They Then Seized Hold Of The Magic Horn, Primed For The
Purpose, And Allowed It To Drag Them To Where The Culprits Dwelt.
Four poor men, who were convicted in this way, were at once put
to death, and the chief from that moment began to recover.
After a great many perplexities, I succeeded in getting a
kirangozi, or leader, by name Ungurue (the Pig). He had several
times taken caravans to Karague, and knew all the languages well,
but unfortunately he afterwards proved to be what his name
implied. That, however, I could not foresee, so, trusting to him
and good-luck, I commenced making fresh enlistments of porters;
but they came and went in the most tantalising manner,
notwithstanding I offered three times the hire that any merchant
could afford to give. Every day seemed to be worse and worse.
Some of Musa's men came to get palm-toddy for him, as he was too
weak to stand, and was so cold nothing would warm him. There
was, however, no message brought for myself; and as the
deputation did not come to me, I could only infer that I was
quite forgotten, of that Musa, after all, had only been
humbugging me. I scarcely knew what to do. Everybody advised me
to stop where I was until the harvest was over, as no porters
could be found on ahead, for Ukuni was the last of the fertile
lands on this side of Usui.
Stopping, however, seemed endless; not so my supplies, I
therefore tried advancing in detachments again, sending the free
men off under Grant to Ukulima's, whilst I waited behind keeping
ourselves divided in the hopes of inducing all hands to see the
advisability of exerting themselves for the general good - as my
men, whilst we were all together, showed they did not care how
long they were kept doing no more fatiguing work than chaffing
each other, and feeding at my expense.
In the meanwhile the villagers were very merry, brewing and
drinking their pombe (beer) by turns, one house after the other
providing the treat. On these occasions the chief - who always
drank freely, and more than any other - heading the public
gatherings of men and women, saw the large earthen pots placed
all in a row, and the company taking long draughts from bowls
made of plaited straw, laughing as they drank, until, half-
screwed, they would begin bawling and shouting. To increase the
merriment, one or two jackanapes, with zebras' manes tied over
their heads, would advance with long tubes like monster bassoons,
blowing with all their might, contorting their faces and bodies,
and going through the most obscene and ridiculous motions to
captivate their simple admirers. This, however, was only the
feast; the ball then began, for the pots were no sooner emptied
than five drums at once, of different sizes and tones, suspended
in a line from a long horizontal bar, were beaten with fury, and
all the men, women, and children, singing and clapping their
hands in time, danced for hours together.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 83 of 403
Words from 42970 to 43481
of 210958
