This Day, However, Was Cut Out For
Business, As, In Addition To The Assemblage Of Officers, There
Were Women, Cows,
Goats, fowls, confiscations, baskets of fish,
baskets of small antelopes, porcupines, and curious rats caught
by his gamekeepers, bundles of
Mbugu, etc., etc., made by his
linen-drapers, coloured earths and sticks by his magician, all
ready for presentation; but, as rain fell, the court broke up,
and I had nothing for it but to walk about under my umbrella,
indulging in angry reflections against the haughty king for not
inviting me into his hut.
When the rain had ceased, and we were again called in, he was
found sitting in state as before, but this time with the head of
a black bull placed before him, one horn of which, knocked off,
was placed alongside, whilst four living cows walked about the
court.
I was now requested to shoot the four cows as quickly as
possible; but having no bullets for my gun, I borrowed the
revolving pistol I had given him, and shot all four in a second
of time; but as the last one, only wounded, turned sharply upon
me, I gave him the fifth and settled him. Great applause
followed this wonderful feat, and the cows were given to my men.
The king now loaded one of the carbines I had given him with his
own hands, and giving it full-cock to a page, told him to go out
and shoot a man in the outer court; which was no sooner
accomplished than the little urchin returned to announce his
success, with a look of glee such as one would see in the face of
a boy who had robbed a bird's nest, caught a trout, or done any
other boyish trick.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 379 of 767
Words from 104142 to 104438
of 210958
