The Moment
The First Volley Was Fired, He Said, "Now, Fire Again, Fire
Again; Be Quick, Be Quick!
What's the use of those things?"
(meaning the guns).
"We could spear you all whilst you are
loading: be quick, be quick, I tell you." But Baraka, to give
himself law, said: "No; I must ask Bana" (master) "first, as we
do everything by order; this is not fighting at all."
The men being ready, file-firing was ordered, and then the young
chief came into my tent. I motioned him to take my chair, which,
after he sat down upon it, I was very sorry for, as he stained
the seat all black with the running colour of one of the new
barsati cloths he had got from me, which, to improve its
appearance, he had saturated with stinking butter, and had tied
round his loins. A fine-looking man of about thirty, he wore the
butt-end of a large sea-shell cut in a circle, and tied on his
forehead, for a coronet, and sundry small saltiana antelope
horns, stuffed with magic powder, to keep off the evil eye. His
attendants all fawned on him, and snapped their fingers whenever
he sneezed. After passing the first compliment, I gave him a
barsati, as my token of friendship, and asked him what he saw
when he went to the Masai country. He assured me "that there were
two lakes, and not one"; for, on going from Usoga to the Masai
country, he crossed over a broad strait, which connected the big
N'yanza with another one at its north-east corner. Fearfully
impetuous, as soon as this answer was given, he said, "Now I have
replied to your questions, do you show me all the things you have
got, for I want to see everything, and be very good friends. I
did not see you the first day, because you being a stranger, it
was necessary I should first look into the magic horn to see if
all was right and safe; and now I can assure you that, whilst I
saw I was safe, I also saw that your road would be prosperous. I
am indeed delighted to see you, for neither my father, nor any of
my forefathers, ever were honoured with the company of a white
man in all their lives."
My guns, clothes, and everything were then inspected, and begged
for in the most importunate manner. He asked for the picture-
books, examined the birds with intense delight - even trying to
insert under their feathers his long royal fingernails, which are
grown like a Chinaman's by these chiefs, to show they have a
privilege to live on meat. Then turning to the animals, he
roared over each one in turn as he examined them, and called out
their names. My bull's-eye lantern he coveted so much, I had to
pretend exceeding anger to stop his further importunities. He
then began again begging for lucifers, which charmed him so
intensely I thought I should never get rid of him.
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