officers, and a party of men
carrying on their shoulders his state carriage, which consisted
of a large open basket laid on the top of two very long poles.
After entering his palace, I immediately called on him to thank
him for the great treat he had given me, and presented him, as an
earnest of what I thought, with the Colt's revolving rifle and a
fair allowance of ammunition. His delight knew no bounds on
becoming the proprietor of such an extraordinary weapon, and
induced him to dwell on his advantages over his brother Rogero,
whose antipathy to him was ever preying on his mind. He urged me
again to devise some plan for overcoming him; and, becoming more
and more confidential, favoured me with the following narrative,
by way of evidence how the spirits were inclined to show all the
world that he was the rightful successor to the throne: - When
Dagara died, and he, Nnanaji, and Rogero, were the only three
sons left in line of succession to the crown, a small mystic drum
of diminutive size was placed before them by the officers of
state.
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