diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:47:09 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:47:09 -0700 |
| commit | 8f803a9c5481ee2a943d58abc28443dfd6c3d89d (patch) | |
| tree | e7cae84a6949f0c6c69ee24ca3e4b821eb32f926 /22099-tei | |
Diffstat (limited to '22099-tei')
| -rw-r--r-- | 22099-tei/22099-tei.tei | 12437 |
1 files changed, 12437 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/22099-tei/22099-tei.tei b/22099-tei/22099-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4aad9f --- /dev/null +++ b/22099-tei/22099-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,12437 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1" ?> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd"> + +<TEI.2 lang="en"> + +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>Witch-Doctors</title> + <author><name reg="Beadle, Charles">Charles Beadle</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1">Edition 1</edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date value="2007-07-18">July 18, 2007</date> + <idno type="etext-no">22099</idno> + <idno type='DPid'>projectID4602f57b1e143</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and + with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + <title>Witch-Doctors</title> + <author>Charles Beadle</author> + <imprint> + <publisher>Houghton Mifflin Company</publisher> + <pubPlace>Boston</pubPlace> + <pubPlace>New York</pubPlace> + <date>1922</date> + </imprint> + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + <projectDesc> + <p>Produced by Roland Schlenker + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at + <http://www.pgdp.net/c></p> + <p>Page-images available at + <http://www.pgdp.net/projects/projectID4602f57b1e143/></p> + </projectDesc> + <editorialDecl> + <p>The Proofreading and Formatting Guidelines Version 1.9.c, + generated January 1, 2006 at <http://www.pgdp.net/> were + used to transcribe this text.</p> + <p>Corrections were made when it was obvious a mistake was made + in the original text. An errata is supplied to locate these + corrections.</p> + <p>Quotation marks have been changed to TEI + encoding <q> and </q>.</p> + <p>Hyphenated words at the end of a line or at the end of a page + have had their hyphens removed. The second part of the hyphenated + word has been moved to the previous line or page. No information + has been kept as to the location of these changes.</p> + <p>Characters not in ASCII 7-bit have been changed to TEI + entities.</p> + <p>The original book had no table of contents. A table of contents + was made for this electronic edition.</p> + <p>There are in the original book many words, which are some times + hyphenated and other times not, such as Son of the Snake and + Son-of-the-Snake. No changes were made to the words during transcribing + to regularize them to one form only.</p> + </editorialDecl> + <classDecl> + <taxonomy id="lc"> + <bibl> + <title>Library of Congress Classification</title> + </bibl> + </taxonomy> + </classDecl> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en">English</language> + </langUsage> + <textClass> + <classCode scheme="lc">PS</classCode> + <classCode scheme="lc">PZ</classCode> + <keywords scheme="lc"> + <list> + <item>American literature -- + By period -- 20th century</item> + <item>American literature -- + Individual authors -- 1900-1960</item> + <item>Fiction and juvenile belles lettres -- + Fiction in English</item> + </list> + </keywords> + </textClass> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2007-07-18">July 18, 2007</date> + <respStmt> + <name>Roland Schlenker and<lb/></name> + <name>Online Distributed Proofreading Team</name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg Edition</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<text lang="en"> + +<front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader"/> + </div> + + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc"/> + </div> + + <titlePage rend="page-break-before: right; text-align: center"> + <pb n="3"/><anchor id="Pg3"/> + <docTitle> + <titlePart type="main"> + <hi rend="font-size: 325%">Witch-Doctors</hi><lb/> + <lb/> + </titlePart> + </docTitle> + <byline> + <hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: 175%">by</hi> + <docAuthor> + <hi rend="font-size: 175%">Charles Beadle</hi><lb/> + <hi rend="font-style: italic">Author of “A Whiteman’s + Burden”</hi><lb/> + <lb/> + </docAuthor> + </byline> + <docImprint> + <hi rend="font-size: 125%">Boston and New York</hi><lb/> + <hi rend="font-size: 150%">Houghton Mifflin Company</hi><lb/> + </docImprint> + <docDate> + <hi rend="font-size: 75%">1922</hi><lb/> + </docDate> + </titlePage> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always" type="verso"> + <pb n="4"/><anchor id="Pg4"/> + <p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: + 75%">Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner, Frome and + London</hi></p> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always" type="characters"> + <pb n="5"/><anchor id="Pg5"/> + <head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 150%">CHARACTERS</hi> + </head> + <div rend="margin-left: 2" type="table"> + <table rows="19" cols="2" + rend="latexcolumns: 'lr'; tblcolumns: 'lw(40) rw(30m)'"> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Lucille Charltrain</hi> + (Mrs. Gerald Birnier)</cell> + <cell>A Photograph</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Usakuma</hi> (The + Incarnation of the</cell> + <cell></cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell>  Unmentionable One)</cell> + <cell>An Idol</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Gerald Birnier</hi></cell> + <cell>A Professor</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">zu Pfeiffer</hi> + (Hermann von Schnitzler und)</cell> + <cell>German Kommandant</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Zalu Zako</hi> + (son of Kawa Kendi)</cell> + <cell>Heir Apparent</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Bakuma</hi> + (daughter of Bakala)</cell> + <cell>in love with Zalu Zako</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">MYalu</hi> + (son of MBusa)</cell> + <cell>a chief in love with Bakuma</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Bakahenzie</hi> + (son of Maliko)</cell> + <cell>Chief Witch-Doctor</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Marufa</hi> + (son of MTungo)</cell> + <cell>another Witch-Doctor</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Kawa Kendi</hi> + (son of MFunya MPopo)</cell> + <cell>King-God and Rainmaker</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">MFunya MPopo</hi> + (son of MKoffo)</cell> + <cell>Predecessor of Kawa Kendi</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Kingata Mata</hi> + (son of Kabolo)</cell> + <cell>Keeper of the Sacred Fires</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Sakamata</hi></cell> + <cell>deposed Witch-Doctor and spy</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Yabolo</hi></cell> + <cell>another Witch-Doctor</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Mungongo</hi></cell> + <cell>Birnier’s servant</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Schultz</hi></cell> + <cell>German sergeant</cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Ludwig</hi></cell> + <cell> + <corr sic="do. do."><anchor id="E1"/><ref + target="e1">German sergeant</ref></corr> + </cell> + </row> + <row> + <cell><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Schneider</hi></cell> + <cell> + <corr sic="do. do."><anchor id="E2"/><ref + target="e2">German sergeant</ref></corr> + </cell> + </row> + </table> + </div> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <index index="pdf"/> + <head rend="text-align: center">Contents</head> + <divGen type="toc"/> + </div> +</front> + +<body> + +<!-- <pb n="i"/><anchor id="Pgi"/> +[Blank Page] --> + +<!-- <pb n="ii"/><anchor id="Pgii"/> +[Blank Page] --> + +<!-- <pb n="1"/><anchor id="Pg1"/> +[Extra Page] + +Witch-Doctors --> + +<!-- <pb n="2"/><anchor id="Pg2"/> +[Extra Page] + +/* +<hi rend="font-style: italic">L’homme est bien insensé! il +ne sçauroit forger un ciron, et +forge des dieux à douzaine!</hi> + + MONTAIGNE +*/ --> + +<!-- <pb n="3"/><anchor id="Pg3"/> +[Title Page] + +Witch-Doctors + +<hi rend="font-style: italic">by</hi> Charles Beadle + +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Author of <q>A Whiteman’s Burden</q></hi> + +Boston and New York + +Houghton Mifflin Company + +1922 --> + +<!-- <pb n="4"/><anchor id="Pg4"/> +[Verso] + +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner, Frome and London</hi> --> + +<!-- <pb n="5"/><anchor id="Pg5"/> +[Extra Page] + +CHARACTERS + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Lucille Charltrain</hi> (Mrs. Gerald Birnier) A Photograph + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Usakuma</hi> (The Incarnation of the Unmentionable One) An Idol + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Gerald Birnier</hi> A Professor + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">zu Pfeiffer</hi> (Hermann von Schnitzler und) German Kommandant + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Zalu Zako</hi> (son of Kawa Kendi) Heir Apparent + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Bakuma</hi> (daughter of Bakala) in love with Zalu Zako + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">MYalu</hi> (son of MBusa) a chief in love with Bakuma + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Bakahenzie</hi> (son of Maliko) Chief Witch-Doctor + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Marufa</hi> (son of MTungo) another Witch-Doctor + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Kawa Kendi</hi> (son of MFunya MPopo) King-God and Rainmaker + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">MFunya MPopo</hi> (son of MKoffo) Predecessor of Kawa Kendi + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Kingata Mata</hi> (son of Kabolo) Keeper of the Sacred Fires + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Sakamata</hi> deposed Witch-Doctor and spy + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Yabolo</hi> another Witch-Doctor + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Mungongo</hi> Birnier’s servant + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Schultz</hi> German sergeant + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Ludwig</hi> do. do. + +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Schneider</hi> do. do. --> + +<!-- <pb n="6"/><anchor id="Pg6"/> +[Blank Page] --> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD01" type="chapter"> +<pb n="7"/><anchor id="Pg7"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head type="sub" rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 150%">WITCH-DOCTORS</hi> +</head> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 1</hi> +</head> + +<p>In a bayou in the south-eastern corner of the +Victoria Nyanza was the station of Ingonya, a brown +scab on the face of the green earth. The round mud +huts of the askaris were like two columns of khaki troops +marching rigidly on each side of the parade ground. +To the north, upon a slight rise of ground, were the +white men’s quarters; the non-commissioned officers +had four bungalows to the south of the orderly room +and Court House; and beyond a green plot flanked +by a store house and an ordnance building, was a +bigger bungalow, florid in the amplitude and colour of +the red pillared verandah, the residence of the Kommandant, +Herr Ober-Lieutenant Hermann von Schnitzler +und zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p>On the northern side, overlooking the swamp and +the distant lake, was a flagpole, before which paced +an ebon sentry in a uniform of white knickers, tunic +and lancer cap, red faced. The glow of sunrise +stained the green of the moon with crimson. A +trumpet blared. From the rear of the Residence +marched with stiff-legged precision a squad of askaris +and the stocky figure of a non-commissioned officer in a +white helmet. Simultaneously appeared on the verandah +of the large bungalow the tall form of a white man +<pb n="8"/><anchor id="Pg8"/> +in pink silk pyjamas. The sergeant barked. The squad +presented arms. A coloured ball slid up the flagpole. +The first rays of the sun splintered the bloodied +waters beyond into silver spikes and caressed a fluttering +black, white and red flag.</p> + +<p>Then the squad ported arms, relieved the sentry, +and retired, their black legs gleaming blue points as +they rose and fell. The pink figure disappeared. +Sergeant Schultz strutted back to his bungalow, in the +verandah of which squatted a native girl clad in gay +trade cloths. He emerged lighting a cigar, and +sjambok in hand, returned to the orderly room. +Another trumpet blared. From beyond the askaris’ +camp came a line of natives, young and old, their +scrawny necks linked together by a light iron chain +which clanked musically. Filing on to the parade +ground they were divided into gangs by Sergeant +Schneider to labour under guard at the interminable +work of the camp.</p> + +<p>The air above the swamp began to sizzle in the heat. +The same slender figure clad in immaculate white +reappeared upon the south verandah of the florid +bungalow. Herr Ober-Lieutenant stood staring about +the small square with a peevish glint in the fair eyes. +A big negro in spotless white hurried around the house +bearing a brass tray set with a cup, a liqueur glass and +a decanter. Herr Lieutenant sprawled his legs on +either arm of a Bombay chair. As he delicately +mixed cognac with his coffee, his jewelled fingers +sparkled in a shaft of sunlight which set afire the +sapphires mounted in an ivory bracelet.</p> + +<p>At a yard from the table stood the servant as rigid +as the flagpole. With a lazy insolence which marked +<pb n="9"/><anchor id="Pg9"/> +his movements, the lieutenant sipped the café-cognac +and smoked a cheroot, as if he were seated on the terrace +of the Café de la Paix. The brutality of the round +skull, emphasized by the cropped blonde hair, seemed +at variance with the boyish rotundity of the face and the +small, but dominant, nose. Two separate moustaches +bristled so fiercely that they suggested sentries on +guard over the feminine softness of the lips. When +he had finished zu Pfeiffer arose languidly, lighted a +fresh cigar, adjusted his helmet with care, took a gold-mounted +sjambok from his servant, and strode across +the square. The lines of his torso were so perfect +that they suggested artificial aid.</p> + +<p>The orderly room was square and whitewashed; +grass matting was upon the floor, and high screened +doors opened on to the north verandah. Zu Pfeiffer +sprawled in a swing chair before the office desk placed +at an oblique angle to the wall, encumbered with +books and papers. After tapping reflectively on a book +cover with a polished nail zu Pfeiffer’s hand sharply +struck the bell. Instantly a corporal appeared at the +farther door and stood as if petrified, black hand to +black temple. Zu Pfeiffer snapped instructions in +Kiswahili without removing his cigar. The man +grunted, shot his hand away at right angles with as +much energy as if he were trying to knock down an +elephant, and vanished.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant!</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>At the other door like another Jack-in-the-box +appeared Sergeant Schultz in exactly the same attitude. +At a nod the sergeant melted into the semblance of +human movement: he drew aside a chair, selected a +<pb n="10"/><anchor id="Pg10"/> +certain document from a pile of them, and handed it to +the lieutenant. Zu Pfeiffer pushed a box of cigars +across the table, lolled back with one foot on the table, +and began to peruse lazily. The sergeant retired +respectfully with the cigar to the outer office. A fly +buzzed hopefully at the mosquito wire. The tap of +a typewriter sounded like some other insect. On the +hot air came the faint barks of a drill-sergeant on the +parade ground. From behind the building rose fitfully +the murmur of voices from a herd of natives +squatted in the sun awaiting the opening of the Court +House. Leaves rustled largely under the Lieutenant’s +fingers.…</p> + +<p>At length he pitched the report on to the table, carefully +placed the butt of his cigar in an ash-tray, lighted +another, and disposed of the match with equal care.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer indicated a chair by a thrust of the chin. +The sergeant sat. Tapping the report with the highly +polished and very long finger-nail of the left hand, the +lieutenant demanded:</p> + +<p><q>Who is the man who gave you this report?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ali Ben Hassan, an Arab trader, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Trustworthy?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence. He has done much work for us.</q></p> + +<p><q>Where?</q></p> + +<p><q>On the Tanganika district, sub-division B +<hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">II</hi>, +Excellence. He brought papers of first-class recommendation +from the Kommandant.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ben Hassan speaks of one Sakamata, nicht wahr?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Of what tribe is he?</q></p> +<pb n="11"/><anchor id="Pg11"/> + +<p><q>Wongolo.</q></p> + +<p><q>A witch-doctor?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>He is here? Let him come in.</q></p> + +<p>The sergeant rose, saluted and departed. Gutturals +sounded lazily. The sergeant reappeared and behind +him shuffled a native. Clad only in a dirty loin-cloth, +his brown skin was wrinkled in scaly folds upon +his chest and belly; his face was like an ancient +tortoise; the small lack-lustre eyes were bloodshot and +furtive; the limbs were almost fleshless. He squatted +upon the ground and with lowered lids appeared to +be absorbed in the contemplation of a white man’s table +leg. Zu Pfeiffer regarded the man as one would a +stray dog and nodded to the sergeant, who sat +down.</p> + +<p><q>Does he speak Kiswahili?</q></p> + +<p><q>Nein, Excellence. Only his monkey speech.</q></p> + +<p><q>Why do you suppose that he is trustworthy?</q></p> + +<p><q>Because, Excellence, his interests are with ours. +There is no competition. The Schweinhünde Engländer +have no interest there—yet. They are too busy +with the Uganda railroad.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, ja. Again what is the tribal system there, +King-God or&qdash;</q> The lieutenant permitted a +slight smile—<q>or Dis-established Church?</q></p> + +<p><q>King-God, Excellence,</q> replied Sergeant Schultz +gravely.</p> + +<p><q>This fellow then is an apostate priest, nicht wahr?</q></p> + +<p>The sergeant noticed the movement of one of the +sentry moustaches. A twitch of the lips recognized +his superior’s pleasantry.</p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> +<pb n="12"/><anchor id="Pg12"/> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer stuck the cigar into the corner of his +mouth and regarded idly the dumb figure on the +floor against the wall.</p> + +<p><q>We must have the Wongolo country, c’est +entendu. Now what’s your opinion of the method, +sergeant?</q></p> + +<p><q>With due deference, Excellence,</q> responded +Sergeant Schultz, <q>I propose that we advance and +bring them to subjection in the usual manner.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer fingered a ring and stared out into the +yellow glare.</p> + +<p><q>Nein,</q> he said at length, meditatively, removed +the cigar from his lips and delicately knocked off the +ash. <q>Circumstances alter cases. That method is +too expensive. Son Altesse cannot afford the blood of +the Fatherland in return for such ignoble carcasses. +We—the price paid in the Herrero campaign was +insupportable.</q></p> + +<p><q>Pardon, Excellence, but Treitschke said&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>I know, sergeant. But Treitschke did not live in +Central Africa.</q></p> + +<p><q>True, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Die Schweinhünde Engländer have had more +experience than we have. Even a fool learns wisdom +by experience—sometimes.</q></p> + +<p><q>True, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>Again fell a silence save for the buzz of the persistent +fly.</p> + +<p><q>Also psychological research is more valuable than +artillery—sometimes—in spite of Napoleon and +Treitschke.</q> Zu Pfeiffer glanced at the sergeant who, +beneath the mask of his features, appeared shocked. +<q>Blasphemy, nicht wahr, sergeant?</q></p> +<pb n="13"/><anchor id="Pg13"/> + +<p><q>If your Excellence thinks&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>But remember if Napoleon invented the science of +artillery, we invented psychology.</q></p> + +<p><q>True, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer smiled complacently and stroked his +moustaches.</p> + +<p><q>Now for this animal here. Who and what was +he?</q></p> + +<p><q>One of the principal witch-doctors, Excellence, +wealthy and powerful. He attempted to overthrow +the Chief Witch-doctor, one Bakahenzie, and was +discredited.</q></p> + +<p><q>How discredited?</q></p> + +<p><q>He attempted some form of magic, Excellence, +which failed. Details are not given.</q></p> + +<p><q>Who gave the dossier?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ali ben Hassan, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>From whom did he get his information?</q></p> + +<p><q>Name given as one Yabolo, another witch-doctor +and relative.</q></p> + +<p><q>This Saka—Saka</q>—<corr +sic="Zu"><anchor id="E3"/><ref target="e3">zu</ref></corr> +Pfeiffer glanced at the +document—<q>Sakamata. Is he in communication with +this Yabolo?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer smoked reflectively.</p> + +<p><q>When did the last agent come in?</q></p> + +<p><q>But yesterday, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>And no report of any other white men in the +country? No British missionaries or traders?</q></p> + +<p><q>Nein, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Where is Saunders?</q></p> + +<p><q>On Lake Kivu.</q></p> + +<p><q>No report?</q></p> +<pb n="14"/><anchor id="Pg14"/> + +<p><q>Not since the last three months ago, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Umph!—Now, pay attention.</q> Schultz leaned +forward dutifully. Zu Pfeiffer unrolled a map on the +wall beside him. <q>Here’s Ingonya. The Wongolo +country is twenty days’ march from here, but across +the lake it’s twenty hours with the launch, and five +days from there.</q> The delicate finger-nail indicated +a spot on the opposite side of the lake. <q>From +here—what’s the place? Ach—Timballa. To hell +with the British boundary! We must not give them +time to get the news. Always rush the seat of government. +Surprise them and they’re done.</q></p> + +<p><q>But, Excellence, Treitschke says regarding retreat&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>There will be no retreat. At +<corr sic="MFunga"><anchor id="E4"/><ref +target="e4">MFunya</ref></corr> +MPopo’s +is the idol, the fetish. We destroy it and they’re +done!</q> He brought down his fist with a crash on +the table. <q>Faith unites a people; in unity is +strength. Break the faith and you’ve broken the +people.</q></p> + +<p><q>But, Excellence!</q> exclaimed the Lutheran sergeant, +aghast.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer’s blue eyes hardened.</p> + +<p><q>Understand, you fool, these are savages. +<hi rend="font-style: italic">You</hi> +have an abstract deity—which you cannot break in +the concrete—obviously: they have a concrete god +which we can and shall smash.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence, you are right,</q> said the sergeant +humbly.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer flicked cigar ash from his sleeve and +lolled back.</p> + +<p><q>Those are your orders. Commandeer the necessary +canoes and notify Ludwig to have the men in +<pb n="15"/><anchor id="Pg15"/> +readiness for the full moon. Work out the details and +give them to me to-morrow.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q> Schultz stood to attention. +<q>But, Excellence, this creature&qdash;</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer glanced casually at Sakamata.</p> + +<p><q>Oh, that? Take it away!</q></p> + +<p>Schultz saluted smartly and wheeled about.</p> + +<p><q>Njoo!</q> he commanded sharply.</p> + +<p>Sakamata rose up quietly and disappeared through +the door without glancing to the right or the left.</p> + +<p><q>The Court awaits your Excellence,</q> reminded the +sergeant.</p> + +<p>As +<corr sic="Zu"><anchor id="E5"/><ref +target="e5">zu</ref></corr> +Pfeiffer nodded languidly, a booted foot +clopped on the verandah.</p> + +<p><q>Wa da?</q> queried Sergeant Schultz, startled at +the intrusion of a stranger.</p> + +<p><q>Oh, only I,</q> responded a soft voice in English.</p> + +<p>Through the screen door a tall figure in a Tirai +hat was silhouetted in sepia against the yellow glare. +A brown hand pushed open the door.</p> + +<p><q>Mon nom est Birnier, Gerald Birnier—er—Does +any one speak English?</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer, in the act of rising, sank back into the +chair, placing his left leg in a favourite position and +selecting a cigar simultaneously.</p> + +<p><q>Yes,</q> said he, almost without accent. <q>What do +you want?</q></p> + +<p><q>I wish to see the—the Herr Kommandant.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer struck a match without looking up.</p> + +<p><q>I am he.</q></p> + +<p>One hand upon the open door, Birnier stroked his +shaven chin perplexedly with the other. He glanced +from the sergeant, standing rigidly by the table, to +<pb n="16"/><anchor id="Pg16"/> +the lieutenant engaged in stoking his cigar to a +nicety.</p> + +<p><q>Well, it’s usual to invite a white man to sit down, +isn’t it?</q> suggested Birnier, with a note of irritation.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer looked across the table.</p> + +<p><q>Nein. This is the Orderly Room; not a general +office.</q></p> + +<p><q>Oh, I see. I beg your pardon!</q> There was a +note of laughter in the voice. <q>Will you kindly +instruct me where I am to apply?</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer continued to regard the stranger from +head to foot, smoking slowly.</p> + +<p><q>Please to come in,</q> he said at length, gesturing +with his cigar, <q>and sit down.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thanks so much!</q></p> + +<p>The trace of irony seemed to escape +<corr sic="Zu"><anchor id="E6"/><ref +target="e6">zu</ref></corr> +Pfeiffer. He +gave a guttural order to the sergeant, who saluted and +disappeared. The stranger placed his Tirai hat on the +table, revealing rumpled brown hair flecked with grey, +a high white forehead, and long features; the slight +stoop of the shoulders and general carriage rather +suggested a professional type than a hunter or trader. +He regarded the slim figure staring insolently at him +with a hardening look of disapproval.</p> + +<p><q>What is it you wish?</q></p> + +<p><q>Well, principally I require an elephant licence +and the usual permit to trade.</q></p> + +<p><q>Where are you going?</q></p> + +<p><q>To the Kivu country.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer regarded his cigar tip interestedly.</p> + +<p><q>You are going to the Wongolo country,</q> he stated.</p> + +<p>Birnier’s mouth tightened.</p> + +<p><q>Quite possibly.</q></p> +<pb n="17"/><anchor id="Pg17"/> + +<p><q>You have been to the Wongolo country already?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, I have been there, but what has that to do +with it?</q></p> + +<p><q>We know all about you,</q> stated zu Pfeiffer coldly, +twiddling his cigar between slender fingers. He +glanced at a gold repeater. <q>Pardon, but I must +request you to return later. The Court is already +awaiting me.</q> Birnier frowned slightly. <q>If you +will be so good as to return at, let us say, five o’clock, +I will be pleased to listen to your application.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier rose, taking his hat.</p> + +<p><q>Certainly,</q> he said curtly. <q>Good morning!</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer watched him depart; then he struck +the bell sharply. Sergeant Schultz appeared, a line of +nervous expectancy upon his sallow face.</p> + +<p><q>Why have you not reported that man’s arrival?</q> +demanded +<corr sic="Zu"><anchor id="E7"/><ref +target="e7">zu</ref></corr> +Pfeiffer harshly.</p> + +<p><q>Excellence,</q> returned Schultz, saluting, <q>he has +but arrived within the hour in a launch, loaned to him +by the Engländer.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach! An English spy!</q></p> + +<p><q>I do not know, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>We ought to know. Why have you not a report of +the man’s movements? He admits that he has been +in the Wongolo country.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence, it is already done.</q> Schultz hurriedly +searched a card index cabinet and handed a document +to the lieutenant. <q>There is Saunders’ report, Excellence; +more than six months old.</q></p> + + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer glanced at the page indicated and began +to read while the sergeant stood stiffly at attention.</p> + +<p><q>You may go, sergeant,</q> announced zu Pfeiffer +without looking up. Schultz saluted and departed. +<pb n="18"/><anchor id="Pg18"/> +Zu +<corr sic="Peiffer"><anchor id="E8"/><ref +target="e8">Pfeiffer</ref></corr> +finished the report leisurely, put down the +paper, and stared meditatively.</p> + +<p>No, he decided, as he rose, all the English are +spies.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD02" type="chapter"> +<pb n="19"/><anchor id="Pg19"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 2</hi> +</head> + +<p>Like a topaz set in a jade ring was the city of the +Snake, the place of Kings, a village of some eight +hundred huts huddled upon a slight rise above a sea of +banana fronds, some two hundred miles to the west of +Ingonya.</p> + +<p>On the summit was a large conical hut like an enormous +candle snuffer, the dwelling place of Usakuma, +the spirit of the Snake, whose name was forbidden to +all save the Priest-God and Rain Maker, King MFunya +MPopo, who was so holy that after succeeding to the +sacred office he was doomed to live within the compound, +even as were the Kings of Eutopia, Sheba and +China, a celibate for the remainder of his life: for, as +the incarnation of the Idol, Usakuma, and therefore the +controller of the Heavens and the Earth, his body +must be kept from all danger of witchcraft lest the +rains cease and the blue skies fall.</p> + +<p>From the compound, looking towards the north-west +where the snow-capped Gamballagalla rose violet +against the horizon, another brown cone peeped above +the green fronds, the late residence, and now the tomb +of King MKoffo, predecessor of MFunya MPopo. +For where a King-God dies there is he buried, he and +his wives after him; the site becomes holy ground, a +place of pilgrimage and sanctuary.</p> + +<p>In each of the small huts to the rear of the temple of +MFunya MPopo, but outside the sacred enclosure, lived +<pb n="20"/><anchor id="Pg20"/> +his wives who, although forbidden to their husband, +were permitted a royal promiscuity. Just within the +precincts was a small replica of the temple where dwelt +a young chief, also bound to celibacy, whose duties +were to keep the royal fire burning as long as the king +should reign. No one was allowed to converse with +the king, save on matters of state, except this man; +through him was spoken the royal will—what there +was left of it—to the council which sat in a long +rectangular building opposite to the temple entrance +and open to the village, a body of witch-doctors and +chiefs.</p> + +<p>Solely the kingly office existed as a beneficent agent, +a matter of self-preservation on the part of the tribe. +The King-God’s functions were divine; to make +magic for the victory of his warriors and principally to +make rain, on which, of course, the alimentary needs of +his subjects depended—an incarnation of a god who +was in reality the scapegoat of the god’s omissions.</p> + +<p>The office was hereditary. Perhaps no one else +would willingly accept such an onerous post. The +making of magic was performed before the god with the +assistance of the chief witch-doctor, an exceedingly +lucrative post won upon merit, occupied by one +Bakahenzie, a tall muscular man in the prime of life, +whose bearing was that of the native autocrat, fierce +and remorseless. The King’s personal wishes could be +safely granted as long as he did not endanger the +existence of the people by a desire to break any of the +meshes of the tabus designed to ensure the safety of his +sacred body, and therefore that of the tribe, on the +assumption that if the incarnation were injured the god +would be injured, and so would his creations be +<pb n="21"/><anchor id="Pg21"/> +affected: any infringement of these laws entailed the +penalty of death, a code which revealed the native +logic in the confusion of cause and effect, the concrete +and the abstract.</p> + +<p>In the door of a hut on the outskirts of the village +squatted a wizened man with a tuft of grey beard upon +his chin. He was clad in a loin-cloth fairly clean, and +about his neck was suspended by a twisted fibre an +amulet wrapped in banana leaves containing the gall +and toenail of an enemy slain by a virgin warrior, a +specific against black magic whose powerful properties +were proven by the undisputed influence and wealth +of the owner.</p> + +<p>A tall lithe savage, bearing upon his arms and ankles +the ivory bracelets of the royal house and the elephant +hair chaplet of the warrior, advanced leisurely towards +him from the banana plantation. Marufa continued +to gaze in rumination at the opposite hut. But as they +had not met since the rising of the sun, he did not fail to +make the orthodox greeting at the exact moment that +the chief’s shadow passed in front of him, which Zalu +Zako returned punctiliously, thereby averting an evil +omen. As soon as the young man had passed beyond +the next hut appeared in the grove a girl, modelled like +a bronze wood nymph. She wore the tiny girdle of the +unmarried and walked furtively, carrying in her hand a +parcel wrapped in banana leaves. In the shadow of a +compound fence she halted, one slender brown arm set +back in apprehension as her eyes followed the lithe +figure of Zalu Zako.</p> + +<p>Motionless sat Marufa staring in mystic contemplation. +Bakuma glanced swiftly about her. Apparently +satisfied that no one was observing her save a lean dog +<pb n="22"/><anchor id="Pg22"/> +and two gollywog children, she continued on as if to +pass the old man, her eyes still ranging like a fawn’s. +But when she was beside Marufa she subsided on her +haunches beside him, clutching the bundle as she +whispered:</p> + +<p><q>Greetings, O wise one!</q></p> + +<p><q>Greeting, daughter,</q> returned Marufa without +lessening the fixity of his gaze.</p> + +<p><q>I would talk with thee.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aye.</q></p> + +<p>Again she glanced around furtively.</p> + +<p><q>I would talk in thine ear, O my father.</q></p> + +<p><q>The knots of my hair are tied.</q></p> + +<p><q>I thank thee. There’s a fluttering bird in my +breast.</q></p> + +<p><q>And a snake around thy heart, O my daughter.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aie-e!</q></p> + +<p><q>The grandson of the snake hath tied thy girdle.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>The girl clasped her breast in surprised terror.</p> + +<p><q>How dost thou know?</q></p> + +<p><q>All things are known to the son of MTungo,</q> +declared Marufa solemnly, still regarding the opposite +wall. <q>Thou desirest a love charm.… What hast +thou?</q></p> + +<p>Tremulously Bakuma put down the green package on +the ground, darting terrified glances to right and left. +Slowly the skinny hand of the wizard gently tore open +the leaves; very impressively the eyes slanted down to +appraise the stock of blue and white beads.</p> + +<p><q>The spirit of Tarum hath a big belly,</q> he +announced tonelessly.</p> + +<p><q>O wise one, intercede for me,</q> pleaded Bakuma, +<pb n="23"/><anchor id="Pg23"/> +<q>for more have I none, I, Bakuma, daughter of Bakala, +a girl of the hut thatch.</q></p> + +<p><q>The true love charm, infallible and powerful, is +difficult to obtain, O Bakuma. The young huntress +aims at big game.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh! But I have no more, great one!</q></p> + +<p><q>The hair of a rutting leopardess, the liver of a +forest rat, the tongue of a Baroto bird—these must I +have to mix with thy blood to be drunk by thy man +when the moon is full.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh! Ehh!</q></p> + +<p><q>Such is the magic that no young man can +resist.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh-h!</q></p> + +<p><q>But these things are difficult to obtain.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aie! Aie!</q> wailed Bakuma, clasping her hands in +despair.</p> + +<p><q>Difficult to obtain.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aie-e!</q></p> + +<p><q>On the night of the half-moon will I take upon me +the leopard form.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p><q>I will talk with the spirits.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh! Ehh!</q></p> + +<p><q>But they must be propitiated with the blood of a +fat goat.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aie! Aie! But I have no fat goat.</q></p> + +<p><q>If there be no fat goat then will the spirits be +wroth with me.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aie-e-e!</q></p> + +<p>Bakuma sat staring in dismal perplexity.</p> + +<p><q>No fat goat have I, a girl of the hut thatch! Aie! +Aie!</q></p> +<pb n="24"/><anchor id="Pg24"/> + +<p>Marufa fumbled within the loin-cloth and thrust a +tiny package along the ground.</p> + +<p><q>See and know the power of my magic.</q> Bakuma +greedily snatched up the amulet. <q>Begone!</q> he +whispered, jerking the parcel of beads behind him. +<q>MYalu approaches.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>Bakuma rose and fled with the grace of a startled +antelope as appeared a tall, strongly built man, having a +low-browed face, across which was a deep scar. Behind +MYalu came two young slaves bearing a small elephant +tusk. Opposite to Marufa the slaves stopped. Their +master, careful that his shadow fell well away from the +figure of the magician—for the shadow is one of the +souls, so woe unto him who shall leave his soul in the +hands of an enemy!—squatted gravely.</p> + +<p><q>Greeting, son of MTungo!</q></p> + +<p><q>Greeting, son of MBusa!</q> returned Marufa.</p> + +<p>Gravely they spat into each other’s palm, the sign +of amity as they who exchange bonds of good behaviour +inasmuch, as is well known, magic can be worked upon +that which has been a part of the body as upon the body +itself. Then solemnly they rubbed the spittle upon +their respective chests.</p> + +<p><q>The spirit of the snake nourisheth not the life of +the banana.</q></p> + +<p><q>Nay, for nigh unto two moons hath there been no +blood of the snake,</q> returned the old man perfunctorily, +as he lifted his eyes from a swift appraisement of the +tusk to his favourite mud wall.</p> + +<p><q>Nay, the crops sprout not. Maybe the Dweller +in the Place of the Snake hath been visited by one from +the forest.</q></p> +<pb n="25"/><anchor id="Pg25"/> + +<p><q>Aye, but old blood runs not as swiftly as young +blood.</q></p> + +<p><q>Nay,</q> replied MYalu, in answer to the reference +to himself, <q>but the girdle is not yet tied by +another.</q></p> + +<p><q>When the first twig of the nest is laid,</q> remarked +Marufa, indolently eyeing the tusk, <q>it is difficult to +entice the hen to another tree.</q></p> + +<p><q>Here is a goodly twig with which to tempt spirits +of the forest,</q> and significantly, <q>Maybe there are +others.</q></p> + +<p><q>A mighty potion shall be prepared for thee, O son +of MBusa,</q> declared Marufa, moving slightly to +conceal the package of beads. <q>A mighty potion, +infallible; made from the hair of a rutting leopardess, +the liver of the forest rat and the tongue of the Baroto +bird; these must she take that she shall speak thee +softly, together with a portion of that which remains +from the ceremony of the lobolo. Infallible is it; +never known to fail.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>Marufa stared interestedly at a wandering hen. +MYalu watched him covertly. Like bronzes sat the +two young slaves. From the distance came a faint +chanting and the beat of a drum.…</p> + +<p><q>The tusk is here, Marufa,</q> remarked MYalu +casually.</p> + +<p><q>My eyes see it,</q> observed Marufa, without altering +his observation of the hen.</p> + +<p><q>Where then is the potion?</q></p> + +<p>Marufa glanced at the tusk, appraised it again, and +fumbling within his loin-cloth, thrust another tiny +package along the ground. MYalu greedily picked up +<pb n="26"/><anchor id="Pg26"/> +the amulet and stared in awe, turning it over and +about.</p> + +<p><q>The tusk,</q> murmured Marufa.</p> + +<p>MYalu gestured to his slaves. They rose and placed +the tusk beside the old man, shuffled backwards and +squatted again. After lifting one end to test the +weight, Marufa examined the grain. Then sliding it +behind him as if he wished to sit upon it, remarked:</p> + +<p><q>The potion must be eaten at the full moon.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>MYalu glanced up from an absorbed examination of +the amulet.</p> + +<p><q>And within the quarter shall the fruit be ripe for +the plucking.</q> The whites of MYalu’s eyes gleamed. +<q>Unless,</q> continued the old man uninterestedly, +<q>there be stronger magic made against thee.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>The two hands holding the amulet came down.</p> + +<p><q>If,</q> explained Marufa, <q>another hath tied the +grasses of her father’s roof, will there be required a +stronger spirit to overcome such magic.</q></p> + +<p><q>But thou hast told me,</q> expostulated MYalu, +regarding the tusk regretfully, <q>that this is a mighty +magic, powerful and infallible, never known to fail.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thus is it,</q> asserted the old man imperturbably, +<q>for all save a stronger magic.</q></p> + +<p>MYalu’s eyes wandered from the tusk to Marufa and +back. He scowled.</p> + +<p><q>Why didst thou not tell me?</q> he demanded +sourly, dropping the amulet on the ground.</p> + +<p><q>It is for thee to tell the wizard all that thou +knowest. How else may he reckon with thine +enemies?</q></p> +<pb n="27"/><anchor id="Pg27"/> + +<p><q>Enemy!</q> exclaimed MYalu. He stared questioningly +at Marufa. <q>Enemy! Dost thou know whom I +seek?</q></p> + +<p><q>Do not all the hens remark the strutting of the +cock?</q> inquired Marufa unconcernedly, tapping his +snuff box.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>MYalu observed the taking of snuff as if he had +never seen the operation before.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> he remarked again succinctly.</p> + +<p>Marufa replaced the cork of twisted leaves, let fall +the snuff box made of rhinoceros horn suspended from +his neck by a copper wire, and contemplated a skinny +goat scratching itself violently. MYalu stirred as if to +rise, but subsided, cogitated and said slowly:</p> + +<p><q>In the house of MYalu are four more tusks.</q></p> + +<p><q>Four more tusks,</q> repeated Marufa dreamily.</p> + +<p><q>Bigger than this one,</q> said MYalu suggestively.</p> + +<p><q>Bigger than this one.</q></p> + +<p><q>Knowest thou by whom the girdle is tied?</q></p> + +<p><q>By the grandson of the Snake.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>MYalu squatted motionless. The old man appeared +to doze. Women bearing gourds of water upon their +heads passed in single file, their loins swaying rhythmically. +The shadows dwindled. From close at +hand began the rapid beat of a drum. A stir began +through the village as each man herded his women and +slaves to his own hut.</p> + +<p><q>O Marufa,</q> said MYalu, speaking with a slight +snarl, <q>hast thou such a powerful medicine that can +surely trap the soul of Zalu Zako when perchance it +wanders (in sleep)?</q></p> +<pb n="28"/><anchor id="Pg28"/> + +<p><q>All things are possible to the son of MTungo,</q> +mumbled the old man.</p> + +<p>Two chiefs appeared walking through the grove at a +middle distance. MYalu glanced round apprehensively.</p> + +<p><q>Two tusks will I give thee,</q> he whispered, <q>if +thou wilt do this thing.</q></p> + +<p><q>Three tusks. No less, for the matter is dangerous.</q></p> + +<p><q>Two, two.</q></p> + +<p><q>Nay.</q></p> + +<p>The old man stirred to rise.</p> + +<p><q>Three be it,</q> gasped MYalu. <q>But I must see the +magic done.</q></p> + +<p>They rose together.</p> + +<p><q>Bring me of his toe-nails one paring, of his hair +one, and his spittle and a footprint. Then shalt thou +come with me to the sacred grove where the magic +shall be done.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p><q>But the three tusks must be given to Yanoka, my +first wife.</q></p> + +<p>MYalu hesitated.</p> + +<p><q>Aye, thus shall it be done,</q> he assented reluctantly.</p> + +<p><q>It is agreed?</q> inquired Marufa.</p> + +<p><q>May my cord be lost!</q> swore MYalu, and gesturing +to the slaves, hurried away.</p> + +<p>A slight grin flecked the old man’s eyes as he turned +into the hut.</p> + +<p><q>Already hath he drunken of her blood,</q> he +mumbled. <q>Ya, Inkombana! take the tusk!</q></p> + +<p>When Marufa emerged, a head-dress of the tail +feathers of the green parrot, professional uniform and +potent specific against evil spirits, fluffed gently as he +<pb n="29"/><anchor id="Pg29"/> +slowly stalked towards the council house. From the +other side of a hut walked MYalu as if he had come +from a different direction. In the open gate of the +royal enclosure sat a muscular young man upon his +haunches, tending the royal fire, which fed hungrily +upon small faggots. Beyond him across the yellow +glare upon the cleared ground beneath a thatched +awning, stood an idol of wood, whose lopsided mouth +snarled beneath a bridgeless nose; narrow slits for +eyes squinted; baby arms stuck down beside triangular +breasts above a melon belly having a protuberant navel +like a small cucumber—the incarnation of the Snake-god, +Usakuma.</p> + +<p>Without the palisade of the sacred ground was a +taller one, barring the doings of the council of witch-doctors +and chiefs from the lay public, who were +confined to their own huts under the penalty of a +hideous death, or an enormous fine, as the witch-doctors +should decide.</p> + +<p>To the rear of the idol, cross-legged against the wall +of the entrance to the conical hut, were the musicians +beating a monotonous rhythm upon big and small +drums and twanging a primitive lyre of five strings. +Just as Marufa and MYalu took their respective places +without among the wizards and the chiefs, a young +goat skipped into the open and stared inquisitively at +the Keeper of the Fires. As the man waved the +animal back from the sacred ground, the goat lowered +its head and threatened to charge, suddenly recollected +its mate lying in the shade a few feet away, and began +to bleat absent-mindedly.</p> + +<p>Gravely and silently sat the assembly: continuously +throbbed the drums. The sun beat diagonally. As a +<pb n="30"/><anchor id="Pg30"/> +lizard darted like a flash of a prism from the grass +palisade, the band ceased. A man emerged from +behind the idol. Although the grey woolly tufts upon +his chin, the sacred snake skin around his waist above +the cat skin loin-cloth, the jingle of the ivory bangles +on arms and ankles, and his stature, imparted an air of +barbaric royalty, King MFunya MPopo advanced with +the manner of a pariah dog ordered to his master’s side.</p> + +<p>As the King approached, the Keeper of the Fires +hastily threw on a handful of faggots and bowed his +head. In the centre of the opening of the enclosure +the King squatted down with his back to the fire which +streamed blue smoke. Not a limb or a muscle moved +among the group of wizards and chiefs in the council +house. Attracted by the movement, the goat stopped +bleating and stared at the King; then, putting down +its head, charged him.</p> + +<p>With a horrified click, the Keeper of the Fires +sprang. But he was not swift enough to prevent the +impact of the animal’s horns with the royal arm thrust +out in self-defence. Three young chiefs came running; +one caught up the goat and carried it away bleating +bellicosely; the others knelt, and while one carefully +collected a gout of blood upon the King’s forearm in a +piece of banana leaf, his companion wiped the wound. +When they were satisfied that the bleeding had ceased, +the pieces were meticulously wrapped in another +leaf and borne away by the Keeper of the Fires to be +deposited in the temple: for as every man knows, the +royal blood must not be spilt upon the ground lest the +site be accursed for ever and like the tooth of the dragon +of Colchis, arise from the spot ghostly warriors to +annihilate the tribe.</p> +<pb n="31"/><anchor id="Pg31"/> + +<p>Neither upon the face of any of the elders nor upon +the features of MFunya MPopo, the King, had a +muscle moved. Yet the incident was regarded as an +evil omen.… Then suddenly did Bakahenzie, the +chief witch-doctor, plumed with a tall scarlet feather in +addition to the green ones and a necklace of finger bones +upon his bronze chest, who sat in the centre with Kawa +Kendi, the King’s son upon his right, and Zalu Zako, +the grandson, upon his left, begin to chant in a high +wailing voice to the rapid rhythm of the drums:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Is there not a shadow come over the land?</l> + <l>The frown of the One-not-to-be-mentioned?</l> + <l>I, Bakahenzie, have seen it! have seen it!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>And from the group within the council house, +immobile, came the bass chorus of assent:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 17" type="chant"> + <l>“Ough! Ough!”</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Is there not a dry curse come over the land?</l> + <l>Is it not the hot breath of the soul of the Snake?</l> + <l>I, Bakahenzie, have seen it! have seen it!”</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">“Ough! Ough!”</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Where is the false spirit that hath sinned in the act?</l> + <l>He that hath sinned in the shade of the name?</l> + <l>I, Bakahenzie, have seen him! have seen him!”</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">“Ough! Ough!”</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Does not the keen sting of him scorch up the land?</l> + <l>Hath not the young bread of our bellies been slain?</l> + <l>I, Bakahenzie, have seen it! have seen it!”</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">“Ough! Ough!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>The throb of the drums grew faster. Bakahenzie +<pb n="32"/><anchor id="Pg32"/> +leaped from the crowd. Immediately in front of the +King he began to dance and to scream:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Is the Burden too great for the Guard of the Name?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!</l> + <l>Hath the Bearer, too, fumbled the weight of the World?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!</l> + <l>Is His spirit bewitched by the soul of a girl?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!</l> + <l>Hath His magical power been slain by the sin?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!</l> + <l>Hath a prophet made words in the act of a goat?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!</l> + <l>Does a saviour in hairs thirst the blood of a King?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!</l> + <l>Shall we hearken, O Chiefs, to the wish of the One?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!</l> + <l>Or be shrivelled and die in the drought of His wrath?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aie! Aie!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>Kawa Kendi, a man in early middle age, powerful +and lithe-limbed, sat as motionless as the King, his +father, staring, as did all, with the fixed stare of the +anagogic.</p> + +<p>Abruptly the drums ceased. Again came a hot +silence as Bakahenzie paused in front of MFunya +MPopo. Then with a piercing yell, the witch-doctor +spun on his toes. The drums broke into an hysterical +rhythm. Bakahenzie leaped high in the air; whirled +around and around screaming hoarsely; leaped and +spun continually.</p> + +<p>The chiefs and doctors began to grunt; continued in +<pb n="33"/><anchor id="Pg33"/> +crescendo until the whole body throbbed and grunted +to the rhythm of the drums. Yet immobile sat +MFunya MPopo.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Bakahenzie changed the erratic course of +his wild dance. He whirled and screamed in front of +the King and fell headlong, as if in a fit, with eyes +injected and foam upon the black tufts of beard. +Bakahenzie clutched his belly and began to howl like a +hyena at the moon. The drums stopped. Howl and +writhe did Bakahenzie as if a thousand fiends were +tearing out his entrails.</p> + +<p>He lay rigid. The air seemed to quiver. The lines +of every man’s limbs, except the King’s, were drawn in +tension. Then from the prostrate body of the witch-doctor, +whose legs and arms were twisted as in agony, +whose dribbling mouth was closed like a vise, came a +ventriloquous falsetto:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Aie-e! Aie-e! I am the spirit of Kintu!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! I am he who first was!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! I am the banana from whom I was made!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! The Keeper of the Name hath betrayed me!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! The Bride of me is defiled!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! Let him arise who is pure!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! Let him arise who is bidden!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! Let the fires be put out!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! Let a new fire arise from the ashes!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! I have spoken, I, the Father of men!</l> + <l>Aie-e! Aie-e! I, Tarum, the soul of your + ancestors!”</l> +</lg> +<pb n="34"/><anchor id="Pg34"/> + +<p>From the assembly came the belly grunt of acceptance. +In silence rose Kawa Kendi, the heir-apparent. +His face was as expressionless as his father’s. He +stepped around the body of Bakahenzie and across the +open space followed by a young man, Kingata Mata. +Ten feet away from the enclosure, Kingata Mata sank +upon his haunches. Before MFunya MPopo squatted +his son. They spat each in the other’s hand and +swallowed the spittle. Then the head of Kawa Kendi +bent to the lips of MFunya MPopo to receive the +sacred Name.</p> + +<p>In unison with Kawa Kendi rose Kingata Mata, who +to him handed a cord of twisted bark. Bending behind +the King, who remained motionless with the closed +eyes of one already dead, Kingata Mata swiftly adjusted +the cord and handed it back to the son, Kawa +Kendi.…</p> + +<p>When the muscular young Keeper of the Fires had +poured solemnly a gourd of water upon the royal fire +of MFunya MPopo, he knelt submissively and was +strangled beside his master.…</p> + +<p>From the assembly went up a great shout:</p> + +<p><q>The fire is put out!</q></p> + +<p>And from the village, listening in awe to the mighty +doings, came like an echo:</p> + +<p><q>The fire is put out! Aie! Aie-e!</q></p> + +<p>Then shouted the elders and wizards:</p> + +<p><q>Let there be a new fire!</q></p> + +<p>Again came the wailing repetition from the +village:</p> + +<p><q>Let there be a new fire!</q></p> + +<p>As in the Place of Fires was kindled a new fire by +Kingata Mata with two sacred sticks, one of which is +<pb n="35"/><anchor id="Pg35"/> +male and the other female, the assembled chiefs and +magicians groaned in allegiance to the new King-God +of the unmentionable spirit of the Snake, Usakuma, +the Idol.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD03" type="chapter"> +<pb n="36"/><anchor id="Pg36"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 3</hi> +</head> + +<p>At five-thirty zu Pfeiffer was stretched in the long +Bombay chair in the coolest portion of the screened +verandah. On the table beside him was a tall glass, +a decanter of cognac and a box of cigars; and suspended +from the roof swung a canvas bag of water with +a syphon attachment. A gape fly, which somehow had +gotten through the screen, hit the lieutenant’s forehead, +fell on to the book and whirred up against the +wire.</p> + +<p><q>Ach, Gott verdammt!</q> exclaimed zu Pfeiffer +irritably and shouted: <q>Ho, Bakunja—la.</q> Instantly +appeared the tall negro in white. <q>You son of a god! +Look at that!</q></p> + +<p>Bakunjala looked, leaped, and caught the fly in his +hand.</p> + +<p><q>Ow!</q> he exclaimed as the hornet stung him.</p> + +<p><q>Ach, you woman of shame, catch it instantly!</q></p> + +<p>Without hesitation Bakunjala made another grab, +and clutching the fly tightly, made to open the screen +door.</p> + +<p><q>Halt!</q> commanded the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>Bakunjala obeyed.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer regarded the man standing with the wasp +sting buried in his palm with a slight smile of amusement.</p> + +<p><q>It hurts?</q> he inquired amiably.</p> + +<p><q>Indio, Bwana!</q> asserted Bakunjala.</p> +<pb n="37"/><anchor id="Pg37"/> + +<p><q>Good! Now stop there.</q></p> + +<p>Motionless remained the negro. Zu Pfeiffer leisurely +selected a fresh cigar, lighted it, stoked it, and +inhaling smoke stroked his left moustache.</p> + +<p><q>It still hurts?</q></p> + +<p><q>Indio, Bwana!</q> said Bakunjala with a high note +in his voice.</p> + +<p><q>Splendid!</q> assured the lieutenant: and after a +full minute added: <q>Now you may go. And remember +if you are frightened of a fly’s pain again I will +give you twenty lashes.</q></p> + +<p><q>Indio, Bwana,</q> answered Bakunjala humbly and +departed swiftly with the hornet in his clenched fist. +Zu Pfeiffer smiled, again stared reflectively at the +violet shadows creeping lazily across the square, sipped +some brandy and picking up his book, began to read.…</p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer frowned and looked round. Outside the +screen stood Sergeant Schultz at the salute. Zu +Pfeiffer nodded.</p> + +<p><q>Well?</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence,</q> said the sergeant at attention, <q>the +Englishman is here.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach, tell him to go&qdash;</q> The lieutenant drew +out his gold chronometer. <q>It is my bath time. I +cannot see him.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Wait.</q> Zu Pfeiffer withdrew his legs and rose. +<q>Ach, tell the fool to come over here and wait till I +have had my bath.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q> agreed the sergeant and saluting, +marched away. Zu Pfeiffer entered the bungalow. +Across the square came Birnier with the sergeant who +<pb n="38"/><anchor id="Pg38"/> +ushered him into the screened portion of the verandah.</p> + +<p><q>His Excellence gom bresently,</q> said the sergeant +and left him.</p> + +<p>Birnier put his Tirai hat on the table, and seeing no +other, sat in the Bombay chair; looked about him; +idly examined the brand on the box of cigars and +smiled. <q>Makes himself mighty comfortable,</q> he +remarked to himself. <q>Pity he appears such a boor.</q> +He glanced at the book on the armchair. +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Allgemeine +Geschichte der Philosophie</hi> von Prof. Dr. Paul Deussen. +<q>And a philosopher, eh!</q> Having little German he +turned away and lighted his pipe. After a while he +began to fidget, wondering how long he was to be kept +waiting. <q>Damn the fellow!</q> he muttered and +picked up one of the books on the table, +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Les Ba-Rongas</hi>, +par A. Junod, opened it at random and began to +read.</p> + +<p>The shadows of one bungalow reached the verandah +on the opposite side of the square. And still he read on, +the dead pipe in his hand. Just as the twilight was +snuffed out like a candle, a sharp step heralded the +arrival of the lieutenant. Birnier rose, the book in his +hand.</p> + +<p><q>Good evening, sir!</q></p> + +<p><q>Good evening,</q> responded zu Pfeiffer, who was in +an undress uniform of white. <q>What is it that you +require?</q></p> + +<p><q>Well,</q> said Birnier, <q>first of all I must apologise +for using your chair and reading your book. Most +interesting, by the way.</q></p> + +<p><q>That is nothing,</q> said zu Pfeiffer as Bakunjala +came in with a lamp and a chair. <q>Please to be +seated.</q></p> +<pb n="39"/><anchor id="Pg39"/> + +<p><q>Thank you.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier took the small chair and the lieutenant the +Bombay.</p> + +<p><q>I—er I—am sorry that I disturbed you this +morning,</q> began Birnier diffidently. <q>But I did not +know&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>That is nothing. It was the fault of the sentry. +He should not have allowed you to pass.</q></p> + +<p><q>Regarding my application for the licence, Herr +Lieutenant?</q></p> + +<p><q>I regret,</q> said zu Pfeiffer coldly, using a cigar +cutter, <q>that I am unable to grant you the licence +you ask.</q></p> + +<p><q>You cannot grant me a trading or shooting +licence?</q></p> + +<p><q>I regret, no.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier stared.</p> + +<p><q>May I inquire why I am refused?</q></p> + +<p><q>You may. We do not wish undesirables in the +country.</q></p> + +<p><q>Undesirables!</q> Birnier’s lips tightened. <q>I am +afraid that I do not understand you.</q> The lieutenant +was engaged in carefully stoking his cigar. <q>Will you +kindly afford me a reason for—for such an insulting +remark?</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer blew smoke luxuriously. Birnier stared +for a moment, stuck his pipe in his mouth and bit the +stem; removed it and snapped:</p> + +<p><q>You can have no adequate reason for such action.… +If you intend to continue this ridiculous farce +I shall be compelled to make a complaint through +Washington.</q></p> + +<p><q>Washington?</q> Zu Pfeiffer removed one leg +<pb n="40"/><anchor id="Pg40"/> +from the chair-rest and the cigar from his mouth. +<q>You are an American?</q></p> + +<p><q>I am.</q></p> + +<p><q>So? We understood that you were an English +agent. You have papers?</q></p> + +<p><q>Certainly. If you wish&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>We do not demand. No. My agent was wrong. +He shall be punished.</q> Then in an amiable voice: +<q>I, too, have been a long time in America. Please +to have a cigar, Mr. Birnier.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier hesitated, puzzled.</p> + +<p><q>Thank you,</q> he said diffidently, selected one, +bit off the end and spat it into the corner. Zu +Pfeiffer shuddered delicately; but as Birnier lighted +his cigar he studied his face in the glow of the +match; noted the breadth of the jaw, the width +between the eyes and the slightly hard line at the corner +of the mouth.</p> + +<p><q>And forgive me!</q> Zu Pfeiffer shouted to Bakunjala. +<q>I presume that you have been in Africa a long +time,</q> he continued.</p> + +<p><q>Some ten years.</q></p> + +<p><q>You do find the Wongolo country interesting?</q></p> + +<p><q>Oh, yes.</q></p> + +<p><q>You were there long?</q></p> + +<p><q>No, I had been two years in the Congo and passed +through on my way to Uganda to refit.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach. You permit me? You are mining?</q></p> + +<p><q>No.</q> Birnier smiled thinly. <q>I have a professorial +job in the American Museum of Natural History, +Anthropological department.</q></p> + +<p><q>Professor! Ach!</q> Zu Pfeiffer looked at him +interestedly.</p> +<pb n="41"/><anchor id="Pg41"/> + +<p><q>Yes. That is why I was so absorbed in +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Les Ba-Rongas</hi> +which I found here. You are interested in +anthropology?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach, yes, I love to study the animals. I have a +library—a small one, here. You must see it.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thank you.</q></p> + +<p><q>You were studying the animals’ ways and how +d’you call it?—das Volkskündliches—in Wongolo?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes. I do nothing else.</q></p> + +<p><q>So?</q> Bakunjala arrived with fresh glasses and +vermouth. <q>Which do you prefer, French or Italian, +Herr Professor?</q></p> + +<p><q>French, please.</q></p> + +<p><q>You will dine with me, please?</q></p> + +<p><q>That is very kind of you, Lieutenant.</q> Birnier +gazed quizzically, rather amused at the complete +change of manner. Quite charming when he likes, +he reflected.</p> + +<p><q>From what part do you come, Herr Professor?</q> +inquired zu Pfeiffer as he set down his glass.</p> + +<p><q>Oh, I’m a Southerner. Louisiana. My name is +French, you know.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach so? Che les aimes, les Français. Les femmes +sont adorables!</q></p> + +<p><q>Oui, je les trouve comme ça!</q> agreed Birnier, +smiling. <q>Ma femme est française.</q></p> + +<p><q>So? … I, too, Professor, I am in love with a +Française. She is wonderful! superbe! Ach, ent +zückend!</q> The lieutenant gazed into the warm +darkness. <q>Always I see her—in the darkness, +the—chaleur—parmis +les animaux.</q> In the glow of the +lamp, the blue eyes were soft, the feminine lips curved +in a tender smile as he murmured:</p> +<pb n="42"/><anchor id="Pg42"/> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 5" type="song"> + <l>“Die Jahre kommen und gehen,</l> + <l>Geschlechter steigen ins Grab,</l> + <l>Doch nimmer vergeht die Liebe,</l> + <l>Die ich im Herzen hab!</l> + <l>Nur einmal noch möcht ich dich sehen,</l> + <l>Und sinken vor dir aufs Knie</l> + <l>Und sterbend zu dir sprechen:</l> + <l>‘Madam, ich liebe Sie!’ ”</l> +</lg> + +<p><q>Thank you,</q> said Birnier quietly. <q>I, too, +would say that.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach, sprechen Sie Deutsch?</q> demanded zu +Pfeiffer quickly.</p> + +<p><q>No, unfortunately I don’t speak it, but I understand +a little; and particularly Heine.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach, Gott!</q></p> + +<p>The note was of satisfaction. A gong sounded. +Zu Pfeiffer turned sharply: <q>Come, Herr Professor, +let us go to dinner. You would wish to +wash?</q></p> + +<p>The bungalow, unusually lofty, was divided into +three compartments. The ceiling, made of stout +white calico, to shelter from snakes and the continual +dust from the wood borers, was suspended from the +rafters like the roof of a marquee tent. The centre +room was furnished with cane lounge chairs like a +smoking-room and decorated with skins, native musical +instruments, spears and shields; drums served as small +tables with elephant’s toe-nails for ash trays.</p> + +<p>In the bedroom was a brass bedstead and mosquito +net. Behind was a bathroom having a corrugated +cistern upon the cross beams which gave force for a +shower. The towels and appointments were specklessly +<pb n="43"/><anchor id="Pg43"/> +clean. When Birnier appeared he found zu +Pfeiffer sprawled in the lounge. On a red lacquer +tray upon a great war drum, covered with the striped +skin of a zebra, was a crystal liqueur set and a large +silver box of Egyptian cigarettes.</p> + +<p><q>Ach, Professor,</q> said he, <q>it is good to speak to a +white man again</q> (by which he meant an equal). +<q>Please be seated, I beg you. A little liqueur is good +for the aperitif and a cigarette; for there is no time for +another cigar.</q></p> + +<p>As Birnier sat he remarked the blonde head of the +lieutenant in his meticulous uniform touched with gold +and caught a glimpse of the jewelled bracelet of ivory +and the Chinese finger-nail.</p> + +<p>Another summons of the gong brought zu Pfeiffer to +his feet. As he led his guest out through the side +verandah along a screened porch to the mess room, +built away from the main building to keep away the +plague of flies, a native girl whose close-wrapped white +robes revealed a lithe figure, flitted through a doorway. +The table was set in immaculate linen, aglitter with +glass and decorated with a profusion of wild orchids. +Behind the chairs stood two negroes in spotless white, +immobile. On each plate were hors d’œuvres of +anchovy and cheese upon a patterned piece of toast. +Salted almonds, sweets, and olives were in green china; +wine glasses of three kinds. Broiled fish followed the +soup.</p> + +<p><q>So, Professor,</q> remarked the lieutenant, <q>you +will go back some day to Wongolo?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, I—unless I discover some tribe who have a +more interesting system of—er—theology.</q></p> + +<p><q>They are a powerful tribe, nicht wahr?</q></p> +<pb n="44"/><anchor id="Pg44"/> + +<p><q>Oh yes, very. Their system ensures unity which +provides for concerted action. Here I believe it is +different.</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, yes; they are poor here. Each village was +at war with the other—before we came. Their +superstitions are not—how would you say it?</q></p> + +<p><q>Systematised?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes. They have neither any supreme chief nor +god. There you see,</q> he added, smiling, <q>that +autocracy is the only form of government. Democracy—pah! … +I apologise, Professor!</q></p> + +<p><q>Please don’t,</q> replied Birnier, <q>although of course +I cannot agree with you.</q></p> + +<p><q>But the Wongolo, they have a god and king?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, the King-Priest system. One of the most +interesting I have ever encountered or read of.</q></p> + +<p><q>You did see the King-God, MFunya MPopo?</q></p> + +<p><q>Oh no. He is forbidden to be seen by a foreigner—a +similar law to that of the Medes; only by the witch-doctors—and +by the people once a year at a harvest +festival. That is why I intend to go back. It is +impossible to procure reliable statistics of their customs, +practices and real beliefs without—without winning +their confidence. That is my mission.</q></p> + +<p><q>I do not longer wonder, Herr Professor, that you +were most justly annoyed. Ach, yes. But please do +not worry about your ridiculous licence. It is not +necessary in my jurisdiction, I assure you. You may +come and go as you please, shoot what you wish. I +will always be so glad to help so distinguished a professor.</q></p> + +<p><q>I thank you very much.</q></p> + +<p><q>It is nothing. And perhaps when you are there, +<pb n="45"/><anchor id="Pg45"/> +you will be so kind as to write to me? To tell me +things that are not known—so that I may, too, +continue to study the animals—again what is it? +das Volkskündliches?</q></p> + +<p><q>Folk-lore, isn’t it?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes. Please to have some more wine, Herr +Professor. Please, I insist. It is the real Mumm. +That is a promise? I thank you<corr sic=","><anchor id="E33"/><ref +target="e33">.</ref></corr> And if&qdash; Were +there any others—whites—when you were there?</q></p> + +<p><q>Only one.</q></p> + +<p><q>Where was he, I wonder?</q></p> + +<p><q>On the southern boundary.</q></p> + +<p><q>Near lake Kivu?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes.</q></p> + +<p><q>Saunders,</q> muttered zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p><q>I beg your pardon?</q></p> + +<p><q>It was nothing, but I do not like to have—aliens +in my province. They are—missionaries and traders—spies.</q></p> + +<p><q>Indeed.</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, it is always so. Herr Professor, I ask you a +favour. Will you be so kind as to write to me if some +other white comes into the Wongolo country?</q></p> + +<p><q>I shall be delighted,</q> said Birnier.… <q>Do +you intend to come there some day, Herr Lieutenant?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach, no, it is not—not our territory; although I +should very much like to see it and to shoot. There +is much elephant there?</q></p> + +<p><q>Oh yes, quantities.</q></p> + +<p><q>Please to try some of this curried egg, Herr Professor. +It is excellent, I assure you. I thank you.… +And rubber, is there much rubber there?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, I believe so.</q></p> +<pb n="46"/><anchor id="Pg46"/> + +<p><q>Now I wonder if you noticed whether it was tree +or vine?</q></p> + +<p><q>I really couldn’t say.</q> Birnier smiled thinly. +<q>I am not interested in such things.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer glanced at him keenly and changed the +subject. When they had finished the best boned +chicken that Birnier had ever tasted in Africa, zu +Pfeiffer rose.</p> + +<p><q>Let us go to my study, Herr Professor, if you +so permit, for some coffee and a little good port—and +I will have the pleasure to show you my little +library.</q></p> + +<p><q>I should be delighted,</q> assented Birnier willingly.</p> + +<p>Around the white walls of the cool room which was +zu Pfeiffer’s study, ran low bookshelves made of native +wood, containing some hundreds of volumes which had +been carried five hundred miles on the heads of porters. +Grass mats and leopard skins were upon the floor. In +the centre, upon a heavy table, was a green shaded +lamp set in a silver-mounted elephant’s foot. Upon +the bookcases were various odd curios, and a coffee +service in copper; and from opposite sides, marbles of +Bismarck and Voltaire stared into each other’s eyes. +On the south wall was a large oil of Kaiser Wilhelm II; +and in the centre of the other wall a photograph of a +woman set in an ivory frame made from a section of a +tusk.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer strove to be more agreeable than ever. +They talked mythology and folklore. With the port, +zu Pfeiffer rose, an erect martial figure above the glow +of the lamp.</p> + +<p><q>Herr Professor!</q> he remarked. <q>I beg you.</q></p> + +<p>Slightly bewildered, Birnier rose, too, glass in hand. +<pb n="47"/><anchor id="Pg47"/> +Wheeling with military precision zu Pfeiffer raised his +glass to the great portrait on the wall.</p> + +<p><q>Ihre Hochheit!</q></p> + +<p>Politely Birnier followed suit, his democratic ideas +slightly astonished at the veneration of the kingly +office; almost, he reflected, as curious as the native +superstition of the King-God. Then zu Pfeiffer turned +to the left and lifting his glass to the portrait in the +ivory frame, drank silently.</p> + +<p><q>I was wondering, Professor,</q> remarked he, as he +resumed his seat without explanation, <q>from what +college—you call it?—you come?</q></p> + +<p><q>Harvard,</q> said Birnier, rather amused and noticing +that as a true connoisseur, zu Pfeiffer refrained from +smoking while drinking his port.</p> + +<p><q>I have met many of the Harvard men—at Washington.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ah, you know Washington?</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, I was there nearly two years.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer drained his port, selected a cigar, lighted +it and gazed abstractedly towards the ivory frame. The +lips softened and he smiled gently.</p> + +<p><q>Do you know many people there?</q></p> + +<p><q>Oh, a few.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach … I wonder.… You must know that +I met her there, my divine Lucille!</q></p> + +<p><q>Lucille! How strange! That is my wife’s name +too.</q></p> + +<p><q>Really?</q> Zu Pfeiffer still peered dreamily at the +corner. He gathered up his legs and rose like an eager +boy. <q>Permit me, Herr Professor, she is so—so&qdash;</q> +He bent over the portrait and struck a match. Politely +Birnier stooped to look. He saw a portrait of a French +<pb n="48"/><anchor id="Pg48"/> +woman in an evening gown, a woman of charm with +the vivacious eyes and tempting mouth of the coquette.</p> + +<p><q>My God!</q></p> + +<p>Birnier bent closer and stared intently. Across the +corner of the photograph were written in ink in familiar +characters the words: ‘à toi, Lucille.’</p> + +<p><q>Lucille!</q> he gasped. <q>Lu—Good God!</q> He +stood up abruptly. <q>I—What in God’s name—who +is this woman?</q></p> + +<p>The match fell to the floor. He was vaguely conscious +of the tall white figure stiffening as a dog does.</p> + +<p><q>That lady is my fiancée.</q></p> + +<p><q>Fiancée! She—Good God, you’re mad! She +is my wife!</q></p> + +<p><q>Wife!… Gott verdampf, der Teufel solls +holen! Das ist der Schweinhünd!</q></p> + +<p>The gutturals exploded from zu Pfeiffer. The +sleeve of his white jacket quivered, the arm came up to +the gold braided chest and jerked out a silver whistle. +He hesitated, glaring at the astonished figure of Birnier. +Suddenly zu Pfeiffer sat down by the table. His blue +eyes were as hard as malachite.</p> + +<p><q>Sit down!</q> he commanded harshly.</p> + +<p>Birnier did not appear to notice him. He struck a +match and bent over the photograph again.</p> + +<p><q>Good God!</q> he muttered. +<q>I—I—don’t understand—O +God!</q></p> + +<p><q>Sit down!</q> shouted zu Pfeiffer. Birnier merely +blinked at him.</p> + +<p><q>Would you mind explaining?</q> demanded Birnier.</p> + +<p><q>Explain!… Is your wife Mademoiselle Lucille +Charltrain?</q></p> + +<p><q>Why, of course. That is her professional name. +<pb n="49"/><anchor id="Pg49"/> +But how on earth has this mistake happened? I—I—that +is her writing—but it can’t be. I mean it’s +impossible.…</q> +Birnier put his hand to his head. <q>I—God, +it can’t be! I or you must be mad! Which is&qdash;</q></p> + +<p>A prolonged whistle startled him. He saw the +whistle at zu Pfeiffer’s lips, but the act conveyed no +meaning. He turned away, struck another match and +peered again at the photograph.</p> + +<p><q>Lucille! Lucille!</q> he whispered. <q>What on +earth&qdash;</q></p> + +<p>A powerful clutch closed upon his arm. He was +whirled backwards into a chair. For a moment he +was too dazed to grasp what had happened. He +saw zu Pfeiffer’s face. The sentries over his moustaches +quivered like a row of fixed bayonets. The eyes seemed +needle points. Then the fact of the assault penetrated +beyond the unprecedented incident of finding his +wife’s photograph in another man’s room. The ugly +line about the mouth hardened. He rose slowly.</p> + +<p><q>Am I to understand that you have laid your hands +upon your guest?</q> he began, stuttering over the +choice of words. <q>I am—I am&qdash;</q></p> + +<p>The scuffle of many feet interrupted him. Into the +room rushed Sergeant Schultz and several soldiers. +Zu Pfeiffer stood up and pointed.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant, arrest that man!</q> he barked.</p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>The sergeant saluted and barked at the askaris. +Birnier gazed stupidly at the uniforms around him as +if unable to comprehend. He looked at zu Pfeiffer +who stood erect, his face lost in shadow above the lamp, +and back at the soldiers.</p> +<pb n="50"/><anchor id="Pg50"/> + +<p><q>Is this a joke, Lieutenant—or are you mad?</q> +he demanded angrily.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant, put that man in the guard-room,</q> zu +Pfeiffer commanded.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer sat down with his back to Birnier and +facing the photograph. Birnier’s face twitched; he +raised his arm. The sergeant barked and the line of +bayonets lowered menacingly.</p> + +<p><q>You gom with me, Herr American,</q> ordered the +sergeant.</p> + +<p>Birnier controlled himself.</p> + +<p><q>One moment, sergeant, please! Herr Lieutenant, +on what charge do you arrest me?</q> The perfect +lines of the white-clad back did not quiver. <q>Very +good! I give you warning, Herr Lieutenant, that +you have committed an assault upon an American +citizen.</q></p> + +<p><q>Gom! Gom!</q> insisted the sergeant impatiently.</p> + +<p>Birnier raised his head and walked as indicated by +the sergeant. As the footsteps plodded across the +square zu Pfeiffer turned to the table, examining his +left hand.</p> + +<p><q>Ach!</q> he growled gutturally, <q>the dirty pig has +broken my nail!</q></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD04" type="chapter"> +<pb n="51"/><anchor id="Pg51"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 4</hi> +</head> + +<p>Over the city of the Snake the sun sank red dry, +leaving the Place of Kings hot in the electric air +of magic and world happenings. The people were +still confined to their huts, trembling in the knowledge +that for three days love must be eschewed, no water +drawn nor any food cooked with fire; nor might any +man, woman or child leave the precincts of the +compound.</p> + +<p>All the night Bakuma crouched in her hut listening +in awe to the swish of the ghosts through the air, to +the moans, groans and howls of the wizards doing +battle with them. Tightly did she hold the amulet as +she strove to conceal curiosity regarding the welfare +of Zalu Zako; for did her mother suspect the presence +of this evil spirit would she cause Bakuma to +take a decoction of the castor-oil plant in order that +the demon might be expelled; and the more to aid +her conquer this unlawful impulse to peep without did +she most persistently recite to herself the fate of the +daughter of MTasa, the foolish Tangulbala whose +body had been discovered impaled upon a tree by +the angry spirits of the dead, because she had rashly +ventured forth the third day after the death of the +grandfather of Zalu Zako. Bakuma dared not mention +the name of one who had died, for, as everybody +knows, such an impious person runs the risk of summoning +the ghosts to their presence.</p> +<pb n="52"/><anchor id="Pg52"/> + +<p>The <q>putting out of the fire</q> had changed Bakuma’s +prospects, had made Zalu Zako heir-apparent, implying +half a hundred responsibilities, the chief of which was +that now he was compelled to choose his official first +wife, she who would be the mother of the <q>divine</q> +Son of the Snake: an alteration that excited Bakuma +to frantic clutching at the amulet. Would the charm +work or would it not? How to insure that it would be +efficacious? Marufa’s greedy demands worried her. +She feared even if she obtained the goat that he might +require something else as well. Anybody knows +how greedy doctors are and how wealthy. He would +be sure to increase the fee, knowing the value of the +prize. Bakuma only possessed one really valuable +article, and that was a charm against sterility; but +this was the last thing that she wished to part with as +the only possible occurrence that could ever divorce her +from the position of chief wife, once she had won +Zalu Zako, would be failure to provide the male heir. +She was impatient, too, at the delay caused by the +three days’ tabu. Time was important. Soon she +would be under the ban of the unclean which entailed +the curtailment of her liberty again, and she dreaded +that possibly the charm might grow stale. The +greatest need for speed was MYalu’s suit. As her +father was dead she belonged to his brother. Already +MYalu had offered four tusks of ivory and three oxen +for her. Her uncle was lazy, mean, and greedy. +Fortunately he thought that by waiting he could +get double that amount. Yet MYalu might decide +to pay the price demanded. Once Zalu Zako had +selected her as his bride, her uncle dared not accept +any other man’s offer, no matter how wealthy he might +<pb n="53"/><anchor id="Pg53"/> +be; besides, the old man would not wish to refuse a +relationship with the heir to the king-godhood.</p> + +<p>Again her cousin was sick. The diagnosis of Yabolo, +the wizard, was that her soul had wandered in sleep +down to the river and had been swallowed by a fish. +Yabolo had caught the fish and lured the soul into a +tree, but now he demanded such a big price to restore +the errant soul to the girl that her father, Bakuma’s +uncle, would not pay it, so she would surely die; then +they would all have to be exorcised, which inferred +a further loss of relative freedom for another four days. +Indeed with all these actual and possible delays it seemed +to Bakuma that some one had made much magic +against her. Unless she knew who he or she was, how +could she employ the same means to annul the terrible +effects? And more, how could she obtain the wherewithal +to pay the fees of the best doctors? Life was +very complicated to the daughter of Bakala.</p> + +<p>Up on the hill of MFunya MPopo had the magicians +been busy all the afternoon after the <q>putting out of +the fire.</q> Zalu Zako and the chiefs also were barred +from the sacred enclosure; for being mere laymen +they could not hope to withstand the evil spirits of the +dead. Even Bakahenzie and the inner circle of the +cult were compelled to employ the most potent +methods of protection to preserve them from being +bewitched or slain outright.</p> + +<p>After Bakahenzie, Marufa, Yabolo and two other +master magicians had released the souls of the dead +King by making incisions in the body with a sacred +spear to the thrumming of the drums, the mighty +groaning of the other wizards, and the persistent wailing +of the dead man’s wives, the corpse was borne by +<pb n="54"/><anchor id="Pg54"/> +twelve doomed slaves to the temple and there interred +with the gouts of blood shed by the prophetic goat, +the nail parings and hair clippings of his lifetime, and +his personal effects.</p> + +<p>Upon the hill of MFunya MPopo, soon to be a temple +and sanctuary, sat Kawa Kendi beside the New Fire +tended by Kingata Mata, facing Zalu Zako, MYalu +and the lay chiefs, while upon his own hill slaves were +tearing down his old hut, erecting a temporary palisade +around the quarters of his wives who were forever +forbidden to him, and beginning the building of the +new temple.</p> + +<p>As the violet shadows were creeping from one hut +to another did Bakahenzie and his satellites return +from the ghoulish offices of the dead. Zalu Zako, +the chiefs and magicians arose to the wild beating of +the drums and the wailing chant of the hereditary +troubadour with the five stringed lyre. With Kingata +Mata carrying a brand of the newly lighted sacred +fire, was Kawa Kendi led in procession through the +deserted village to his sacred home.</p> + +<p>Under the hard stars set in a dry sapphire, the fire +cast yellow flickers upon the carven features of Kawa +Kendi. In the still heat the distant wailing of the +women from the opposite hill drifted into the continuous +throb of the drums, the plaintive wail of the +singer, and the hysterical groaning of the magicians, +yelling ferociously ever and again to intimidate the +baulked spirits around the magic circle.</p> + +<p>Then was a white goat, previously selected from +the flock of Kawa Kendi, slain by Zalu Zako, disembowelled +by Bakahenzie, and the entrails rubbed upon +the brow, the chest and the right arm of the slayer +<pb n="55"/><anchor id="Pg55"/> +of man, a ceremony of purification designed to protect +the royal executioner by appeasing the justly angry +spirits of the dead; to Marufa were given other parts +of the slain beast to smear likewise upon Zalu Zako, +the son; and Yabolo ran screaming with portions to +the quarters of the women of Kawa Kendi: for must +every blood relative be so enchanted lest the vengeful +ghost seek substitute victims.</p> + +<p>As a pallid moon rose, as if fearfully, above the deep +ultramarine of the banana fronds, was a magic potion +brewed from certain herbs in enchanted water, with +which the King, Zalu Zako, his son, and the King’s +wives were laved. Amid a tempest of screams and +drums rose Kawa Kendi purified, to be driven by +Bakahenzie and the wizards back to the hill of his +father, leaving the assembled lay chiefs squatting +humbly and in dread of the spirits abroad in the night. +While the procession leaped and twirled, screamed and +groaned to the frantic thrum of the drums through the +blue darkness, the magicians ran and pranced through +and around the village, seeking any blasphemer who +dared to look upon sacred things; banging on hut +doors and shaking thatches, the more to terrify the +shrinking inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Without the gate of the old enclosure all remained, +except Bakahenzie and the four wizards who encircled +Kawa Kendi and Kingata Mata and hustled them +across the clearing. With his back to the dim form +of the idol stood Kawa Kendi as behind it grouped +the master magicians. From the base Bakahenzie took +two large gourds and gave them into the keeping of +Kingata Mata.</p> + +<p>Came an abrupt cessation of the drums and cries. +<pb n="56"/><anchor id="Pg56"/> +The wailing of the women behind the temple died. +The tense air pulsed with electricity. A cock crowed +feebly in the village. Then at a rippling splash of +the drums and the sudden screaming of the wizards, +they began to push the idol. The base had already +been loosened in the earth by the slaves. The idol +began to totter. Louder screeched the magicians; +faster fled the drums. Slowly the idol leaned and +subsided on to the shoulders of Kawa Kendi. Grasping +the mass firmly upon his bent back, he bore the burden +out of the enclosure and down the hill.</p> + +<p>Behind his unsteady steps pranced and yelled +the doctors with more prodigious a noise than ever +before as they scourged the King’s legs and arms with +cords of fibre. Through the listening village panted +the King. As he gasped slowly up the hill the thrashing +was redoubled. But into the new enclosure the King +staggered, let slide the heavy mass into a hole prepared +for the sacred feet and, gleaming blue points of +sweat in the faint moon, let out a hoarse yell, proving +to the assembly of magicians and chiefs that he was +powerful enough to bear the burden of the world and +moreover that none could wrest his office from him.</p> + +<p>No time was given for the incarnation of a god to +recoup from his labours. The motive principle of the +accusation and for the death of the king was the +drought. That only concerned the soul of the tribe +in the person of Bakahenzie. For him and his brothers +of the inner cult, while certain pretensions of power +over the supernatural were for the <q>good of the people,</q> +the truths of magic and divine functions were inviolable. +The person of Kawa Kendi, heretofore merely +one in whom was a potentiality, became after the +<pb n="57"/><anchor id="Pg57"/> +purification and <q>coronation</q> the very incarnation +of the god. Kawa Kendi had crossed from the +comparative safe haven of the potential into divine +activity.</p> + +<p>Also there were, as ever, political reasons for the +hastening of the offices of the god. Should the new +King-God fail, as his father had done, to accomplish +the duties of the rainmaker, then, as no precedent had +ever been known for the failure of two kings in succession, +an enemy might accuse Bakahenzie of having +committed some sacrilege which had displeased the +Unmentionable One. Politics and religion are often +inseparable. Therefore, as soon as Zalu Zako had +witnessed the ascent of his father into the dangerous +zone of the gods, was he bidden as the victim apparent, +to produce the sacred rain-making paraphernalia. +From the Keeper of the Fire, Kingata Mata, Zalu Zako +received one of the large gourds, which he deposited at +the feet of his father squatting before the sacred fire, +and retired to his allotted place among the other lay +chiefs. Only Bakahenzie and the four of the inner +cult were permitted within the enclosure.</p> + +<p>Fumbling within the pot Kawa Kendi produced a +bundle of twigs tied with banana fibre, which he unbound +and cast into the fire. The herbs smouldered +and sent up a pungent smoke forming a heavy cloud like +some strange blue tree sheltering the form of the idol +against the green sky. Save for the faint wailing of the +distant women there was silence, in which an owl +screeched harshly, a good omen. Little flames flickered. +The smoke grew denser, obliterating the figure +of the King. The drums began to mutter, Bakahenzie +cried out in a loud voice:</p> +<pb n="58"/><anchor id="Pg58"/> + +<p><q>O great God, the Unmentionable One! let thy +powers be made manifest!</q></p> + +<p>The Keeper of the Fires came forward upon his +hands and thrust the other sacred gourd in front of +the King, a deep one containing water, and a wand +made from a sacred tree which had upon the end a +crook. To the groaning of the magicians, the King +took from the one gourd two stones of quartz and +granite, the male and the female, and spat upon each +one, thus placing part of his royal body upon them; +then did he put them on the ground, and pouring +water, chanted:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Go forth, male spirit, with my ghost in thy hands!</l> + <l>Go forth, female soul, with my ghost in thy breast!</l> + <l>Make love together in the shade of great Tarum,</l> + <l>Of him whom fear of me hath frozen the breath!”</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">“Ough! Ough!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>grunted the priests and magicians.</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Go forth, male spirit, with my ghost in thy hand!</l> + <l>Go forth, female soul, with my ghost in thy breast!</l> + <l>Love one another that the crops of our land</l> + <l>May marry as well and be as fruitful as thee!”</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">“Ough! Ough!”</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Go forth, male spirit, with my ghost in thy hand!</l> + <l>Go forth, female soul, with my ghost in thy breast!</l> + <l>Rise high up to heaven and mount on the black back</l> + <l>Of the bird of the wet wind: poke your hands in his eyes!”</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">“Ough! Ough!”</l> +</lg> +<pb n="59"/><anchor id="Pg59"/> + +<p>Save for the distant wailing, there was the silence +of those waiting for a miracle. In the sky, at the back +of the idol, was the paling of dawn. Suddenly, as if +exasperated by the non-obedience of the elements, +Kawa Kendi sprang to his feet, with the magic wand +in his right hand, turned and stared apparently into the +face of the idol. For a full two minutes he stood as +if carven, while the doctors and the chiefs moaned +dismally. Around him like a pall still hovered the +smoke of the magic fire. From the village a cock’s +challenge was answered from point to point. Then +shooting out his right hand, Kawa Kendi made +gestures as if hooking something invisible and began +to scream furiously:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Thus do I, the One-not-to-be-mentioned,</l> + <l>Drag forth from the belly of heaven</l> + <l>The disobedient One, the lazy One!</l> + <l>The insolent One who sinneth in sleep!</l> + <l>The black-snouted One whose udders are choked!</l> + <l>The womanly One whose nipples are dry!</l> + <l>The sluttish One who refuseth her milk!</l> + <l>The gorbellied One whose voice is a wind!</l> + <l>Come forth, lest I give thee sorrow and pain!</l> + <l>And make thee to weep the bitterest tears!</l> + <l>Come forth, lest I tear out thy black bosom!</l> + <l>Tear out thy guts for a feast unto Tarum!</l> + <l>Come forth, lest I throw off the yoke of the burden</l> + <l>Of the Earth and the Sky upon thy sweating black belly!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>In a slight puff of wind, the smoke, lace-edged with +the dawn light, swayed, seeming to twine about the +<pb n="60"/><anchor id="Pg60"/> +figure of the King as he stood with the wand outheld, +as if firmly hooked in the guts of the recalcitrant +elements.</p> + +<p>Against the rose of the dawn appeared a dark line +which increased as the magicians and chiefs moaned +and groaned in sympathy with the furious efforts of +the rainmaker, who threatened and pulled with the +magic crook, so that everybody could see that he was +indeed dragging the reluctant clouds from over the +end of the earth. As the dark mass swelled the more +he wrestled and screamed abuse at the dilatory spirit +of the rain.</p> + +<p>And behold, within half an hour, great black spirits +sailed across the scarlet sunrise and wept exceeding +bitterly; while from the village went up a great shout +of praise to the triumphant King still prancing and +cursing to such good effect up on the hill.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD05" type="chapter"> +<pb n="61"/><anchor id="Pg61"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 5</hi> +</head> + +<p>The same vast balloons of sepia rolled over the +lake, vomited a host of liquid ramrods and, after +short intervals of brilliant glare, were succeeded by +others. The gutters of the station were turned into +burbling brooks and the grass plot into a morass.</p> + +<p>Behind the screen on the south verandah sat zu +Pfeiffer in his pink silk pyjamas, a scowl upon his brow. +He sipped his café cognac distastefully and inhaled a +cigarette so fiercely that the heat burned his tongue. +He had not slept. Yet the broken nail on the left +little finger had been cut and polished. Half the night +he had sat before the photograph in the ivory frame, +pondering upon, and rehearsing, the past; muttering +aloud to Lucille, sometimes words of love and sometimes +savage curses; wondering what she was doing +and where she was; gritting his teeth at visions which +aroused insane jealousy; calculating what the consequences +of his action would be were he to obey the +impulse that had leaped into his mind in the first +flush of passion. If he were to release the prisoner the +fellow would probably expect an explanation and an +apology which was, of course, out of the question. No, +he must carry out the thing thoroughly without leaving +any chance for the man to make trouble at the coast, or +through the Embassy at Washington; at all costs not +through Washington. For him, Birnier merely existed +as a person whose feelings mattered nothing.</p> +<pb n="62"/><anchor id="Pg62"/> + +<p>With the greening of the moon zu Pfeiffer had +retired. As he had lain sleeplessly watching the pallor +of the dawn he had savagely corroborated the decision. +Now the roar of the deluge appeared to him in the +form of an abettor to his plan. He watched the grey +wall of rain with satisfaction, stroking the left sentry +moustache as if to tame the fierce bristles of an outraged +dignity. When he had emerged from the bath, +the pink of his face appeared to have spread to the +whites of his eyes, a fact which Bakunjala had noted +with sullen dread.</p> + +<p>Between the storms the sun glared yellow upon the +smoking earth. Across the square squelched zu +Pfeiffer to the orderly room. He grunted at Sergeant +Schultz’s greeting and sprawled in the chair. When +Schultz proffered him some official documents he +waved them aside irritably.</p> + +<p><q>Bring the prisoner to the Court, sergeant. I will +try him immediately.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q> said the sergeant, saluting. <q>What +charge am I to enter against him, Excellence?</q></p> + +<p><q>Arms and liquor running,</q> responded zu Pfeiffer +quickly. <q>I hold papers which prove the case +completely; moreover you will see that Ali ben Hassan +and others are prepared to testify. But—the charge +will be margined as political: not criminal. Understand, +sergeant?</q></p> + +<p><q>Perfectly, Excellence. Ali ben Hassan and the +others have to testify before your Excellence now?</q></p> + +<p><q>There will be no need.</q></p> + +<p><q>Very good, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>And, sergeant, what is the personnel of the launch +and the prisoner’s party?</q></p> +<pb n="63"/><anchor id="Pg63"/> + +<p><q>The launch returned immediately to Jinja, +Excellence, as soon as the prisoner had landed.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach, good.</q></p> + +<p><q>The prisoner has a considerable battery, equipment +and provisions; a headman and personal servants. He +intended to obtain porters here, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer meditated, tapping the desk with a gold +pencil.</p> + +<p><q>What is the headman?</q></p> + +<p><q>Bambeeba, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Good. And the servants?</q></p> + +<p><q>One is a Wongolo youth, the others are mixed +Walegga and Kavirondo.</q></p> + +<p><q>Arrest them all and see that none gets away.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>Schultz saluted and departed. Zu Pfeiffer frowned +at the glare which was suddenly extinguished by falling +water. He lighted a cigar and waited. Presently the +sergeant returned in a waterproof cape, dripping, and +announced that the prisoner was ready. Zu Pfeiffer +gathered up his long legs and marched stiffly into the +Court House adjoining.</p> + +<p>Upon a slight dais was a large desk and a cane +armchair beneath the Imperial Eagles and a portrait +of the Kaiser Wilhelm II. Pale, stubble bearded, and +tense eyed with anger, sat Birnier upon a form against +the wall; beside him stood Sergeant Schneider, for it +is not usual etiquette to put a white prisoner in charge +of a black guard. The grizzled sergeant stood stuffy to +attention, which zu Pfeiffer acknowledged. Although +he did not meet Birnier’s gaze, he scowled as if he had +expected him to salute the majesty of the judge as +well.</p> +<pb n="64"/><anchor id="Pg64"/> + +<p>But as zu Pfeiffer mounted the step to the chair of +justice he looked up at the portrait of the Kaiser, +stopped, and hesitated; then he wheeled abruptly, +and barked:</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant, bring the prisoner to the orderly room!</q></p> + +<p>In the orderly room Birnier was placed between +Sergeant Schultz at his table and Sergeant Schneider +by the door. Birnier watched zu Pfeiffer intently, but +zu Pfeiffer regarded him icily as if he were a piece of +furniture. Without a word Birnier reached out and +lifted a chair. Sergeant Schneider started forward, +evidently fearing that the prisoner was about to attack +his officer. Birnier said acidly: <q>I merely wish to +sit down.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer scowled again, but he made no objection. +He took up some papers at random and began to peruse +them. Said Birnier sharply:</p> + +<p><q>When you have finished with this farce I shall be +obliged if you will kindly explain your insane actions!</q></p> + +<p>The tap-tap of a typewriter sounded from another +room. A fly buzzed. Zu Pfeiffer’s eyelids did not +blink. The sergeants stared woodenly to the front. +Birnier looked from one to the other, bit his lips, and +then exclaimed in exasperation: <q>What in hell do you +mean by this damned nonsense?</q></p> + +<p>The tap-tap continued; the fly buzzed irritatedly. +Birnier clenched his fist. But he sat still. Another +storm so darkened the room that zu Pfeiffer could +scarcely have seen the print, but apparently he read on. +The deluge roared, passed, and the glare came as +suddenly. Zu Pfeiffer lifted his head and said in +German:</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant, record the opening of the Court.</q></p> +<pb n="65"/><anchor id="Pg65"/> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q> assented Sergeant Schultz and +poised his pen ready to write.</p> + +<p><q>The prisoner, a Swiss subject&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>I am American, as I have told you,</q> said Birnier in +leashed anger.</p> + +<p><q>A pseudo trader and hunter, named Carl Bornstadt,</q> +continued zu Pfeiffer imperturbably, <q>is +charged under sub-section 79 of section 8 with supplying +guns and liquor to the native subjects of his +Imperial Majesty.</q></p> + +<p><q>Good God!</q> began Birnier. But as he realised +zu Pfeiffer’s purpose and his own position, he closed +his lips tightly.</p> + +<p>Methodically the sergeant finished the entries and +waited. Zu Pfeiffer stroked his favourite moustache +and considered. He glanced at Birnier, but without a +vestige of expression and continued:</p> + +<p><q>Make a special note, sergeant, that we have reason +to suspect that the prisoner is in the political service of</q>—a +slight smile flicked the lieutenant’s face—<q>in the +service of the Portuguese, and so under sub-section 109 +of section 8, I am referring the case to Dar-es-salaam +for investigation; witnesses, documentary and personal, +to accompany the prisoner. Owing to unusual +pressure of service we are unable to afford the prisoner, +although apparently of European descent, a white +guard; therefore, Sergeant Ludwig will detail a +corporal and six men for the duty.</q></p> + +<p>He paused. The sergeant’s pen scratched on. Zu +Pfeiffer lighted a cigar and added impersonally:</p> + +<p><q>The prisoner and escort will leave to-morrow +morning. Sergeant Schneider, remove the prisoner!</q></p> + +<p>Birnier’s face was a little paler, the eyes were slightly +<pb n="66"/><anchor id="Pg66"/> +more bloodshot; but he did not attempt to speak. Zu +Pfeiffer rose. The sergeants stood to attention and +saluted. As he left the room towards the Court +House, he smiled with slight satisfaction as the gruff +voice of Sergeant Schneider barked: <q>Prisoner, +shun! Right turn! Quick marrch!</q></p> + +<p>But zu Pfeiffer did not remain long in the Court +House. After fidgeting about with papers on the +table and reprimanding Sergeant Schultz because he +had not arranged the next native case to his satisfaction, +he rose abruptly and marched swiftly across +the square in the brilliant glare without his helmet and +into his study. There he straddled a chair and leaned +on the back sucking a dead cigar absent-mindedly. As +he stared at the portrait in the ivory frame, the blue +eyes grew soft and the delicate lips quivered like a child +about to weep. He sighed heavily and then rapping +out an oath, rose violently, overturning the chair, +poured out a half-glass of neat cognac, and drank it +at a gulp. As he neared the Court House the sentry, +turning at the end of his short beat, was so startled at +the proximity of the Kommandant, or incompletely +disciplined, that he became flurried. Zu Pfeiffer +clicked his heels together and haughtily watched the +fumbled efforts to salute. The bolt caught in the +man’s tunic. Gold flashed in the sun as the sjambok +descended. Zu Pfeiffer walked on unconcernedly, +leaving a grey weal on the terrified native’s face. To +Sergeant Schultz, rigid in the doorway, he snapped an +order to have fifty lashes given to the <q>clumsy dog.</q></p> + +<p>Sentences were harsher than usual that morning. +All the native world about him knew that a demon had +taken possession of the Eater-of-men; he was usually +<pb n="67"/><anchor id="Pg67"/> +inhabited by an evil spirit, but this time the demon of +Bakra who, as everybody knows, tears the vitals with +hot claws, making the victim to have fits, to foam at the +mouth, to be quite mad, had entered the white man. +Bakunjala, coming to the Court House with vermouth +and biscuits at eleven o’clock, distinctly saw the devil +glaring through zu Pfeiffer’s eyes, and was so scared +that he let fall the tray, which was the reason that he +also was doomed to have twenty-five lashes that +evening. Even the stolid Sergeant Schultz remarked +that the Herr Lieutenant had gotten a touch of the +sun; but the grizzled Schneider, who came from +Luthuania, opined that the Herr Kommandant had +left his table knife edge uppermost.</p> + +<p>When zu Pfeiffer went across to tiffin the hot sun +had dried up the gutters and the plot of grass. He did +not return to the Court House, much to the gratitude +of many innocent and guilty. After drinking more +wine than usual he lay down for the siesta and fell asleep. +But at five he awoke with a mouth like a burnt cooking +pot and the temper of the said devil. He yelled for +Bakunjala, who came, so trembling with fright that he +stuttered. Zu Pfeiffer threw a glass which missed him +and broke a mirror.</p> + +<p><q>Another seven years’ ill luck!</q> shouted zu Pfeiffer, +sitting on the bed in his shirt. He glared at Bakunjala +standing in the door, too terror-stricken to flee, +convinced that he would be blamed for breaking the +glass. <q>You—you superstitious nigger!</q> yelled zu +Pfeiffer, and added more calmly in Kiswahili: <q>Fetch +me a brandy-soda! Upesi, you son of a baboon!</q></p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q> exclaimed Bakunjala and fled gladly.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer sat and scowled at the scattered pieces of +<pb n="68"/><anchor id="Pg68"/> +mirror until Bakunjala arrived with the drink. An +hour later he emerged in his immaculate undress +uniform and sat on the north verandah, drank vermouth +and smoked cigars, staring out across the flat swamp +where the pewter of the lake was flecked with silver +and blood of the sinking sun. From beyond the fort +came the yaps of the drill-sergeant busy in the cool of +the afternoon. At the bark of the relieving guard, +zu Pfeiffer rose and walked around the house to watch, +with tetchy eyes, the saluting of the flag.</p> + +<p>As he stalked off to dinner in the messroom eyes +glimmered in the darkness about him. Bakunjala, +after receiving punishment, was indisposed, in fact +incapable of attending to his duties in the spritely +manner required. Another servant, who had taken his +place, was nervous of the probable consequences, and +had a keen eye for the appearance of the devil so +realistically described by Bakunjala. But the demon +apparently slept, for zu Pfeiffer took the dishes placed +before him with an unaccustomed meekness, pushed +them away absent-mindedly, and rising, retired to his +study. Even when the deputy brought the wrong +bottle he reprimanded him mildly without taking his +eyes off the photograph in the ivory frame.</p> + +<p>Yet, with the port, he did not omit to rise, and heels +together, raise his glass to the <q>Ihre Hochheit.</q> +Then sprawling in the chair he began to drink and to +smoke steadily.</p> + +<p>As the notes of the last post stuttered out in the +clammy stillness he summoned the <q>boy</q> and bade him +fetch Sergeant Schultz. At the sound of the sergeant’s +steps on the verandah zu Pfeiffer stiffened up +and patted his lips as if desiring to erase the lines that +<pb n="69"/><anchor id="Pg69"/> +were graven thereon; and with one foot pushed the +chair from the direct angle to the photograph.</p> + +<p><q>Take a cigar,</q> said zu Pfeiffer, when the man had +entered. The words were rather an order than an +invitation. Sergeant Schultz obeyed. Zu Pfeiffer +smoked reflectively, still regarding the photograph out +of the corner of his eyes as if unable to resist the +fascination.</p> + +<p><q>How long have you been in this benighted country, +sergeant?</q></p> + +<p><q>Nine years, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>You wish to retire on the pension at the year’s +term?</q></p> + +<p><q>I have not seen my wife and children for three +years, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>You shall have special leave as soon as the Wongolo +affair is over.</q></p> + +<p><q>I thank you, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>And I will recommend you for the special colonial +service medal and pension.</q></p> + +<p><q>I thank you, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Take a drink, sergeant.</q></p> + +<p><q>I thank you, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>The sergeant obeyed with some semblance of +initiative and he remarked that the lieutenant drank +half a tumbler of neat brandy at a gulp. As if to +drag himself away from the contemplation of the +photograph zu Pfeiffer stood up and sat on the +arm of the chair with his face in shadow above the +lamp-shade. Gazing keenly at the sergeant, he said +sharply:</p> + +<p><q>You are quite aware of the regulations regarding +official secrets, sergeant?</q></p> +<pb n="70"/><anchor id="Pg70"/> + +<p><q>Ach, yes, Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>As the sergeant paused to answer with the glass in his +hand there was just a suspicion of astonishment in the +tone.</p> + +<p><q>Good. Don’t forget it!</q> A note of menace was +in zu Pfeiffer’s voice. He added more mildly, +<q>Political reasons may cause stringent measures +sometimes.</q></p> + +<p><q>Yes, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer smoked, coldly regarding the sergeant.</p> + +<p><q>Who is Sergeant Schneider detailing for the +prisoner’s escort to-morrow?</q></p> + +<p><q>Corporal Inyira, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>A long service man?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Good. Go and fetch him here.</q></p> + +<p>Not a shadow of surprise showed on Sergeant +Schultz’s face as he departed. Zu Pfeiffer smoked hard +and drank another brandy thirstily with a slight +unsteadiness as he lifted the glass to his mouth. The +sergeant returned and stood at attention just within +the door.</p> + +<p><q>The man is here, Excellence.</q> Zu Pfeiffer +nodded.</p> + +<p><q>Forward, quick marrch,</q> commanded the sergeant +in a muffled bark. <q>Halttt!</q></p> + +<p><q>Very good, sergeant, you may wait.</q></p> + +<p>Schultz saluted and retired without. The tall +powerfully built native in uniform stood as if he had a +bayonet beneath his chin. There was a slight nervousness +about the blues of the eyes as he squinted in the +attempt to look straight ahead and to watch the +Kommandant at the same time. One nostril was slit, +<pb n="71"/><anchor id="Pg71"/> +in the lobes of the ears were three can keys, and the +temples were tattooed with tribal scars.</p> + +<p><q>Corporal Inyira!</q> said zu Pfeiffer sharply. The +black body twitched at the voice. <q>You are to leave +to-morrow for Dar-es-salaam and you will take as a +prisoner a white man who has been taking your tribe +as slaves and selling them to the Abyssinians. The +Bwana Mkubwa protects you from these evil white +men and Arabs. You know that?</q> sharply.</p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q></p> + +<p><q>Very good. You know what would happen to you +if you were sold as a slave? You have had many +brothers who have been sold to the Abyssinians?</q></p> + +<p><q>Bwana! Many, Bwana!</q></p> + +<p><q>Very good. Now listen! This white man is very +bad. He leaves with you to-morrow morning for +Dar-es-salaam, but—he is never to arrive there. I give +him to you. You may do what you like with him, but +never let me see him again. You have my protection. +Understand?</q></p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q></p> + +<p>The rubber lips pouted in the emphatic utterance.</p> + +<p><q>These are your secret orders. But you are not to +tell them to any man, woman, or child here; you may +tell your men when you are gone. If you disobey I +will cut out your tongue and give you three hundred +lashes. Understand?</q></p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q></p> + +<p><q>This man is the enemy of the Bwana Mkubwa. +His enemies are your enemies. His goods are yours. +Begone!</q></p> + +<p>The black hand came up jerkily to the black forehead, +shot away out and down; the polished calves moved +<pb n="72"/><anchor id="Pg72"/> +like the eccentrics of an engine, and Corporal Inyira +melted into the shadows.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant Schultz!</q></p> + +<p>To smart heel taps on the verandah entered the +sergeant.</p> + +<p><q>You will see that Corporal Inyira and the escort +leave before daybreak; moreover, that he talks with +no one before he leaves.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Take a drink, sergeant.</q></p> + +<p>With legs as stiff as his sjambok, Sergeant Schultz +obeyed the order; lifted the glass and drank.</p> + +<p><q>You may go! Good night, sergeant.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence, good night!</q></p> + +<p>As zu Pfeiffer shifted from the chair-arm to the seat +his movements were slightly erratic. He sat forward, +staring at the photograph, as he drank more brandy. +Outside, the pæan of the frogs pulsed steadily. From +a distance came the throb of a native drum. A cricket +shrilled intermittently.</p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q></p> + +<p>The ghostly figure of Bakunjala whispered from the +doorway. Zu Pfeiffer started nervously.</p> + +<p><q>Zingala,</q> began Bakunjala timorously.</p> + +<p><q>Gott verdamf—Emshi!</q> snapped zu Pfeiffer, his +ring flashing in an irritable gesture.</p> + +<p>Bakunjala melted. Came a mutter of voices and a +subdued giggle.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer sat and drank and stared. Above the +insectile anthem of the night, rose a gurgling voice in a +drinking song.… Later the crash of a breaking +glass was accompanied by an oath. The glimmer of +three pairs of eyes through the window screen vanished +<pb n="73"/><anchor id="Pg73"/> +and reappeared.… Once more rose the voice +singing:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 5" type="song"> + <l>“Scheiden tut weh,</l> + <l>Scheiden, ja scheiden, scheiden tut weh!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>Just as the cricket began anew, after having politely +ceased to hear the lieutenant’s song, trickled out upon +the clammy air the sound of weeping.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD06" type="chapter"> +<pb n="74"/><anchor id="Pg74"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 6</hi> +</head> + +<p>In the violet shadow of his square hut inside the +compound, squatted Zalu Zako. The lips and nose +were nearer to the Aryan delicacy than the negroid +bluntness; for the Wongolo, like the Wahima, are a +mixed Bantu-Somali race. In colour his skin had the +red of bronze rather than the blue of the negro, and +the planes of his moulded chest were as light as the +worn ivory bracelets upon his polished limbs. Broad +in the shoulders he had almost the slender hips of a +young girl and his carriage was as balanced as a +dancer’s<corr sic=""><anchor id="E9"/><ref +target="e9">.</ref></corr></p> + +<p>From a group of small round huts behind his square +hut, where dwelt his two wives, concubines and slaves, +came the clutter of voices. A distant drum throbbed +gently on the hot air. Away in the cool green of the +banana plantation rose the crooning chant of the +unmarried girls and slaves bringing water from the +river.</p> + +<p>Apparently Zalu Zako was absorbed in the movements +of a diminutive chicken scratching in the soil. +The omen of the goat was occupying his mind: that +and the death of his grandfather, MFunya MPopo. +There was no sense of grief, for he was not a woman. +Now, at the beginning of his warrior’s career, he had +not any desire for divine honours and celibacy. No +man had. Yet Zalu Zako no more dreamed of +questioning the necessity than of spitting in the face of +<pb n="75"/><anchor id="Pg75"/> +an enemy. Always had the first born male of his +family been doomed to the kingly office. There was +never a second born male, for it was not meet that a +god should have paternal brothers. The wives of his +youth and his concubines could have as many children +as they could bear; but according to the law, did he +select the chief wife from whom should spring the one +regal son only when he had become heir apparent; for +then was he not already half divine, being so near the +sacred enclosure up on the hill?</p> + +<p>The choice of that chief wife was free as there were +no royal families in the sense of divine descent save the +direct male line of the King-God. But the mind of +Zalu Zako dwelt more upon his personal career. The +life of a warrior was frequently short and that of a god +even briefer. MFunya MPopo had reigned but twenty +moons; MKoffo, so said the elders, had reigned for full +two hundred moons; but then he had been a mighty +magician.</p> + +<p>With a harsh squawk a brilliant scarlet and blue bird +with an enormous yellow bill perched on the palisade +of the compound. Immediately the young man +forgot his musing and rose, calling for his spear. A +stocky man, coal black, with a fuzzy tuft of a beard, +came out of the hut. From the slave Zalu Zako took a +broad-bladed spear with a short haft. Watching to +see that the bird was still sitting on the fence as he +passed out of the compound, he set off rapidly through +the village and into the banana plantations in search of a +wart hog which had been rooting up one of his fields of +sweet potatoes. Just as he came within sight of them +a black field rat sprang out of the grass in his path, +glanced round at him, and disappeared. The young +<pb n="76"/><anchor id="Pg76"/> +man’s steps slackened, for he knew that the black rat +had spoiled the luck which the banana eater had +portended. Scarcely troubling to glance around the +field, he diverged across at an angle making for a break +in the jungle where he knew was the trail of the boar. +But he grunted contemptuously as he examined the +last spoor, which was at least half a day old. Of +course the hog would not be there.</p> + +<p>He bethought himself of another field where sometimes +came buck. But there was no game. The +black rat again! Yet if one waited long enough a +good omen might appear. As he squatted beneath a +banana plant to take snuff came a squawk and the +banana eater—for it appeared to be the same one—alighted +on a frond near to him. Zalu Zako waited. +Leisurely and cautiously he arose. The bird peered +at him. Zalu Zako passed and left the banana eater +still sitting there. He felt the weight of his spear +tentatively, for a double omen of luck must mean big +game: possibly an eland or a leopard.</p> + +<p>He circled right round the outskirts of the plantation. +But he saw no signs. As he began to make the big +circle again the shadows were lengthening appreciably. +Passing by the ford of the small river, which was swollen +from the rains, he heard a group of young girls chattering +on the river bank as they filled their gourds. He +paused to test which way the wind was blowing in +order to avoid going down wind where the sound of +their voices would scare away any game.</p> + +<p>But as he turned to move on he caught a glimpse of a +figure mounting the incline. The motion was as lithe +as a young giraffe; the legs were as straight as spears +and as supple as a kiboko; the moulded hips swayed +<pb n="77"/><anchor id="Pg77"/> +rhythmically like a banana frond in the breeze; the +fluted arch of her back swelled proudly upwards to the +resilient shoulders; and an arm as slender as a lizard’s +tail steadied the gourd upon a small black head set +upon a neck like a sapling. The dappled shadows of a +tree played hide and seek upon the tiny hills that were +her firm young breasts, upon the smoothness of her +torso of light bronze. As he gazed her face came into +view in speaking to a comrade just beneath. An +errant shaft of sunlight glinted the pearl of teeth, +glowed the tiny nose and blued the whites of eyes +which were as soft as any antelope.</p> + +<p>Zalu Zako clicked the syllable that means astonishment.</p> + +<p><q>Wait there, O Bayakala,</q> she called, <q>for I have +to do the making of mighty magic with the spirits of +the wood.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh, eh!</q> responded one of those left by the water +edge, <q>a girl of the hut thatch hath nought to do with +spirits of the wood for their bellies are as big as a +pregnant woman!</q></p> + +<p>The young girl laughed and her notes seemed to +Zalu Zako like the dripping of water upon a river +rock.</p> + +<p><q>Thou knowest less than the Baroto bird who as +everybody knows is the spirit of one!</q></p> + +<p><q>’Tis more than thou wilt ever be!</q> retorted the +rival beneath.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh! Ehh!</q> exclaimed the girl at the sneer, +<q>thy girdle is rotted long since with juice!</q></p> + +<p><q>And thine,</q> shouted the insulted one, who was old +for a spinster, <q>wilt rot with the dryness!</q></p> + +<p><q>Tscch! It is dry for the lord whom I will conquer +<pb n="78"/><anchor id="Pg78"/> +with magic such as thou hast never dreamed on, O +Bayakala!</q></p> + +<p><q>And who is he for whom thou makest magic, O +daughter of the hut thatch?</q> demanded Zalu Zako, +stepping from the shelter of the tree.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> ejaculated Bakuma. <q>I—we do but tickle +the fronds (jest), O Chief!</q></p> + +<p>The only sign of her nervousness was the slight +swaying of the gourd of water upon her head as she +turned up her eyes to the young chief who regarded +her slowly. She edged away. He moved a pace in +front of her. She clutched at the amulet around her +neck as she turned her eyes and said:</p> + +<p><q>The cooking fires are low, O Chief, and need be +tended.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thy breasts are like unto small anthills,</q> he said, +<q>and thy belly is as smooth as yonder river rock.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thy tongue is sweeter than the honey of the +kinglan tree.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thy voice is softer than the muted lyre and thy +nose is formed of two petals of an orchid.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thy praise is more refreshing than the morning +dew to a thirsty flower.</q></p> + +<p><q>And by thy figure am I made more drunken than +by the wine of the Soka palm.</q></p> + +<p>For a full minute they stood, a study in light bronze +against the dappled green foliage. The shrill chatter +of the other girls approaching startled Bakuma into +action. She swayed to one side.</p> + +<p><q>The spirits of the cooking pot cry aloud for me, O +Chief.</q></p> + +<p><q>Who is thy father, little one?</q> he demanded.</p> + +<p><q>I am Bakuma, the daughter of Bakala, O Chief.</q></p> +<pb n="79"/><anchor id="Pg79"/> + +<p><q>There has been a veil before my eyes that I have +not seen thee before.</q></p> + +<p><q>The mountains see not the tiny brooks amid the +mighty forests,</q> murmured Bakuma and sped up the +path.</p> + +<p>Zalu Zako stood motionless watching her form melt +into the green, and as he turned towards the river he +met Bayakala and the other women who shrank aside +from the path to allow the Son of the Snake to pass in +silence. Yet at the ford he paused. He had forgotten +the omen of the banana eater and the purpose for +which he had come.</p> + +<p>As Bakuma sped along in a gliding lope the amulet +swayed rhythmically to the whispered praises of the +power of Marufa, mixed with ardent prayers to the +spirits to provide the fat goat with which to propitiate +the spirit of the woods; for had not the love charm +already manifested its wondrous power? As she +hastened through the banana plantation she could not +resist diverging a little in the direction of the magician’s +hut. As she passed, she saw him seated on the threshold +of the compound gathering inspiration from his +favourite wall. But Marufa observed her demeanour, +and being something of a student of men, he deducted +that the charm had already begun to work.</p> + +<p>Marufa, as all successful men, had a strain of luck. +Before the shadows had crept a hand’s breadth came +MYalu, indignant and exasperated. The three tusks +had been paid and the footprint obtained; but he had +discovered that it was no easy matter to procure the +other ingredients which he suspected the wizard had +known well and intended as a means to extract more +ivory. After the ceremonious greetings he protested +<pb n="80"/><anchor id="Pg80"/> +that the task given was almost impossible to execute. +Marufa remained imperturbably interested in his wall.</p> + +<p><q>But as thou knowest,</q> insisted MYalu, <q>the hair +and the toe-nail and the spittle of the Son of the Snake +are more than difficult to obtain. Does a man so +carelessly render himself unto his enemies, and he the +Son of the Snake? None save one of his household +could purloin a single hair. Even this morning was +his hair shaved and the remnants, as thou knowest well, +deposited in the temple with him who was his father.</q></p> + +<p><q>The hair, the toe-nail, and the spittle,</q> mumbled +the old man, <q>must I have for such mighty magic.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> snorted MYalu, <q>with a man of the clay, +but with one who is half divine, the Son of the Snake! +Ehh!</q></p> + +<p><q>The bow is useless without the arrows,</q> mumbled +the old man.</p> + +<p><q>Tsch. ’Tis a mighty hunter that hath not the +arrows for his bow,</q> sneered MYalu.</p> + +<p><q>Verily,</q> retorted Marufa disinterestedly, <q>and +still more a mighty man who cannot do his own +hunting!</q></p> + +<p><q>No warrior hath been purified more frequently +than I,</q> boasted MYalu, referring to the ceremony +incumbent upon those who have taken life to appease +the ghosts of the slain.</p> + +<p><q>The spirits obey not the crowing of a cockerel,</q> +reminded Marufa.</p> + +<p><q>Tsch!</q> For a while both sat silent, MYalu +gloomily watching a hen.</p> + +<p><q>Aie! Aie!</q> he lamented at last, <q>what is there +that I may do, for indeed she hath caught my soul in a +trap. Aie! Aie!</q></p> +<pb n="81"/><anchor id="Pg81"/> + +<p><q>If the hunter cannot make arrows, he may buy +them,</q> remarked Marufa, who had been patiently +waiting for this state of mind.</p> + +<p><q>Eh! The bowstring hath been costly but the +arrows! Aie! Aie! What would’st thou?</q></p> + +<p><q>The rich man payeth in his kind. Four tusks of +fine grain.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh! Eh!</q></p> + +<p><q>Maybe there are others whose hands are not +withered.</q></p> + +<p><q>Others than the Son of the Snake?</q> demanded +MYalu quickly.</p> + +<p><q>Who knows? There are more fools than +chickens,</q> muttered the old man.</p> + +<p>MYalu stared disconsolately at the distant bananas. +Perhaps, he reflected, it would be cheaper to pay +the price the girl’s uncle demanded, yet&qdash; MYalu +had bought other wives whose unimpassioned charms +had quickly staled. His soul, as he put it, had indeed +been tempted into a trap by Bakuma; for he wished +only that she should desire him as he desired her. Yet +was he angry. Love seemed to be a costly business. +Marufa tapped out snuff and sniffed delicately with the +air of a connoisseur devoting himself to the pleasure of +the moment. Replacing the cork of twisted leaves he +stirred as if to rise.</p> + +<p><q>Canst thou procure then the nail and the hairs +that are asked by the spirits?</q> inquired MYalu +sulkily.</p> + +<p><q>All things are possible to the son of MTungo,</q> +asserted Marufa. <q>Four tusks, and these things are +found; but of fine grain, for the others were old and +coarse.</q></p> +<pb n="82"/><anchor id="Pg82"/> + +<p><q>Ehh! How wilt thou procure these things?</q> +demanded MYalu sceptically.</p> + +<p><q>The ways of the wise are not the ways of fools.</q></p> + +<p><q>The tusks are thine,</q> said MYalu reluctantly, <q>if +thou wilt tell me how thou wilt procure them.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thy words are like unto the vomit of a dog,</q> +muttered the old man.</p> + +<p><q>But how? My heart is not bound in clay.</q></p> + +<p><q>Tch!</q> clicked Marufa contemptuously. <q>Every +fool must needs see the spoor of the god which he +cannot read. I have spoken.</q> MYalu regarded the +old wizard incredulously. <q>Tch! Send the four +tusks as we have agreed and so shall it be. Begone!</q></p> + +<p>Slowly MYalu rose, made his greeting, and departed +more impressed than ever that the old man was a +mighty magician.</p> + +<p>During the hour when the soul is small and dwells +timidly around the feet Marufa dozed in the cool +of his hut; but later when it spread boldly out was +he squatted once more in his favourite seat at the +entrance to the compound, taking snuff and contemplating. +The shadows grew from violet to blue; +the small hens pecked for worms with avidity and the +goats scratched with vigour in the cool. Patiently +Marufa sat. At length that for which he had waited +with a sound though primitive knowledge of psychology, +came to pass. Bakuma appeared, apprehensive, +but with yet an abandon which sang her happiness. +Beside Marufa she sat so as to avoid the shadow of +one foot protruding beyond that of the fence.</p> + +<p><q>O great and mighty magician,</q> she began eagerly, +after the formal greetings. <q>Indeed all that thou hast +said hath come to pass. Thy charm is infallible.</q></p> +<pb n="83"/><anchor id="Pg83"/> + +<p><q>Ugh!</q> grunted Marufa unconcernedly.</p> + +<p><q>All that my heart desireth hath already begun to +be. I thank thee.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ugh!</q></p> + +<p><q>O mighty son of MTungo, what must I now do?</q></p> + +<p><q>Thou knowest,</q> mumbled Marufa, fumbling for +the snuff case.</p> + +<p><q>Aie! Aie! but I have no fat goat!</q> cried +Bakuma, who had hoped fatuously that the wizard +would have forgotten. <q>I, a girl of the hut thatch, +how should I have a goat?</q> Marufa tapped snuff as +if no romance were in the making. Bakuma’s bright +eyes, sharpened by the proximity of the promise of her +love, watched the old man keenly. <q>Listen, O great +and mighty son of MTungo, to whom all things are +known, who canst accomplish all that thou desireth, +Bayakala, my cousin, hath a goat, but it is old and +skinny. Perhaps&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>In the nostrils of the spirits,</q> asserted Marufa +instantly, <q>all odours are the same except that of the +fat goat whom they love.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aie! then am I undone, for no fat goat have +I!</q> wailed Bakuma. <q>Know I not one who hath +a goat who would smile on me, a girl of the hut +thatch.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ugh!</q></p> + +<p>Bakuma regarded him imploringly, but Marufa’s +gaze was fixed upon the wall as if his mind were turned +to matters of more importance.<corr sic="”"><anchor +id="E10"/><ref target="e10"> </ref></corr></p> + +<p><q>O mighty wizard, what must I do?</q> implored +Bakuma desperately.</p> + +<p><q>Ugh!</q></p> + +<p>After a prolonged contemplation, said Marufa: +<pb n="84"/><anchor id="Pg84"/> +<q>If thou canst get no goat, then is there another path +by which thou mayest accomplish thy end.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q></p> + +<p><q>But it is very difficult.</q></p> + +<p><q>By my cord, will I do all that thou canst bid me to +do!</q> swore Bakuma in anxious haste.</p> + +<p><q>Ugh! This path is more certain of success for +the will of the spirits are oftentimes chary of their +favours.</q></p> + +<p><q>O mighty one!</q> breathed Bakuma, as he paused +tantalisingly.</p> + +<p><q>But the matter is exceedingly difficult—and +dangerous.</q></p> + +<p><q>If the flower hath no sun hath it ever lived?</q></p> + +<p><q>As even thou shouldst know,</q> mumbled Marufa, +more casually than ever, <q>he who possesses a part of +the soul may do magic thereon.</q></p> + +<p><q>Aye! Aye!</q></p> + +<p><q>Bring me then of the nail parings one, of his hairs +one, and of his spittle. Then may I do magic thereon +which he cannot resist.</q></p> + +<p><q>O mighty magician!</q> gasped Bakuma, appalled at +the difficulty and the danger of the task.</p> + +<p><q>That path is sure. There is no other.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh! … But if they of thy craft should know +then am I doomed!</q></p> + +<p><q>There is no other.</q></p> + +<p>Torn between her love and the dread of the penalty +incurred by the sacrilege of the theft of the parts of +one who might any day be King-God, Bakuma stared +distraught.</p> + +<p><q>Were not my words white? Hath not the love +charm thou hast already had done even as I did say?</q></p> +<pb n="85"/><anchor id="Pg85"/> + +<p><q>O mighty one!</q></p> + +<p><q>But that is only as the goat to the leopard. The +trap must be dug—or the scent of the bait will be +blown.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> gasped Bakuma, in desperation, <q>by my +twin soul which dwells beneath the banana plant, will +I do it!</q></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD07" type="chapter"> +<pb n="86"/><anchor id="Pg86"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 7</hi> +</head> + +<p>Gerald Birnier had flattered himself that he +was a philosopher with a sense of humour, fairly +well developed by ten years’ wandering about Central +Africa, but deep emotions submerge such cherished +qualities.</p> + +<p>The presence of the photograph was explicable by +several surmises: zu Pfeiffer might have met Lucille +at Washington, Paris, or Berlin: she might have given +him the photograph or he might have bought it, or +even stolen it. But—the signature <q>à toi, Lucille</q>! +There lay the sting which maddened Birnier and +strangled reason, the fact at which his mind yawed +futilely.</p> + +<p>So great had been the shock that the arrest had +seemed but a secondary matter in accord with the +insanity of zu Pfeiffer’s statement that he was engaged +to Lucille. The affair had been so sudden that for +some time he could progress no farther in an attempt +to think than a gasp, pawing mentally at an intangible +substance which eluded him like a child’s small hand +trying to grasp a toy balloon. Sense of reality appeared +to have been dissolved. He had followed the sergeant +across the square meekly without realising what was +happening, and when he had been placed in a whitewashed +room at the back of the native guard house +which served as a jail, he sat down upon a chair, too +bewildered to comprehend where he was. That <q>à +<pb n="87"/><anchor id="Pg87"/> +toi, Lucille</q> rang like the clanging in a belfry, drowning +the sound of other thoughts.</p> + +<p>By the light of a hurricane lamp he regarded the +soldiers bringing in an old camp bed with indifference. +When they had gone he began to pace up and down +the small room frantically trying to gain control. To +the first prompting of a logical reason for the whole +affair he did not dare to listen. The disrupting cause +was the complete inability to explain the familiar +signature. To his Anglo-Saxonised mind, bred in the +strict code of the south, tutoyer was only permissible +to dogs, inferiors, most intimate relations and lovers. +He was far too unbalanced to see the humour as he +solemnly announced that certainly zu Pfeiffer was not +a dog, nor in the social code an inferior; he was not +a relation; therefore.… His mind baulked and +raced into incoherence.</p> + +<p>A point of view which added false premises, as well +as his attitude to those two little words, was the +consciousness that many would consider that he had +not treated his wife as a husband should do. This +possibility had never occurred to him before, so that it +came with disproportionate emphasis.</p> + +<p>As a young man he had been too absorbed in his +profession to be a lady’s man; and of love he had +reckoned little until he had met the Lucille Charltrain +with whom half the world was in love. And she +doubtless, like many a spoiled beauty, was a little +piqued that the professor did not join the throng of +her courtiers. In Birnier’s mind there had ever been +associated with love the fear that the woman would +demand too much, that no woman could understand +that a man’s profession must of necessity come before +<pb n="88"/><anchor id="Pg88"/> +all things. Lucille was the first woman whom he had +met who really seemed to understand this point of +view, as she, too, was devoted to her art. This had +grown to be the biggest bond and attraction between +them. Most men wished to make of love a nuisance, +as Lucille once put it. So the good-looking professor +had won the beauty. They were married on the +mutual understanding that each should pursue their +respective professions. Shortly afterwards Birnier +was offered a special mission to go to Africa for the +purpose of studying the customs and superstitions +of the natives. Lucille had consented, forbidden, +relented, and laughed.</p> + +<p>So Lucille sang from musical height to height and +her husband sped from depth to depth in the seas of +human fatuity. Whenever he took a furlough he went, +of course, straight to her, wheresoever she was, in +Berlin, New York, or Paris. To Birnier the situation +was ideal. He had never dreamed of any other woman. +Indeed the tracts of his mind were so filled with +statistics of anthropology and Lucille that there was +little or no room for any one else. The delight and +satisfaction in Birnier’s mind were so sincere that he +never had dreamed of questioning whether Lucille’s +point of view had remained the same. But +now?</p> + +<p>That <q>à toi</q> stung and baited him into the unprecedented +realisation that after all women had been +known to change their opinions. Perhaps pride had +prevented her from ever openly demanding other ways. +Lucille was young and beautiful, courted and flattered +on every hand. Perhaps he had been wrong to leave +her for years at a stretch. Of her loyalty he had had +<pb n="89"/><anchor id="Pg89"/> +no doubt, but for the first time in his marital life the +professor’s profound knowledge of human nature was +shot like a spot-light on to his own affairs. Yet his +erudition did not in the least relieve him from the laws +of emotional reaction.</p> + +<p>Perhaps in an emotional moment.… That +knowledge of the frailties of genus homo was too deep +for comfort in such actuation.</p> + +<p><q>À toi, Lucille! À toi, Lucille!</q> rang and echoed +as he paced that room, striving for control.… And—and—why +else should zu Pfeiffer have gone crazy?—why +had he exclaimed: <q>Das ist der Schweinhünd</q>? +The husband, of course, whom he wanted +out of the way, and he had immediately seized the +opportunity to secure that end, seemingly indifferent +to consequences—symptomatic of the state of <q>being +in love.</q></p> + +<p>Around and about, about and around a field of weeds +which had sprung from that seed <q>à toi,</q> had paced +the professor all night. When the green was creeping +through the high barred window, Sergeant Schneider +had brought to him some coffee and biscuits. Birnier +had drunk the coffee thirstily, and as the sergeant had +no English nor French, had tried in broken German to +extract some information. But the sergeant had merely +grunted and retired. At seven he had returned again +and escorted Birnier to the Court House. He returned +from the mock trial a little more in touch with reality, +and more impressed with the malignity of zu Pfeiffer. +Yet the gratuitous insults, the laboured farce of the +registering of an alleged Swiss trader, Birnier saw +through, and was relieved, for it argued that zu +Pfeiffer’s intention was to make Lucille a widow. No +<pb n="90"/><anchor id="Pg90"/> +other reason could account for the homicidal intentions +displayed.</p> + +<p>At the glow of dawn next day he was aroused by the +big corporal who ordered him out. The tone of the +man’s voice naturally stimulated a violent reaction. +But Birnier realised that his sole chance lay in controlling +himself to accept stoically whatever treatment +was offered; for he saw instantly that any protest or +indignation would be interpreted as insubordination +and possibly be made an excuse to shoot him down.</p> + +<p>Outside in the grey light he saw under the guard of +six native soldiers, the five others of his party. Mungongo, +his personal <q>boy,</q> cried out at the sight of +him, asking what was the meaning of these strange +happenings. Before Birnier could reply, the big +corporal struck the man savagely with a kiboko, bidding +him to be silent. In spite of his resolution, the reaction +made Birnier turn angrily upon the soldier, who +deliberately repeated the order, and struck the white +man across the face. As Birnier raised his fist the +man lowered his bayonet and grinned, adding, apparently +for the benefit of his men, that now the white +would learn what it was to be a slave.</p> + +<p>Furiously Birnier looked around for Sergeant +Schneider: but no white man was in sight.… +He turned to Mungongo and said quickly: <q>Take no +heed. Do as they bid thee for the moment.</q></p> + +<p><q>Be silent!</q> shouted the corporal, but as he raised +his kiboko, Birnier looked him quietly straight in the +eyes. The black hand was lowered; the man turned +away, ordering the party in general to march.</p> + +<p>Dishevelled and without any camp equipment, +Birnier began to march as the blood of the sky paled +<pb n="91"/><anchor id="Pg91"/> +to orange. At the bottom of the great parade ground +he turned in time to see the relieving guard falling in +behind the Court House. For one moment he +hesitated whether to put all to the test by refusing to +go; but a significant gesture with the ever ready +rifle of the corporal signified that he would not be +given a chance. Humiliated, he obeyed. But just +beyond the last hut, waiting by the path, was a group +of women loaded with the soldiers’ gear; and beside +them were some carriers bearing his green tent and +apparently all his equipment. The sight cheered him +a little. He attempted to find immediate consolation +in the idea that the savagery of the corporal might +possibly abate when they were away from the neighbourhood +of the inciting agent, whom he was sure was +zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p>Leading the caravan was a soldier; next to him came +Birnier and behind him was another soldier, after whom +walked Mungongo and the four other prisoners, with +a soldier between each; and then the corporal, strutting +portentously important within easy shooting +distance of the white man. The carriers and women +brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>The path led for some miles through the dreary +swamp following the course of the small bayou, +crossing and recrossing small streams swollen with the +rains, through which the white man was forced to +wade to his hips. For the first mile Birnier was so +angry and humiliated that he dared not catch the +troubled eyes of Mungongo. But by force of will he +attained a reasonable plane of philosophic resignation, +temporary at least, and smiled at the boy, who grinned +back like a tickled child. At any rate, soliloquised +<pb n="92"/><anchor id="Pg92"/> +Birnier, he had at least one man upon whom he +could rely.</p> + +<p>At the head of the bayou they reached higher ground +and the path zigzagged through dense jungle thick with +fan palms. The longer Birnier pondered upon the +situation the nearer he came towards the conclusion +that he had better make his escape as soon as possible, +or he would never have the chance. Rather by the +uneasy glances of Mungongo, who dared not speak, +did he guess that they had left the regular trail to the +coast. What their destination was he could not +imagine. Probably, he thought grimly, to make an +end of the whole party and return to the camp. Yet +why trouble to travel so far? And another good reason +to hasten an escape was that, although for the moment +he was in good health, a few days of exposure would +subject him to fever and consequent weakness.</p> + +<p>Now and again the theme <q>à toi</q> would return like +the refrain of a song to which he found himself keeping +step; but the words sometimes became meaningless; +for in the merciful way that nature has, the impulse +of self-preservation so occupied his mind that he had +scarcely leisure to worry over marital troubles.</p> + +<p>At the end of about two hours, when the heat of the +sun was beginning to be felt severely, the corporal +called a halt in the shade of a great baobab. Birnier +sat down with his back against the bole. Alongside +him squatted the corporal deliberately and called to +the women for a gourd of juwala. There is a certain +acid odour which native beer has that is particularly +irritating to a dry palate. The corporal drank deep, +sighed with satisfaction and set the gourd beside him +almost touching the feet of the white. Involuntarily +<pb n="93"/><anchor id="Pg93"/> +Birnier swallowed. The corporal saw and grinned. +Birnier understood and turned his back to the man. +Immediately the corporal arose and lowering his +bayonet until it pricked the sleeve of Birnier’s coat, +ordered him to get up. In the knowledge that he +would be instantly shot by the others if he attempted +to resist, he had perforce to obey.</p> + +<p>Outside the shade of the great tree, in the full glare +of the sun, was the white man compelled to sit while +the black corporal, with the rifle ready across his knee, +drank deep and handed the gourd to his fellows. +Again Birnier turned his back to him. But he began +to realise faintly what treatment he would receive +before the end came and an intimate knowledge of +native ingenuity made him feel physically sick.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later they were on the march again. +The path became rugged and difficult, passing through +thorny ground, following burbling watercourses of +rough stones. To make the going more trying Birnier +wore light moccasins intended for camp use instead +of his high field boots. Once when a long +thorn penetrated the flank of his shoe he stopped to +extract it. The corporal shouted at him; the soldier +behind called him unmentionable names in the dialect +and pushed him with his foot. The insult and the +heat of the sun maddened him. He leaped to his +feet. The corporal raised his gun promptly and jeered. +For a moment Birnier stood trembling with passion; +then he closed his eyes as if to shut out sight and +sound and limped forward, fighting with himself.</p> + +<p>With natives had Birnier always been able to +negotiate, to live, and to quarrel when necessary, on +terms of amity; but this black <q>swine,</q> as he termed +<pb n="94"/><anchor id="Pg94"/> +him in his wrath, prinked out in a masquerade of a +white man’s clothes.… He jammed his heel down +savagely upon the thorn to divert the southern passion. +After all it was not the man’s fault but zu Pfeiffer’s. +Put a white man in a uniform and he becomes a beast; +put a nigger in a uniform and he becomes a devil, +Birnier forced himself to reflect.</p> + +<p>The sun grew incandescent. The heat and the +flies quickened his thirst. He plodded on, stumbling +over the stones, sagging heavily in sandy patches. They +had left the comparative shelter of the jungle and were +crossing a flat plain approaching, he judged, to a river +bed. The carriers, he noted, had lagged behind. +Soon they must halt. Even the fiend of a corporal +would not fatigue himself too much for the sake of +tormenting a white man.</p> + +<p>Then a new idea was added to the plagues. He had +tasted nothing save the coffee, canned beef, and native +bread which had been given him for dinner on the +previous evening. The corporal had manifested his +conception of humour by refusing him beer and water +on the march; was he going to torment him by +starvation as well as by thirst? And if torture were +reserved for him by that grinning black brute, then +he knew what would be the end that awaited him.</p> + +<p>Within an hour they came to a river about forty +yards broad, a swollen rushing torrent. There was +no village as he had expected. The corporal halted. +Birnier slid down the bank and thrust his muzzle into +the flood. There was torture in the restraint not to +drink too much. He clambered up the slope to find +the corporal grinning at him. He turned his back +and lay down. There was no shade; only short +<pb n="95"/><anchor id="Pg95"/> +scrub and grass. Small sand flies buzzed and stung. +He heard the gurgle of the corporal’s military water-bottle. +But this time the sting was extracted; his +belly was moist.</p> + +<p>Birnier stretched out, shielding from the glare the +little that he could with his hands. Faint echoes of +<q>à toi</q> strolled across his field of consciousness. +He observed the apparently stoical indifference of +Mungongo squatted a few feet from him, a soldier +sprawling between them; but he cursed because +investigations had taught him that that <q>stoical</q> +should usually be read as <q>bovinity,</q> as he had termed +it; and he smiled dismally at the ancient story that +so well illustrated the point, of the peasant who expressed +his occupation through the long winter hours +as <q>sometimes we sits and thinks but mostly we just +sits.</q></p> + +<p>Mungongo <q>just sits,</q> he repeated, and envied him. +Yet in that heat and hunger, waiting for his savage +captor to wreak some new fancy upon him, so saturated +with philosophic interest in life was Birnier, that he +wandered off into a meditation upon the mechanical +fatuity of human conduct; illustrating his reflections +by his own actions when stirred by emotion. <q>The +loaded gun may be as wise as Solomon was reputed +to be,</q> he remarked beneath his hands, <q>but all the +same when some one pulls the trigger the damn thing +goes off,</q> and sat up to confront the muzzle of the +corporal’s rifle, who was ordering him to get up. +Birnier rose. But to the savage’s amazement, he +smiled.</p> + +<p>The corporal backed away.</p> + +<p><q>Ah, my friend,</q> remarked Birnier blandly in +<pb n="96"/><anchor id="Pg96"/> +English. <q>You’ve lost, for I have found that which +was lost!</q></p> + +<p>The corporal scowled and bade him to follow. +Birnier obeyed but he felt that he was obliging the +man. The carriers had arrived and the green tent +was pitched, invitingly cool against the grey flood of +the river. He followed the corporal gladly, but at +ten feet from his tent, beside a thorn bush four feet +tall which spread in a fan shape, he was bidden to sit. +For the moment, newly arrived from his philosophic +dreams, he did not comprehend.</p> + +<p><q>But that is my tent!</q> he said in Kiswahili.</p> + +<p><q>Sit down!</q> commanded the corporal, grinning. +<q>The white seller of slaves sits in the place of the +slave, but his owner dwells in the place of the blessed.</q></p> + +<p><q>O God!</q> remarked Birnier as he bumped his head +against black reality.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD08" type="chapter"> +<pb n="97"/><anchor id="Pg97"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 8</hi> +</head> + +<p>Bakuma sat in the shade of the reed fence +preparing the evening meal of boiled bananas. +From her slender neck swung the precious amulet +at which, as if to reassure herself of its safety, she +clutched occasionally. Her half-sister, who had not +yet passed through the initiation at maturity, sprawled +upon her belly in the dwindling rays of the sun, scratching +her woolly head. Beyond her were two slaves +tending a fire beneath two large calabashes, preparatory +to the brewing of banana beer, which had of course +to be done by the chief widow, Bakuma’s half-sister’s +mother.</p> + +<p>The mind of Bakuma was occupied by percepts of +the charms of Zalu Zako; particularly as memorised +on that afternoon by the river when the effect of the +love charm had begun to work. These memories, as +sweet as they would have been to any maid, were shot +with gay colours by the words of the wizard; for he +had assured her that with the toe-nail and hair to work +magic upon, Zalu Zako would be bewitched by her +charms for all time. And she had obtained them! +She could have gotten the goat, not a skinny goat as +described under the inhibiting influence of a wild +hope that the wizard would relent. Her cousin, +smarting under the reproaches of her husband, had +such a goat, fat as goats in Wongolo go, and she was +eager to exchange it or anything for an infallible +<pb n="98"/><anchor id="Pg98"/> +charm against sterility. Bakuma feared to part with +the charm, yet the matter was pressing; immediately +she was the wife of Zalu Zako she would be in a +position to purchase all the charms in the village.</p> + +<p>But difficult to obtain as they were, for as everybody +knows no man leaves portions of himself around +that may fall into the hands of an enemy to work magic +upon, least of all a rich man, <q>half divine,</q> she had +obtained some nail parings and one hair. With that +charm against sterility, the only thing of value Bakuma +possessed, had she bribed a concubine of Zalu Zako’s +household to steal the ingredients required from the +hut thatch where they had been hidden after the +official shaving and paring following the ceremony of +his father, pending their removal to the sacred precincts +of the temple.</p> + +<p>Above her passion for Zalu Zako was her natural +feminine appreciation of a good match. The Son of +the Snake was far better from a woman’s point of view +than union with a successful wizard. In the event +of the death of the King-God, Kawa Kendi, the +wives of his son and successor, although denied to him, +were accorded special privileges; and upon his demise +these royal wives retained their home upon the hill +which had become his tomb. Moreover, as Bakuma +knew well, now that Zalu Zako was heir-apparent, he +must choose the principal wife who would for her life +remain paramount in the household, avoiding the dread +of every ageing woman that her husband would take +unto him another wife younger and more supple.</p> + +<p>The one mosquito in paradise was the fear that as +soon as her uncle, her father’s brother to whom she +belonged by inheritance, learned the august personage +<pb n="99"/><anchor id="Pg99"/> +who desired her, he would raise the price to a prohibitive +figure; for he was mean as well as stupid and +lazy, wherefore he had few goods, and although Zalu +Zako was a rich man she knew that any man save a +fool loves to drive a good bargain if only to prove his +astuteness. Therefore was another imperative necessity +to procure every means of magic and charm to +fan the flame of her lover’s desires.</p> + +<p>Yet always flashed a bright-hued lizard in the sun +of her joy when she imagined herself installed as the +chief wife in the household of Zalu Zako, an unassailable +position as long as she had one male child; the practical +mistress of his first two wives as well as the retinue of +slaves.</p> + +<p>Bazila, the younger wife, Bakuma knew well; +the favourite and haughty, covered with the most +expensive amulets against every ill and black magic, +she was overfond of sneering at young girls of the +hut thatch whose charms had not yet netted a victim.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> gasped Bakuma and flashed her teeth as +she rolled the warm leaves around the sticky mess, +<q>then will the scent of my body be more bitter than +the flower of the fish-faced cactus!</q></p> + +<p>And so through the night did Bakuma nibble at +anticipatory joys as she lay upon her reed mat on the +slightly raised dais of the floor which was her bed, +watching the smoke of the fire in the middle of the +hut lose itself in the shadows of the roof, and listening +in the hope of hearing some voice of the spirits whom +Marufa was to invoke on her behalf. Save for the +occasional bleating of a goat and once the harsh +scream of the Baroto bird, which made her heart +contract, for it is a bad omen, the night was still. +<pb n="100"/><anchor id="Pg100"/> +However, at the hour of the monkey Bakuma arose +to replenish the fire. As the western star was melting +in the warm green she left the compound. On the +outskirts of the village the tall figure of MYalu +appeared from the shadows of the plantation.</p> + +<p><q>Greeting, daughter of Bakala,</q> said he, his eyes +greedily devouring her.</p> + +<p><q>Greeting, O Chief!</q> returned Bakuma, as she +politely stepped to one side to avoid standing on the +vague shadow of the chief.</p> + +<p><q>The fawn seeks the pastures early,</q> remarked +MYalu.</p> + +<p><q>Before the breath of the sun the grass is sweeter,</q> +retorted Bakuma, edging away.</p> + +<p><q>Aye,</q> remarked MYalu, with a hungry glint in +his eyes, <q>thou art eager to slake thy thirst? But +in the valley will no buck walk this day!</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> gasped Bakuma, recollecting instantly +the omen of the Baroto bird heard that night. <q>What +meanest thou?</q></p> + +<p><q>Maybe the soul of him hath wandered and been +caught in a trap or maybe&qdash;</q> He paused to watch +her closely—<q>maybe an enemy hath made magic +upon the parts of him.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> Bakuma started nervously.</p> + +<p>MYalu smiled and touched her upon the shoulder.</p> + +<p><q>Thy flesh is cooler than the dew.</q></p> + +<p><q>Nay, nay, O Chief, thou hast not tied my girdle,</q> +she protested, as she backed away from him, her eyes +wide like a terrified deer’s.</p> + +<p><q>Nay, but will I untie it soon,</q> he retorted.</p> + +<p>But as he stepped towards her she turned and fled. +As MYalu watched her running as swiftly as a pookoo +<pb n="101"/><anchor id="Pg101"/> +into the plantation he grinned and called out: <q>Even +now is the cooling draught steaming in the breath of +the Unmentionable One! But the goblet shall hold +a sweeter draught for me!</q></p> + +<p><q>Aie! Aie-e!</q> wailed Bakuma, her heart beating +furiously, <q>what devil hath bewitched me! O, that +father of many goats hath betrayed me! Aie! +Aie-e! O, the cry of the Baroto bird! Aie! Aie-e!</q></p> + +<p>And when Bakuma, distraught with terror by the +menace that she had only procured the nail paring +and hair to give her lover into the hands of the false +magician who, of course, had been bought by MYalu, +arrived at the <q>pastures</q> by the river, as MYalu had +foretold, no buck walked there.</p> + +<p>The sun spilled blue shadows on the village from the +sacred hill where another scene was being enacted, +and it was not as imagined by the amorous MYalu.</p> + +<p>In the council house, which was within the outer +fence and before the sacred enclosure, was in progress +a meeting of the doctors. In the door of the enclosure +squatted Kawa Kendi, with Kingata Mata in attendance +tending the royal fires. Before him, in front +of their fellows, were seated Bakahenzie and Marufa +in full dress of green feathers and the scarlet plume. +The left side of the idol, which was so set that the +shadow never fell upon the entrance to the compound, +was gilded by the sun; the mouth grinned in one +corner, one eye was closed in shadow, seemingly like +a prodigious wink.</p> + +<p>To the thrumming of the sacred band Bakahenzie +was rocking himself to and fro mumbling incantations. +Kawa Kendi squatted immobile, but the others swayed +and grunted softly in rhythm. Then on a sudden did +<pb n="102"/><anchor id="Pg102"/> +Bakahenzie lift up his head and cry in a great voice. +The drums ceased and the body of witch-doctors +remained motionless, expectant. Bakahenzie dropped +his head and began to chant:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Behold! I have heard the voice of the trees</l> + <l>Crying softly by night!</l> + <l>Lo! the soul of the plant is in labour!</l> + <l>As a woman with child!</l> + <l>Behold! is she not to break forth?</l> + <l>For she crieth for aid.</l> + <l>Unless she be heard the infant will slip!</l> + <l>The fruit will not be!</l> + <l>The plants will not break!</l> + <l>The milk will be sour!</l> + <l>The beer will be green!</l> + <l>Women will not bear!</l> + <l>Our spears will be blunt!</l> + <l>Our magic will wane!</l> + <l>And He will be wroth!”</l> +</lg> + +<p><q>Eh! Ah! … Eh! Ah! … Eh! Ah! … +Eh! Ah! … Eh! Ah! …</q> +<lb/>grunted the chorus of the doctors. Then chanted Marufa:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Lo! I have slept and been that which I must!</l> + <l>Preying swiftly by night!</l> + <l>Behold! I have bloodied my fangs in the throat</l> + <l>Of a mighty bull eland!</l> + <l>Blood succoured the earth and upsprang a plant!</l> + <l>Which panted for blood!</l> + <l>The sap of the plant is the soul of the tree!</l> + <pb n="103"/><anchor id="Pg103"/> + <l>Take heed to the thirst</l> + <l>Of Him who first was!</l> + <l>Who lusts for a maid!</l> + <l>Full breasted, soft thighed!</l> + <l>Supple, bow arched!</l> + <l>Clean blooded and strong!</l> + <l>Whose name is forbid!</l> + <l>Whose name is a sin!”</l> +</lg> + +<p><q>Who hath stolen the name?</q> screamed Bakahenzie, +leaping to his feet. <q>Who is she that hath +stolen the name?</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh! Ahh! … Eh! Ahh! … Eh! Ahh! … Eh! +Ahh! … Eh! Ahh! …</q></p> + +<p>As the drums throbbed swifter Bakahenzie began to +shuffle in a stooping posture as if he were snuffing a +trail. To the continuous grunting he continued this +dance for fully a quarter of an hour. Then stopping +abruptly in front of the king he screamed:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Let her be bidden</l> + <l>To come to the feast!</l> + <l>Let her be oiled!</l> + <l>Let her be shaved!</l> + <l>Let her come dancing!</l> + <l>Let her be joyful!</l> + <l>Let her be decked!</l> + <l>Let her be glad!</l> + <l>Lips of the groom</l> + <l>Thirst for her mouth!</l> + <l>Let her be drunken</l> + <l>To bear his sweet weight!</l> + <pb n="104"/><anchor id="Pg104"/> + <l>That the crops will be full!</l> + <l>That the cattle grow fat</l> + <l>Wives will throw men!</l> + <l>Spears will slice foes!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>He sank suddenly upon his haunches. The drums +ceased. A slave appeared bearing a pure white kid. +Kingata Mata took the animal and held it before +Kawa Kendi, who muttered a long incantation over +it and cut the throat with a spear head. Then to +Marufa was the bleeding carcass carried and while +still alive he slit open the belly, smeared the liquid +over his chest and right arm, and tore out the guts. +The corpse was removed. Marufa, working only +with the enchanted arm, turned the entrails over and +about, peering closely.</p> + +<p>There was silence. The shadows grew in depth. +From the village came an occasional bleat and the +voice of a distant girl chanting.</p> + +<p>After a prolonged and studious search, Marufa +caught up and wrapt round his neck an intestine. As +he rose, the group of witch-doctors broke out into a +mighty groaning. Marufa speeded across the small +clearing and kneeled before Kawa Kendi. Through +the bloody necklet he whispered two syllables: <q>kuma.</q></p> + +<p>The groaning ceased as suddenly as it had commenced. +Kawa Kendi cried out in a loud voice:</p> + +<p><q>The bride is found!</q></p> + +<p>Instantly the drums began a furious beat. A mighty +shout rose from all assembled and they fell to the chest +and belly grunting: <q>Eh! Ahh! … Eh! Ahh! …</q> as +Bakahenzie and Marufa began to dance the +dance of thanksgiving.</p> +<pb n="105"/><anchor id="Pg105"/> + +<p>Ba<hi rend="font-style: italic">kuma</hi> had been doomed to be the +victim for the Feast of the Harvest Festival, to be sacrificed in the +orgy as the Bride of the Spirit of the Banana, because +Marufa had discovered by divination that two syllables +of her name were those of the secret name which only +the King-God knew, of the Unmentionable One, the +Usa<hi rend="font-style: italic">kuma</hi>.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD09" type="chapter"> +<pb n="106"/><anchor id="Pg106"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 9</hi> +</head> + +<p>Before the green tent strutted a sentry as +pompously as if he were on duty before the +Kommandant’s bungalow. Inside, sprawling in a +camp chair, was the corporal, in blue striped pyjamas, +smoking a cigarette. Upon the floor crouched one +of his women with a safety razor stuck in her woolly +thatch, opening a can of beef. On the camp table +were a bottle of brandy which had had its neck knocked +off, a shaving mirror and an open tin of cigarettes. +Squatting on the bed was another woman in field +boots, cleaning up a can of salmon with one finger. +The rest of the tent was a litter of broken cases, bottles, +cans and papers.</p> + +<p>Ten yards away under the thorn shrub, lay Birnier, +and near to him were Mungongo and the others. +Mungongo’s regard shuttled between this scene in +the tent and the white man with a mingled expression +of terror and amazement: terror at the temerity +of the corporal in treating a white in such a manner +and incredulous bewilderment that the white did not +immediately strike them all dead. But the others, +more sophisticated to the white man’s ways, were +solely occupied in envying the corporal’s debauch.</p> + +<p>The mauve shadows turned to blue as they lengthened. +The clouds of small flies thinned and their +ranks began to be refilled by the mosquitoes. Birnier +lay with his back to the tent with a fly switch of grass, +<pb n="107"/><anchor id="Pg107"/> +but he watched the doings of the corporal covertly. +The corporal and his women had been drinking a good +deal of the brandy and now he was supplying generous +quantities to his men. Once he had come out to +jeer. Birnier had taken no notice, nor even of the +kick implanted by one of his own field boots on the +foot of the woman. Already there was a bloodshot +glint in the corporal’s yellow eyes and a pronounced +uncertainty in his movements. Whether the man +had had any particular instructions regarding the +manner of his death Birnier did not know until he +became loquacious and took to shouting insults at +his white prisoner. The great white chief had given +the white man to him as a slave, he yelled, and now +he was going to take him home with him. This idea +seemed to tickle him vastly and also his women, who +giggled and applauded as the corporal began to describe +what obscene acts they would make their white dog +perform every day, what they would give him to eat, +how he should be made to dance.</p> + +<p>They grew noisier and the women began to sing +lewd songs. The soldiers too revealed signs of their +frequent potations. Soon the whole crowd would +go mad, Birnier knew, and sooner or later collapse, +which would give him a chance to escape, unless they +chained him, or, what was far more probable, they +decided to bait him to death during an orgy. What +they would probably do to him was unthinkable. +Somehow he must find a way out by self-destruction. +Even should he escape, he would be unarmed and +without food, and there was every possibility that +they would trail and overtake him in the morning. He +was lame and footsore; also he was weak from want +<pb n="108"/><anchor id="Pg108"/> +of food. Once, when despoiling his chop boxes, the +corporal had contemptuously thrown him a half +eaten tin of sardines and a cigarette. He let the +cigarette lie. Nourishment he must have; and so +after an inward struggle he had eaten it, having to +claw out the fish like a monkey, while the big black +and his women sprawled and laughed.</p> + +<p>The soldiers, except the one on sentry who still +paced a trifle erratically, were grouped on their +haunches around the fire in front of the tent on the +threshold of which the corporal presided with as much +pomposity as if he were the great Mogul, all drinking +and smoking and eating. Now and again the women +would screech insults over their heads at the white; +and once the corporal threw an empty bottle at him, +evoking a gale of applause. The women began the +belly dance, crooning while the men accompanied +with the rhythmic grunt, which ever leads to hysterical +exaltation.</p> + +<p>The sun was dipping. They might come for him +at any moment. He watched the sentry and contemplated +making a rush, taking a venture on the man’s +bad aim and unsteady hand. They would not follow +him far in the dark for dread of the spirits that walk +by night. The only alternative to suicide was the +river, in flood and full of crocodiles, a slender chance. +He determined to try it. He considered making the +attempt then. But the darker the better; they +would more easily miss. At any risk he must never +let them get their hands upon him. He drew himself +together, flexing his limbs for a leap and a rush, +anxiously observing the chanting crowd around the +fire in the sunset glow.</p> +<pb n="109"/><anchor id="Pg109"/> + +<p>The leashes of discipline were fraying. The sentry +still plodded up and down, but with a rolling eye for +his companions. The working of his mind was +revealed when he walked round tying knots in the long +grass which, as every Munyamwezi knows, is a sure +method to prevent a prisoner’s escape; then he halted +in front of Birnier, grinned, and pointed to the fire; +evidently he knew or had heard that an orgy was +coming. The man stood and watched him. Fearful +that the fellow was about to drag him over or suggest +that the victim be seized, if only in order to release +him from his irksome duty, Birnier snatched up the +cigarette lying in the grass and asked for a light to +distract the man’s attention. The sentry shook his +head and pointed to the fire. Hastily Birnier +searched his pockets for a match; recollected that he +had used the last, and took out a small tin box of wax +vestas wrapped in oiled silk which he kept as a reserve +in a special pouch of his belt. In the very act of +striking the match Birnier ejaculated: <q>God!</q></p> + +<p><q>Nini?</q> demanded the sentry.</p> + +<p><q>I burned myself,</q> returned Birnier.</p> + +<p><q>Nothing to what you will soon!</q> retorted the +nigger, grinning, made an obscene suggestion and +swaggered across to the fire.</p> + +<p>Birnier cursed his own stupidity as he thought +swiftly. If Mungongo and the others ran at the same +time the numbers would confuse the soldiers the +more. He spoke across to Mungongo in the Wongolo +dialect, hoping that the Munyamwezi would not +understand.</p> + +<p><q>Let thy heart be like unto the bullet of my big +gun, and obey me! When I throw up in the air this +<pb n="110"/><anchor id="Pg110"/> +cigarette, thou shalt run and plunge into the river, +but not into the depth; lie hidden in the reeds of the +bank until thou shalt hear a frog croak thrice and then +once. Come out and go to the frog, and be not afraid, +for thou shalt see me in the spirit form. Dost understand?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly, my master!</q></p> + +<p><q>Tell the washenzie that they also obey or shall +my spirit eat them up as it shall these children of +dung!</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly, master!</q></p> + +<p>Birnier glanced at the horizon. The shadows had +melted into the violet twilight, which in equatorial +Africa is almost as short as the snuffing of a candle. +The stars were popping out. Dusky forms were +circling round the yellow of the fire which threw +pale flickers on the figure of Corporal Inyira, revealing +the beginning of the hysterical gleam in the yellows +of his eyes as, reverting to habit, he squatted on his +haunches in the chair. They might make a rush for +the victims at any moment. The sentry, excitement +overcoming discipline, was, rifle still in hand, dancing +round the outskirts of the throng.</p> + +<p>Birnier threw the cigarette towards Mungongo. +As he dived round the thorn bush he heard the rustle +of movement and the <q>boy’s</q> gasped exclamation to +the others. The bank of the river was not fifteen +yards away. On the brink Birnier crouched and +listened. He heard a splash a little to the right, which +was Mungongo or one of the others literally obeying +his instructions.</p> + +<p>The mosquitoes buzzed and stung in clouds. A +cricket shrilled persistently above the chorus of the +<pb n="111"/><anchor id="Pg111"/> +frogs and the throb of the hand-drum and the chanting. +The sentry had not yet discovered the flight; he was +probably drunker than Birnier had guessed. By +raising himself on his hands he could see the gleam +of the fire and the inverted V of the tent through the +scrub. He hesitated whether to begin operations +immediately or wait until after they had discovered +the flight and were further intoxicated. Yet the +excitement of the loss of the prisoner might sober +them a little, Birnier reflected. No, it did not matter +even if they were completely sober. The spirits of +the night would be perhaps more real to them then +than when they were drugged by alcohol. Yet he +would wait. They might come as far as the river +with lanterns and should he be compelled to take to +the water he would have to take the risk of crocodiles +seizing him. Almost had he begun to curse the +askaris for being so slow, when a rifle cracked and a +bullet hummed over his head.</p> + +<p>He scrambled hastily down the bank, thinking for +a moment that he had been spotted. But it must +have been a random shot. The chanting ceased. A +hoarse shout from the sentry was echoed by uproar +from the others.</p> + +<p>Birnier crawled up the bank cautiously and peered. +He could not see well, for one eye was nearly closed +by mosquito bites, but he could make out vague +forms passing and repassing across the glow of the +fire. Lights glimmered. Amid shouts and yells, +figures began to advance towards the river. Whether +the water was deep or shallow he could not know; +only could he make out in the sheen of the stars a +dark patch of reed or bushes for some yards. He slid +<pb n="112"/><anchor id="Pg112"/> +down the slope as noiselessly as possible, although the +pursuers were making noise enough to scare all the +spirits in Africa. He sank to his chest, standing on +stones. He waded out a little, buried his head and +shoulders behind a half-submerged bush, and remained +still.</p> + +<p>For some time he could only hear the shouts and +yells. He kept the water up to his chin and continuously +splashed his face in the endeavour to slacken the +efforts of the mosquitoes. The cries approached. +He saw men outlined against the stars and then some +gleams of lanterns. Something stirred ponderously +near to him. It might be a crocodile, but he dared +not move. The figures seemed to stay on the top of +the bank for hours. He remained rigid, expecting a +swirl of water and teeth.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a spurt of flame shot out above him and +was followed by a fusillade of shots in the direction +of up river. Had they spotted Mungongo or were +they merely letting drive at a bush or the spirits in +general? The latter was most probable. The water +swirled near to him. All his will power was required not +to leap frantically for the bank. Yet a crocodile would +be far more merciful than those black devils. Again +a swirl and something passed close to him at high speed. +Probably an otter scared by the firing; at any rate it +was not a crocodile. The lights and figures on the +bank disappeared.</p> + +<p>Shots rang out again, and were followed by a wild +outburst of yelling. Birnier began to wade for the +bank, continually splashing water at the mosquitoes +which were so thick that they reminded him of the +bayou Lafourche in far-off Louisiana. Crouching, +<pb n="113"/><anchor id="Pg113"/> +he waited on the edge of the bank to listen. The +corporal might have had enough sense to post men in +the grass. Yet he might be too fuddled to think of +that, and no native would willingly stay there in the +dark, unless under white discipline. Voices still +muttered, but they sounded as if from the camp. +Had they given him up for the night, relying on the +chance that if he had not been taken by a crocodile +they could trail him in the morning? Probably.</p> + +<p>Birnier squatted in the water, ready to plunge back, +until he was sure they were in camp. Then as cautiously +he crawled up the bank. Through the scrub +with his uninjured eye he could make out the figures +around the yellow of the fire which had gone down +considerably. Now what would they do? He could +hear the mumble of the corporal’s voice. Would they +be sufficiently sobered to be ready for the chase in +the morning? Birnier did not think so with that +case of brandy there; the corporal would not, at all +events. There was a scream of pain and the chatter +of women’s voices.</p> + +<p>Was the corporal punishing the sentry for having +let the prisoners escape, or were they beginning to +fight among themselves? The latter was improbable, +as non-commissioned officers are usually chosen from +petty chiefs and the men under them, as far as possible, +from their own village. Had they captured Mungongo +or one of the others? Birnier listened again. Another +scream was stoppered to a groan.</p> + +<p><q>Devils!</q> muttered Birnier. Lying flat to watch +the grass and shrub tops against the stars, he gave the +frog croaks arranged, at intervals of ten seconds. +About five minutes later he saw some grass tops quiver +<pb n="114"/><anchor id="Pg114"/> +unnaturally. He croaked again. Came a whisper:</p> + +<p><q>Is it thee, Infunyana?</q> (a name given in reference +to Birnier’s gold fillings).</p> + +<p><q>Aye.</q> A dark form glided towards him. <q>Where +are the other men?</q></p> + +<p><q>I know not. I told them as thou hadst told me to +do. When thou didst give the sign, I fled and plunged +into the river.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thou wast not frightened of the crocodiles?</q></p> + +<p><q>Nay; for I have a mighty charm against all river +beasts, enchanted by Bakahenzie, the greatest of +magicians.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> commented Birnier, contorting his swollen +lips in the dark, <q>would that I had such an +one! Thinkest thou that the men did as they were +bidden?</q></p> + +<p><q>Who knows what is in the heart of a goat?</q> +returned Mungongo contemptuously, for they were of +another tribe.</p> + +<p><q>Ah, listen!</q></p> + +<p>The mutter of the hand-drum grew swifter as +a high tenor chanted to the accompaniment of the +abdominal grunting and the laryngeal shrilling:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 1" type="chant"> + <l>“We have come from afar from the Place of the waters!</l> + <l>From the place where dwells the mighty Eater-of-Men!</l> + <l>Hard was the road as the hills of Kilimanjaro!</l> + <l>Hot was the sun as the wrath of Inyira the bold!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">The son of Banyala!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! … Ough!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!</l> +<pb n="115"/><anchor id="Pg115"/> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 1" type="chant"> + <l>But strong are we still as the trunk of an elephant!</l> + <l>For have we not walked in the shade of a great chief!</l> + <l>Blacker and fiercer than the male rhinoceros!</l> + <l>Swifter and more terrible than the mother of whelps?</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">The son of Banyala!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! … Ough!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 1" type="chant"> + <l>What hath he given us to tickle our spears?</l> + <l>A dainty white dog whose meat is so tender!</l> + <l>Fattened and groomed by the Eater-of-Men!</l> + <l>A gift from the great Chief to his ally and friend.</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">The son of Banyala!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! … Ough!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 1" type="chant"> + <l>We will tickle his white flesh with the tongue of our spears!</l> + <l>Our women shall pluck out his hair and his manhood!</l> + <l>He shall dance to our liking in the midst of the fire!</l> + <l>His girl screams for mercy shall lave hungry ears of <corr + sic=""><anchor id="E11"/><ref target="e11">&qdash;!</ref></corr></l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">The son of Banyala!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! … Ough!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15"> <corr sic="E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h"><anchor + id="E12"/><ref target="e12">E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h</ref></corr>!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 1" type="chant"> + <l>Great was the gift of the great Eater-of-Men!</l> + <l>A white slave so sleek to dance the dance of the ants!</l> + <l>Eh! We’ll slit up his nostrils and pull out his hairs!</l> + <l>A white slave and four black ones to wait on one great chief!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">The son of Banyala!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! … Ough!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!</l> +</lg> +<pb n="116"/><anchor id="Pg116"/> + +<p><q>Those children of folly have not obeyed,</q> +whispered Birnier. <q>The time is come.… Wait +here for me, O Mungongo. I go to take my spirit +form. When I return be not afraid!</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly,</q> answered Mungongo, as Birnier crawled +away and down the bank. By the water’s edge he +swiftly stripped himself to his moccasins and taking out +the wax vestas, damped each precious one and carefully +rubbed lines over his face and body, endeavouring to +get the most distinctive phosphorescent effect around +the eyes. Leaving his clothes he crawled back to +Mungongo.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> exclaimed Mungongo in a muffled scream +when he saw the glowing apparition. Birnier heard +the rustle of grass. As the boy stood up to run he +leaped and pulled him down savagely.</p> + +<p><q>Be quiet, thou fool!</q> he whispered. <q>It is I. +Be silent!</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh! Eh!</q> gasped Mungongo, who was trembling +violently.</p> + +<p><q>If thou dost not be quiet will I tie up thy heart,</q> +threatened Birnier.</p> + +<p>Mungongo continued to quiver, but he remained +passive.</p> + +<p><q>Eh! Eh!</q> he gasped, <q>truly thou art a more +mighty magician than Bakahenzie.</q></p> + +<p><q>Be quiet!</q></p> + +<p>The drums and the song were still going and the +chant had become more obscene.</p> + +<p><q>Follow me!</q> whispered Birnier, when Mungongo +was more reassured.</p> + +<p>They made a detour. As they drew near they could +hear muffled screams and groans beneath the howl of +<pb n="117"/><anchor id="Pg117"/> +the chorus and song. The mighty son of Banyala and +his merry men were so engrossed in the orgy that +Birnier could have walked right up to the fire before +anyone would have seen him. But he would not take +any unnecessary risk. Leaving Mungongo outside he +crawled under the back flap of the tent. Crouched +there he paused. The tent was empty; for all were +engaged in the dance. His two shot-guns and two +light rifles were stacked in the corner and the big +express which the corporal had appropriated, leaned +against the tent door behind the chair. He glanced +hurriedly around for ammunition, but he could not see +any open, and he had left his belt of cartridges with his +clothes. Outside the men and women were circling +in contrary directions, each with a spear, a knife or a +firebrand in hand, around the fire beside which, trussed +like bundles of faggots, were the four servants, their +feet singeing on the outside hot ashes.</p> + +<p>For a second Birnier hesitated. He could not know +whether any of the guns was loaded. The fire was of +glowing embers which did not throw much light into +the tent. Swiftly Birnier rose and glided into his own +chair in the deep shadow of the tent flap. Then +summoning all his nerve he uttered a yell and began to +shout the first song which he could recollect:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="song"> + <l>“Hurrah! Hurrahhhhhhh! It is the Jubileeeee!</l> + <l>Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that set you free!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>The native minstrel stopped in the middle of his +chant; the whole shuffling, grunting crowd was +petrified in as many different poses. Birnier leaped +to his feet waving his arms wildly, yelling:</p> +<pb n="118"/><anchor id="Pg118"/> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="song"> + <l>“Thus we sang the chor-uss from Atlanta to the Sea-aa!</l> + <l>As we …<corr sic=""><anchor id="E13"/><ref + target="e13">”</ref></corr></l> +</lg> + +<p>But before he had gotten to <q>Georgia,</q> only the +prostrate forms around the fire had not fled.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD10" type="chapter"> +<pb n="119"/><anchor id="Pg119"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 10</hi> +</head> + +<p>On the morning of Birnier’s departure there was +much movement in Ingonya station. Every sign +of preparation for the expedition had been carefully +concealed while a stranger was in the vicinity. Trumpets +blared importantly. On the great parade ground +companies were formed, long lines of rigid, ebon +figures, down which strolled zu Pfeiffer inspecting +personally kits and rifles. Afterwards they were +drawn up before the flag-pole. In an address zu +Pfeiffer informed them that they served under a +greater Bwana than he, the greatest Bwana in the +countries of the white or the black, who was the son of +Ngai (an uncertain term meaning <q>son of God</q> or +the <q>son of nobody</q>); that the flag they bore, the +brother of the big one upon the pole, was so powerful +in magic that none could withstand it, the Totem of +the Bwana Mkubwa Kuba. No wives were allowed for +black or white, and he himself set them the example; +for they were embarking on a war expedition to take a +country which they knew was full of ivory, cattle and +women.</p> + +<p>The row upon row of eyes in black faces bulged, as +from the mass came the long grunt of assent and +allegiance. The three white sergeants barked at their +various companies, which wheeled into column formation +and marched past zu Pfeiffer beneath the flag in +review order, their alignment and precision a credit to +<pb n="120"/><anchor id="Pg120"/> +their drill masters. Down below the fort on the +mouth of the bayou Sergeant Ludwig superintended +the overhauling of the steam-launch, and a native +sergeant and a file of men overseered lines of carriers +bearing white men’s provisions, the bulk of which was +zu Pfeiffer’s personal supplies. Around the launch +was a flotilla of native canoes in charge of a small +crowd of nude Kavirondo paddlers, jabbering at the +prospect of a war expedition.</p> + +<p>Most of the day zu Pfeiffer spent in the orderly room +going over documents and giving detailed instructions +to the grizzled Sergeant Schneider, who was to take +over the station with fifty of the least competent men, +pending the arrival of an officer, which again would +depend upon the success of the expedition. In zu +Pfeiffer’s manner was evident the controlled excitement +of a boy on the eve of a house match, and indeed for +him it was the game for which he was bred and lived, +<q>das Kriegspiel.</q> Perpetually his long fingers caressed +the sentry moustaches; an unusual glitter was in his +blue eyes.</p> + +<p>The personality of +<corr sic="Bernier"><anchor id="E14"/><ref +target="e14">Birnier</ref></corr> +had been apparently +wiped from his mind as a spoor in the sand by rain; +indeed in addition to the competing excitement of the +expedition, the previous night’s alcoholic and sentimental +debauch had served to exhaust the emotions +stimulated by jealousy. To him had appeared an +obstruction in his emotional life in the shape of the +husband of the woman whom he adored; therefore, +according to his nature and training, he had endeavoured +to remove that obstacle as swiftly and as +efficiently as possible. Superlative confidence in himself, +reflected in his pride of family and nationality, +<pb n="121"/><anchor id="Pg121"/> +the apotheosis of which was the Kaiser, enabled him to +devote all his energies to the business in hand, never +doubting that his interpretation of native psychology +would ensure the extinction of his adversary.</p> + +<p>Beyond the mere joy of the game of war was present +the fundamental impulse to win the approval of the All +Highest by gaining another place in the sun as well as +the half-suppressed conviction that such a distinction +would naturally further his suit in love. In the orbit +of these two poles revolved the life actions of zu +Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p>That evening zu Pfeiffer dined as leisurely and as +sumptuously as usual; drank his port and smoked his +cigar while his servants packed the last of his kitchen +battery. Then at the first green of the moon he gave +the order to march.</p> + +<p>The three companies of askaris fell in, marched down +to the bayou and embarked without fuss or confusion, +each group under a non-commissioned officer to the +appointed canoe.</p> + +<p>The launch laboured busily out of the bayou past +misty reed-girt islands into the indolent waters of the +great lake, dragging after her the fleet of forty odd +canoes. A cigar under the awning of the tiny poop +suggested a great firefly in the blue shadows, where +lounged zu Pfeiffer with his favourite brandy and +seltzer at his elbow.</p> + +<p>Resembling an enormous water-fowl leading a strange +black brood, the launch towed the flotilla through the +night. A war chant pulsed like a fevered heart as the +moon upon her back lazily chased the stars into the dawn +upon her way to her home in the Mountains of the +Moon, to be in turn extinguished by a furious sun. +<pb n="122"/><anchor id="Pg122"/> +And all that day, while incandescent heat tried to boil +illimitable waters, the strange fowl waddled on with her +noxious brood. Huddled in the cramped canoes the +soldiers slept and snuffed and sang, to which zu +Pfeiffer contentedly listened beneath the awning. +Three times grey walls of falling water enveloped +them, sending frantic black hands to bailing. Once +more the moon made the skies to laugh. When the sun +had played his part of a flaming Nemesis, a fringe grew +upon the horizon like the stubble upon a white man’s +chin.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer had calculated to arrive at the village of +Timballa just within the river at sundown. The +headman came down to the strand to meet them. +Immediately he was seized, and the soldiers, as joyous +and as mischievous as children released from school, +surrounded the village.</p> + +<p>Sitting in full uniform upon the poop of the launch, +together with the two sergeants, zu Pfeiffer held a +shauri and demanded sufficient paddlers to man his +forty canoes. The headman, to whom all white men +were alike, thought they were British and hastened to +proffer his services, promising that the Bwana should +have the men within two days. Zu Pfeiffer curtly +ordered him to procure them before the sun was +overhead on the next day; and to insure that he was +obeyed, detained him as hostage and forbade any man +to pass his line of pickets around the village. The old +man protested that they had not sufficient men in the +village, but zu Pfeiffer’s spies had afforded him +practically correct information. He gave the headman +the right to send a number of messengers, each +accompanied by a soldier, to the neighbouring villages +<pb n="123"/><anchor id="Pg123"/> +and promised him fifty lashes and to rase his village, if +the paddlers were not forthcoming.</p> + +<p>Solely because he wished to give his men time to +recover from their stiffness did he not insist upon +starting that night upon the river trip. As a good +commander he considered his men from every point +of view of efficiency. They loved him. He was a +warrior chief as they understood such to be; carefully +he fostered their warrior pride; never were they +ordered to work at menial offices, to fetch or to carry; +only to drill and to fight; his punishments were +ferocious, but he gave them liberty in pillage and rape. +Eh! but the Eater-of-Men was a mighty chief! and +of his name they boasted to every man.</p> + +<p>With foresight he had demanded twice as many men +as he needed, knowing that the panic-stricken chief +would round up the halt, the blind, and the sick. By +an hour after the stipulated time they were assembled +in the village, a motley crew. Those of the most +powerful physique he selected to man the soldiers’ +canoes, and the next in competency he allotted to the +baggage canoes.</p> + +<p>They started immediately. They made about two +and a half miles an hour, for although the river was +swollen it was sluggish and slow streamed, tortuous. +Each canoe load of soldiers was made responsible for +the paddlers and the speed was set by zu Pfeiffer in a +large canoe with Sakamata as guide. Never had those +paddlers driven canoes so speedily and persistently. +At sundown they halted in a convenient bend where +there was no village near; pickets were set on the bank +and no other man allowed to land, no lights and no +talking. They were ordered to rest.</p> +<pb n="124"/><anchor id="Pg124"/> + +<p>At the first glint of the moon they started again. +The canoes were hauled by the aid of the soldiers over +the slight rapids which divided the river into pools in +the dry season. Throughout the night the misty +forest and swamp slipped by to the perpetual rhythm +of the paddles. About the hour of the monkey a +hippopotamus charged the flotilla and upset two boats. +Zu Pfeiffer forbade any shooting, nor would he permit +the expedition a moment’s delay to pick up the +occupants. Just as they heard the distant crowing of +cocks from the village for which they were bound, four +paddlers collapsed. The soldiers, acting on their own +initiative, threw them overboard to swim if they could, +and took the paddles themselves. Afterwards they +were thrashed for disobedience to orders in having +given a possible chance for one of the men to escape +to warn the Wongolo. At an hour after sunrise they +arrived at the village. The majority of the paddlers +were so exhausted that they dropped in the canoes and +had to be thrown ashore, where they lay inert, their +backs, bloody with the urgent bayonet pricks, caking in +the sun.</p> + +<p>Beyond this point the river was not navigable, but the +village was upon the Wongolo border and within two +days or fifteen hours’ continuous march of MFunya +MPopo’s (as zu Pfeiffer knew it). Zu Pfeiffer adopted +the same tactics to procure porters. But to the chief, +in case he should require his services again, he gave an +extravagant present and left bales of cloth for the +carriers upon their return. Zu Pfeiffer and Sergeant +Ludwig travelled in machilas (hammocks) each with a +crew of six; the soldiers carried nothing save their +rifles, double cartridge belts, a day’s rations; the pick +<pb n="125"/><anchor id="Pg125"/> +of the carriers bore ammunition and the two +<corr sic="Nordenfelts"><anchor id="E15"/><ref +target="e15">Nordenfeldts</ref></corr> +and two pom-poms slung upon poles, and the chop +boxes; the men’s blankets and the heavy stuff were to +follow more slowly under Sergeant Schultz and fifty +men. The country between this village and MFunya +MPopo’s was mostly forest and very sparsely inhabited, +which afforded some shade and concealment, and +lessened the risk of a warning being given.</p> + +<p>The expedition started at noon. The carriers were +kept on the native shuffling lope by the aid of attentions +from the askaris. Two unfortunate small villages +which lay on the line of march were surrounded and +the inhabitants massacred. Twenty porters collapsed; +they were bayoneted to prevent any chance of a +successful ruse in escaping to give the alarm, and their +loads given to relay men brought for that purpose. The +column halted at sundown. The men ate their rations, +but the carriers were too exhausted to eat; they +drank water and lay prostrate. According to Sakamata +they were within two hands’ breadth of the moon of +Kawa Kendi’s.</p> + +<p>In full uniform of white, girded with sword and +revolver, zu Pfeiffer ate, drank, and smoked cigars until +the forest roof was patterned against the cold pallor +of the moon. Then, after giving final instructions to +Sergeant Ludwig and the various native non-commissioned +officers, he ordered the jabbering men to +march, with the carriers staggering on at the point of +the bayonet.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD11" type="chapter"> +<pb n="126"/><anchor id="Pg126"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 11</hi> +</head> + +<p>The doom pronounced by the Council of Witch-Doctors +was to Bakuma and all concerned as a +Bull of Excommunication in mediæval Europe. MYalu +was the one who exhibited the most emotion. Had he +not paid seven tusks of good ivory to have the object +of his passion placed under the most terrible tabu? +Against Marufa, who had seemingly betrayed him, was +his anger directed. But the rage of MYalu was +tempered with fear. A man had not merely to kill an +enemy: he had also to appease his justly wrathful +ghost; and who knew what the disembodied spirit +of the most powerful magician in the land, save +Bakahenzie, could do! Moreover, no other wizard +would give him absolution in the form of the magic +of purification. A chief though he be; he dared not +slay a magician. He sought Marufa and found him +as usual squatting on his threshold contemplating +infinity in a mud wall. He saluted Marufa politely, +choking back words of bitter recrimination, for if he +even offended him, the wizard might cast a spell upon +him instantly. Marufa returned the greeting as +courteously as ever. When at length MYalu reproachfully +reminded him of the seven tusks which he had +paid apparently to secure his love’s terrible fate, +Marufa replied uninterestedly:</p> + +<p><q>I have done that for which thou hast paid.</q></p> + +<p><q>What man buyeth a bride for another?</q> retorted +MYalu.</p> +<pb n="127"/><anchor id="Pg127"/> + +<p><q>When I did make magic upon ‘the things’ did I +place in the power of the spirits the owner. Behold, +hath not the owner of ‘the things’ been accursed?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> gasped MYalu. <q>But how may that +be? Didst thou not thyself take the paring and the +hair?</q></p> + +<p><q>I bade the One who is tabu to bring them that he +might be bewitched to her girdle. She thought to +deceive me by bringing that which was of herself.</q></p> + +<p><q>E—eh!</q> muttered MYalu, impressed at the awful +effect of deceiving a wizard. Marufa continued to +stare. MYalu meditated ruefully.</p> + +<p><q>But the tusks,</q> murmured MYalu at length +dismally.</p> + +<p><q>It is not I who have two tongues,</q> responded +Marufa indifferently.</p> + +<p>And with that MYalu had to rest content. Marufa +indeed had no interest at all in the passions of Zalu +Zako, MYalu and Bakuma. Merely the time had come +for the witch-doctors to choose the victim for the +Harvest Festival: Bakuma was young and good +looking, a dainty morsel that should please the taste +of the officiating doctors, and her owner and uncle +was a man of no importance: so accordingly he had +made known the sin of her name through the divination.</p> + +<p>In the solitude of his own hut upon the hill Zalu +Zako sat and pondered sulkily. His young and fierce +temper was stimulated and the seed of rebellion +against the domination of the priesthood was quickened +by the fate of his new love; although the masonic +secrets of the craft were denied to him, he, as son of +the royal house, was suspicious of the powers of the +<pb n="128"/><anchor id="Pg128"/> +Unmentionable One and the priesthood, as many an +one had been before him; yet in spite of that the +verdict was absolute, for he was too crushed by terror +of the consequences to permit of any hope of annulling +it.</p> + +<p>The fiat not only doomed Bakuma to a terrible death +at the third blooming of the moon, but from that very +instant the tabu came into force; for being thus +accursed by the possession of two sounds of the sacred +name, she was deemed unholy. Her half-sisters and +their mother, with whom Bakuma shared the hut, fled +to another and were exorcised by the wizard, which, as +everybody knows, is an expensive ceremony; gourds +and pots, spoons and utensils of all sorts, were left to +the sole use of the unclean one and would be burned +upon her demise. A magic line was drawn around the +hut out of which the soul of the girl as she slept could +not escape to bewitch anybody. Neither her name nor +anything that had been hers would be ever mentioned +again; any word of a household article or any thing or +beast which had one syllable of the name <q>Bakuma</q> +was changed, lest the user be accursed and bewitched.</p> + +<p>For the whole day, in this isolation, sat the girl +Bakuma, Marufa’s useless love charm clutched in her +hand, as bewildered as if the earth had suddenly turned +inside out under this fact so stupendous and stupefying. +She did not weep. She squatted in the door, her eyes +staring with the glazed inquiring expression of a dying +gazelle, a bronze question to Fate. At the feeding +time her mother threw her bananas into the circle. +Bakuma looked at them as they flopped near to her as +if she did not realize what they were. She made no +stir to cook or prepare them. The cool twilight came +<pb n="129"/><anchor id="Pg129"/> +and passed like a blue breath. Above the insectile +chorus of the night beneath the crystal stars came the +faint thrumming of a drum from MKoffo’s hill. The +sound of music and dancing reminded Bakuma of her +ambitious dreams. She could neither weep nor wail; +she merely emitted a faint gasping sound. But her +mind began to work jerkily, yet more fluently. Visions +of the form of Zalu Zako were weaved and spun in the +darkness: the lithe walk of him, the haughty carriage +of the head. Slowly greened the sky until the banana +fronds were etched in sepia against the swollen moon. +The dismal croak of the Baroto bird shattered the black +cocoon of Bakuma’s mind.</p> + +<p><q>Aie-eee! the foul bird of my despair!</q> she +wailed, and at last wept. Then she rose and flitted like +some green ghost into the plantation and across to the +place of water where her lover had first spoken her +sweet, recking naught in her mist of despair of spirits +of the night nor of the breaking of the magic circle. +The moon spattered the squatted form with blue +spangles and turned the falling tears to quivering opals. +Bakuma broke into wild lament.</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“The black Goat hath cried three times in my hut!</l> + <l>My soul hath wandered and been caught in a trap!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>A wizard hath stolen a hair from my head!</l> + <l>The beak of Baroto pecketh my gall!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>A rival hath lain in wait for my love!</l> + <l>She hath slain my bird in the nest of his breast!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> +<pb n="130"/><anchor id="Pg130"/> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>A porcupine dwells in the place of my heart!</l> + <l>The bird of my soul is fluttering faint!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>An ember of fire hath entered my mouth!</l> + <l>The milk of my breasts is curdled to-night!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>The strings of my bosom are tied with fine knots!</l> + <l>My belly is void! My nipples are dead!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>A monkey hath bitten the back of my tongue!</l> + <l>Hath stolen my breath to make magic by night!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>The blood in my veins hath turned to sour porridge!</l> + <l>My throat is choked up by the sudd of the Lake!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>A grey forest rat hath swallowed my heart!</l> + <l>My thighs have been scratched by a poisonous thorn!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeee!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>As the last quiver of the wail blended with the +anthem of the forest came from a figure squatted above +the ford of the river, his spear a blue flame in the +moonlight, an answer:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“My love hath been taken by a greater than I!</l> + <l>Her flesh will be tasted by a hungrier mouth!</l> + <l>Her flesh which is sweeter than honey and wine!</l> + <l>Her flesh which is softer than a newly born kid!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! My spear is bent!</l> +</lg> +<pb n="131"/><anchor id="Pg131"/> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>My love hath been taken by a greater than I!</l> + <l>Her breasts will be pillowed by a much broader chest!</l> + <l>Her breasts which do swell like a tender young gourd!</l> + <l>Her breasts which are as firm as the meat of the plum!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! My spear is bent!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>And answered Bakuma’s wail:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 17" type="chant"> + <l>“<corr sic="Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"><anchor id="E17"/><ref + target="e17">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee</ref></corr>!”</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“My love hath been taken by a greater than I!</l> + <l>Her chines will be gripped by a far fiercer hand!</l> + <l>Her chines which are smoother than elephants’ tusks!</l> + <l>Her chines which are as plump as the breast of a fowl!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! My spear is bent!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15"><corr sic="Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"><anchor + id="E18"/><ref target="e18">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee</ref></corr>!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>My love hath been taken by a greater than I!</l> + <l>Her eyes will be touched by longer fingers than mine!</l> + <l>Her eyes which are like unto moons veiled by rain!</l> + <l>Her eyes which are like the starlit river at dawn!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! My spear is bent!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>My love hath been taken by a greater than I!</l> + <l>Her scent will be drunk by nostrils broader than mine!</l> + <l>Her scent which is pungent and sweet like the smoke!</l> + <l>Her scent which slakes thirst more than driest of beer!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! My spear is bent!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>My love hath been taken by a greater than I!</l> + <l>Her breath will be sipped by a thirstier throat!</l> + <pb n="132"/><anchor id="Pg132"/> + <l>Her breath which is hotter than the flame of a fire!</l> + <l>Her breath which makes more drunken than enemies’ blood!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! My spear is bent!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>My love hath been taken by a greater than I!</l> + <l>Her voice will be heard by ears mightier than mine!</l> + <l>Her voice which is like unto burbling beer!</l> + <l>Her voice which is gentler than the rustle of fronds!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Ough! My spear is bent!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>A slight breeze stirred gently the trees. The +crickets shrilled their perpetual chorus. A crocodile +flopped in the river. Dogs yapped from a village down +the river. Again Bakuma lifted up her voice:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Mightier than elephants was the tread of my man!</l> + <l>Keener than a leopard was the flash of his eye!</l> + <l>Stronger than an oak tree was the strength of his arm!</l> + <l>Swifter than lightning was the stroke of his spear!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Enemies died!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>Taller than the wine palm was the height of my man!</l> + <l>Broader than the temple was the span of his chest!</l> + <l>More graceful than antelope was the carriage of him!</l> + <l>More slender than saplings was the build of his legs!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Women lamented!</l> +</lg> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>Sweeter than warm honey was the scent of my man!</l> + <l>Whiter than a spear flash was the gleam of his teeth!</l> + <l>Fiercer than scorpions was the grip of his hand!</l> + <l>Smooth and like stone was&qdash;”</l> +</lg> +<pb n="133"/><anchor id="Pg133"/> + +<p>A gale of yells and shots destroyed the song of Bakuma +like a foot crushing a flower.</p> + +<p>Zalu Zako leaped to his feet and stood for a moment +listening intently. Across the river some strange +beast spat spears of red flames. A little farther +down another beast coughed violently like a hippopotamus. +The sky seemed falling. Such volumes of +sound he had never heard before.</p> + +<p>As he raced with the speed of a koodoo through the +plantation he saw the glow of fire ahead and heard the +moan of some terrible monster near him. He leaped +five feet in the air as the world appeared to crack in half +beside him. He felt a sting like a brand of fire in his +shoulder, but he ran on towards the village from whence +fled dim figures on all sides amid shouts and screams +and wailing.</p> + +<p>Several huts were already blazing. The leviathan +coughed and moaned again and once more the earth +seemed to crash to pieces near him. Appalled and +bewildered, choking with rage, he reached the outer +enclosure where his fellow warriors were shouting and +yelling that the white gods were attacking. Bakahenzie, +gun in hand, was bidding them charge they knew not +what. Then out of the clutter of the village broke +line upon line of yelling figures clothed in uniform. +Screaming the battle-cry, the warriors charged, led by +Zalu Zako, Bakahenzie, and Kawa Kendi, who in the +excitement had dashed from the enclosure. Howls and +yells were drowned in the spiteful crackle and cough. +Warriors were mown like weeds under a sickle. +Scarce a hundred scrambled inside the enclosure at +the rallying call from Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p>Again came a short rush of those uniformed figures; +<pb n="134"/><anchor id="Pg134"/> +again scarlet spears pierced the green moonlight like a +hailstorm; small red flames rippled in a line resembling +a forest fire as the soldiers charged through and over the +palisade. Hand to hand was the fighting, spear and +sword against bayonet and rifle around the idol, the +askaris outyelling the warriors. The temple was on +fire. In the light of the flames they saw a tall figure in +white with a glow of fire in his mouth and magic eyes +upon his hands, eyes which flashed rays of scarlet and +blue as he cut and hacked at the base of the idol.…</p> + +<p><q>Tarum hath come!</q> screamed some one, and as +the cry was taken up, the Unmentionable One tottered +and crashed to the ground.</p> + +<p>They fled, Zalu Zako, Bakahenzie and those that +were left.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD12" type="chapter"> +<pb n="135"/><anchor id="Pg135"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 12</hi> +</head> + +<p>The village of Yagonyana, the son of Zahilazaan, +was situated some five days’ march to the north-west +of Kawa Kendi’s, in open cattle country near +the fringe of the forest. Here were gathered nearly +every witch-doctor and warrior of the tribe. Most +of the women, children, and slaves had been sent +still farther to the west, driving the cattle before +them.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie, Zalu Zako, Marufa, and all those +warriors who had escaped from the massacre by zu +Pfeiffer were distinguished from their brethren by +circles of yellow earth around each left eye, and each +right breast and arm was smeared with red, which +is part of the ceremony of magic purification for +those who have slain, lest, as is well known, the +ghost of the dead wreak their wrath upon their +slayers.</p> + +<p>The affairs of the tribe were in a parlous state. The +netting of the tabu had been tangled by the death of +the King-God, Kawa Kendi, and the unprecedented +act of the overthrow of the idol. Kawa Kendi’s +body, which had not been recovered so that the doctors +could release his unhappy soul, might be used to make +more magic against the tribe.</p> + +<p>For three weeks there had been much discussion +among the doctors, the chiefs, and the people. +Opinions were at variance; no two men could agree. +<pb n="136"/><anchor id="Pg136"/> +Lesser wizards, who before had been content with the +perquisites of the smaller offices, were now made +drunken by the insecurity of Bakahenzie’s position. +Each of the doctors, seeing a chance to prove his superior +merit and win Bakahenzie’s post as chief doctor, had +busily made magic to destroy the usurper, and each +and every one provided a different reason for the failure +thereof. Every day came news of the doings of the +white god with eyes upon his hands, of shootings and +floggings, of the burning of the village including the +idol, the temple, and the sacred tombs of MFunya +MPopo, of MKoffo, of MZrakombinyana, and other +kings before them.</p> + +<p>The council of the craft could not even decide +whether Zalu Zako was to be King-God or not. +Bakahenzie, whose interest lay in supporting the +dynasty of the present royal family, maintained that +he should be anointed forthwith. But with the +downfall of the idol and his own impotence to make +successful magic, Bakahenzie’s prestige had been badly +shaken; no longer dared he issue dicta autocratically. +As ever, political ambition tore patriotism to +shreds.</p> + +<p>Marufa, former close ally of Bakahenzie, but lacking +his active principle, continued to mutter incantations +most impressively by himself, waiting cautiously to +see which side of the river the arrow fell. Bakahenzie +became seriously alarmed at the growth of Yabolo’s +faction and the indifference of Marufa. He knew well +that submission would entail the loss of his post as +well as his worldly goods; and he was aware that all +men knew that his most potent and strenuous magic +had failed as utterly as that of the youngest novice +<pb n="137"/><anchor id="Pg137"/> +in the craft. His only chance to retrieve a portion of +his lost reputation was to invent a more plausible excuse +for failure than any other doctor had done. He +did.</p> + +<p>Although he did not know that Bakuma had broken +the magic circle of her own volition, he had the shrewd +imagination to suggest that she had either fled with +the other women during the attack or that, even if she +had stayed, the askaris would have taken her from the +hut. Therefore did he demand an assembly of the craft +and chiefs. One of the reasons, if not the reason, of +Bakahenzie’s success, as of other witch-doctors before, +such as Savonarola, had been a faculty, inspired by, or +derived from, hysterical epilepsy, of working himself up +at will into a state of convulsion without actual loss of +consciousness and the spectacular exhibition of foam, +which no other sorcerer had been able to simulate so +successfully. Therefore Bakahenzie invoked the great +Tarum (apotheosis of ancestors’ spirits) who, through +the convulsed body, did proclaim that the disaster had +been caused by the breaking of the magic circle by one +whose name was accursed; and that only could the +magic of Bakahenzie be made potent, and the consequent +overthrow of the Eyes-in-the-hands be assured, +by the sacrifice of the victim to her destiny as the Bride +of the Banana.</p> + +<p>Marufa, appreciating the shrewdness of this move, +immediately abandoned his incantations to reassume +his allegiance to the cause of Bakahenzie. The prophecy +was hailed by nearly every one as a most timely +excuse for the failure of magic in general. The +miraculous recall of the Unmentionable One now +seemed so easy of accomplishment through the +<pb n="138"/><anchor id="Pg138"/> +person of Bakuma that many of those who had +sided with Yabolo deserted him, foreseeing the renewed +ascendancy of Bakahenzie and fearing his +wrath.</p> + +<p>Yabolo, however, made an attempt to recover the +lost adherents by protesting that the Moon of the +Harvest Festival had not yet come, and that therefore +victory could not be obtained until two more moons +had waned. But MYalu saw that by submitting to +the new god he might be able to have removed the +tabu upon Bakuma—all things were possible to one +who had overthrown the Unmentionable One—and +thus obtain her by the price of submission; also he +might possibly recover his wealth of ivory abandoned +after the massacre. Therefore did he with his people +go over to the Yabolo faction.</p> + +<p>Uproar and confusion ensued. Bakahenzie recovered +from his trance with unprecedented rapidity +and even did not require to be told what the spirit of +Tarum had said through his lips. The tribe was split +into fiercer factions than ever. They argued and +screamed and cursed. Bakahenzie had lost the hold +over them; for as the god, of which he was the +sponsor, was dead, his credit had gone too. He dared +no longer to remove a troublesome brother or chief +by magic. His only hope was to restore the god: +so to that end he declared that Zalu Zako must be +anointed King-God. Uproar arose once more. But +Bakahenzie’s purpose had been served; he had +diverted their attention from the subject of submission.</p> + +<p>From time to time came terrified runners with +horrific stories of the burning of villages, of massacre +<pb n="139"/><anchor id="Pg139"/> +and rapine. Bakahenzie, determined not to yield, +secretly dispatched a slave to Eyes-in-the-hands with +an arrow which is a sign of war; Yabolo, whose mind +ran in the same tracts, sent a banana which is a sign of +peace. In the meantime factions grew and multiplied. +One chief counselled his followers to take their cattle +and women and seek to conquer another tribe to the +south-west; another wished to go west. But each +and every follower began to bargain with his chief for +disproportionate rewards for service. Two chiefs and +five hundred men started to the south-west, but they +returned because they had met in their path the +skeleton of a slain elephant, which is, as everybody +knows, a sure sign of disaster.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie sent runners far and wide to discover +Bakuma. As she could not be found he concluded +that she had been killed or taken as a slave and urged +the warriors to fight. Zalu Zako immediately desired +the anointing to be delayed in order that he should +not be debarred from fighting. Bakahenzie, none +too sure of his authority, was compelled to acquiesce. +Marufa, observing that the arrow was still in the air, +took to his non-committal incantations again. Bakahenzie +strove to keep the warriors and chiefs occupied +by dissension until the result of his challenge to battle +should mature. Yabolo, equally perturbed for his +influence, did exactly the same with the banana in +view.</p> + +<p>Yabolo and MYalu contemplated going in to make +submission, but the former wished to negotiate through +Sakamata for the best terms, although he tried to +persuade MYalu to go; but MYalu was suspicious and +would not do so without Yabolo. But at the hour of +<pb n="140"/><anchor id="Pg140"/> +the monkey one morning came a terrified goatherd +crying news that cut the tangled threads of their +intrigues as a sword cuts a goat’s throat. The white +god, Eyes-in-the-hands, was within an arrow’s flight +of the village of Yagonyana.</p> + +<p>Consternation ensued. The village and the temporary +camp of grass huts buzzed and hummed. Zalu +Zako dashed out, sword and spear in hand, and in the +glow of the awakened fires harangued the warriors, +urged that they should make a swift detour through +the forest and attack the white man as he entered the +village. Bakahenzie supported this plan of campaign. +MYalu, stung by the recollection of the loss of many +tusks to the invader, incontinently abandoned Yabolo +and pressed for a frontal attack. Yabolo contended +that they send an envoy to make terms, but not very +insistently. In spite of the assurance of Sakamata, he +was suspicious of the new god’s gentle ways. Marufa, +the wise, collected those of his household who had +remained with him, and quietly made his way to the +forest.</p> + +<p>But Zalu Zako’s martial spirit was overcome by the +clamour of those who would flee before worse befell, +crying that the white god, Eyes-in-the-hands, would +eat them all up with the terrible monsters who coughed +flames and death; others screeched that the uniformed +devils were spirits of the night and therefore invincible; +for always they came in the dark. So they hesitated, +shouted and argued. Then came a scout screaming +that the enemy was upon them, corroborated by a +vicious cough.</p> + +<p>A pom-pom shell landed in the midst of the crowded +village. Zalu Zako, Bakahenzie and their small +<pb n="141"/><anchor id="Pg141"/> +following were nearly swept away in the rush of five +thousand odd warriors in flight. From the forest they +watched with awestruck eyes the burning of the +village.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD13" type="chapter"> +<pb n="142"/><anchor id="Pg142"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 13</hi> +</head> + +<p>On the morning on which zu Pfeiffer burned the +village of Yagonyana, Birnier was encamped upon +the southern boundary of Wongolo. By his <q>coup de +superstition</q> had he recovered all his equipment +except several bottles of brandy, some canned goods +and two and a half pairs of pyjamas; also the field +boots. The noble Inyira, son of Banyala, and his +merry men never attempted to recapture their +prisoners; no one save the Eater-of-Men in person +could have persuaded them to return to that camp +even had they had their rifles.</p> + +<p>After Birnier had dressed his own foot and the +charred feet of his men, had had a good drink and a +better meal, he had sought to address the balance of his +mind through a medium designed for the cure of +melancholy, but efficacious for many other ills, +<hi rend="font-style: italic">The +Anatomy of Melancholy</hi>. He opened the one big +volume which had been his companion throughout +his travels at a page marked at haphazard by an ivory +paper knife with the American flag upon the flat hilt, +an early gift from Lucille, and began to read the remarks +of Robert Burton of quaintly glorious memory upon +the source of his late adventure.</p> + +<p><q>Those which are jealous, most part, if they be +not otherwise relieved, proceed from suspicion to +hatred, from hatred to frenzy, madness, injury, murder +<pb n="143"/><anchor id="Pg143"/> +and despair … Amestris, Xerxes’s wife, because +she found her husband’s cloak in Masista’s house, +cut off Masista’s wife’s paps and gave them to the +dogs, flayed her besides and cut off her ears, lips, +tongue, and slit the nose of Artaynta, her daughter.</q></p><lb/> + +<p><q>Cheerful lady! She ought to have been zu +Pfeiffer’s wife,</q> commented Birnier and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Birnier arose feeling rational enough to reconsider his +position. The recollection of the signature on the +photograph now failed to stimulate the emotional +reaction as once it had done. The experience through +which he had passed had had a beneficial effect in +breaking or disconnecting the train of suggestive +images. At first in the recess of his mind had lurked +the desire to abandon everything, to rush straight to +Lucille to demand an explanation. Now the rising +sun of reason cast quite different shadows upon the +incident. The high light was the fact that should he +do so he would be sacrificing his mission for what +might prove to be ridiculous. As his mind contemplated +the subject the echo of <q>à toi, Lucille</q> tended +to carry a high note, but this he vented by writing a +long letter to Lucille recounting the facts and frankly +admitting that he had been sufficiently insane with +jealousy to <q>go up in the air.</q> Once or twice he +ceased to write and gazed anxiously into the glare as +his imagination suggested the long period of waiting +for an answer, wondering whether the echo of that +cursed <q>à toi</q> might not become unbearably shrill. +He became a little more sentimental towards the end +of the letter, remarking that perhaps he had been +wrong in deserting her for so long and emphasising +<pb n="144"/><anchor id="Pg144"/> +the rather ridiculous point that he was aware that he +was not a young man. However, he let it remain, and +at the first opportunity sent off the letter by runner to +the nearest station in Uganda, together with an order +for certain goods to be sent to a village on the Wongolo +border.</p> + +<p>Although still inclined to be emotional over the +photograph, Birnier did not waste any energy over +vindictive thoughts upon zu Pfeiffer, whom he +philosophically regarded as irresponsible for his actions, +inasmuch as he had been made that way just as any +savage. He had gotten out of the toils set for him, +so why should he spend time and trouble in seeking +revenge which would merely consist in reporting the +incident through a British station to Washington, who +would open up interminable polite correspondence +with the German Embassy, who would again write +prodigious letters to the Colonial Minister in Berlin, +who would… Ludicrous! No; he would not +permit zu Pfeiffer to interfere with his plans. He +would continue straight to Wongolo instead of +investigating the Kivu country, where zu Pfeiffer +might perhaps have another opportunity to cause +more trouble. Accordingly he negotiated with the +nearest village for carriers and set out, striking due +west, thus approaching the Wongolo territory towards +the southern boundary.</p> + +<p>The people to the south of the Wongolo country +was an inferior race, whom the Wongolo periodically +raided to replenish their slaves. These Wamongo +were split up into several petty chiefdoms, usually at +war with one another. They had no defined theology. +For they had not progressed beyond the stage of magic +<pb n="145"/><anchor id="Pg145"/> +as far as any concept of religion, that is of praying for +intercession to any power greater than themselves; +whereas the mental state of the Wongolo was half-way +between magic and religion, mixing and confusing +the two as exemplified in the Rain-making ceremony +of employing magic and alternately invoking the god +and threatening him with dire penalties if he did not +behave. There seemed to be no royal family or clan +of the Wamongo; chiefs changed constantly as one +more powerful for the moment arose; the wizards +did not appear to have any political power, acting as +general physicians and confining their efforts apparently +to simple magic for the growing of corn, the curing of +the evil eye and wounds. They were terrified of the +Wongolo, much to Mungongo’s pride, who never let +slip an opportunity of swaggering and bruiting abroad +the fame of his master as the greatest of magicians the +world had ever seen. Never was he tired of relating +to a grunting audience the terrible sight and effect of +his master’s transposition into a spirit. The yarn +lost nothing in the telling.</p> + +<p>Progress was slow. Every afternoon, as regular as +the sun set, clouds of sepia sailed up from the west to +clothe the world in a grey deluge of falling water. +Fortunately they were travelling up a watershed so +that there were no large rivers to cross. As they +approached the Wongolo border rumours began of a +white god with eyes upon his hands and live fire in his +mouth who, so said the delighted Wamongo, had +entirely eaten up the hated Wongolo. They seemed +prepared to accept Birnier, when suggesting that he +should make magic for them to conquer the Wongolo, +as another terrible white god, and were accordingly +<pb n="146"/><anchor id="Pg146"/> +polite. But Mungongo, vastly indignant, denied the +story; according to him, no power on earth could +have subdued his race, except perhaps the mighty +Moonspirit (the name he had bestowed upon +Birnier).</p> + +<p>But when Birnier arrived at the first village of the +Wongolo the absence of warriors corroborated the wild +tales they had heard. The inhabitants of old men, +boys and women surrounded the camp to gaze in awestruck +curiosity at the white whom they believed to be +the brother of the Eyes-in-the-hands. This calumny +Mungongo strenuously gainsaid, and anew recounted +the marvellous feats of magic of Moonspirit who could, +he assured his compatriots, eat up Eyes-in-the-hands +as easily as a crocodile would swallow a goat. Yet in +spite of their terror they insisted that Birnier must go +through the ceremony of purification incumbent upon +all strangers in order to exorcise the evil influence of +their eyes and souls; also the customary present must +be sent to the king and his august permission to enter +awaited, although no man knew where he was since +the capital had been burned. Mungongo waxed +furious. He informed them that Moonspirit was a +friend of the Son-of-the-Snake, and moreover had before +been in the country; that if they vexed Moonspirit +he would enchant the whole village so that no man +could move hand or foot. No matter, said they, that +was the rule and must be done. They were impressed +but obstinate.</p> + +<p>From the description of this destroying god, who was +the colour of a stripped banana and tall as a palm tree, +had fire in his mouth and eyes upon his hands—it was +some time before he could recognise the <q>eyes</q>—and +<pb n="147"/><anchor id="Pg147"/> +whose companions were devils strangely clothed, +dragging horrific monsters who spat earthquakes, +Birnier had no difficulty in recognising zu Pfeiffer, and +recollected the significant pumping at dinner regarding +the Wongolo country. However he had renounced +any idea of revenge, but the discovery of friend zu +Pfeiffer as the terrifying god amused him: quickened +a desire to overset the gentleman’s plans. He smiled +with a slight hardening of the line about his mouth +as he began to consider what might be done.</p> + +<p>As far as he could estimate by recalling the size of +the native barracks at Fort Ingonya, he reckoned that +zu Pfeiffer could not possibly have more than three +hundred men, unless he had been reinforced from the +east. Roughly he calculated that the Wongolo ought +to be able to put about ten thousand warriors in the +field. That number under any sort of leadership, even +though they were only armed with spears and swords, +should wipe out the three hundred, in spite of the discipline +and two or three machine-guns, by sheer weight +of numbers. But, from what he had already heard, +zu Pfeiffer had evidently caught them unprepared, +wiped out a mass and secured a supernatural effect +by destroying the idol. He remembered his talk on +das Volkliches and his comment that zu Pfeiffer was +unusually well informed upon the psychology of the +native mind.</p> + +<p>During two days disputing in the native manner +news came in of fresh +<corr sic="masssacres"><anchor id="E19"/><ref +target="e19">massacres</ref></corr>, +adding to the general +terror. He sent for the headman and with him held a +long shauri. The result was that the old fellow conceived +the wonderful idea, already suggested by his +lesser brethren, of enlisting the services of this white +<pb n="148"/><anchor id="Pg148"/> +man, reputed to be a most marvellous magician, in +their protection.</p> + +<p>Then having had his wits sharpened by his own +originality and a sheath knife, the headman promptly +discovered that the ceremony of exorcism could not +be performed because the local wizard had departed +with every ounce of magic for the front. Still there +were obstinate and fearful persons who wished that +Birnier should send a message to the king and wait +until he had the permission. Another two days were +lost until this objection was overcome by certain +presents of <q>bafta,</q> destined for the king, being handed +over to the village.</p> + +<p>On the week’s march across Wongolo, Mungongo +triumphantly held spellbound audiences at every +village through which they passed. As they neared +the site of the City of the Snake, where they heard zu +Pfeiffer was encamped, they encountered deserted +villages. When they came upon the smouldering +embers of one Birnier consented to turn aside from the +regular trail in order to pass to the west of Kawa +Kendi’s where, so the natives said, were Zalu Zako and +Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p>Beyond a belt of forest was open rolling country. +They came to a village of five huts where dwelt some +herdsmen, although most of the cattle had been +driven westwards. Mungongo, seeking at Birnier’s +suggestion for some one who had actually been present +at the village when zu Pfeiffer attacked, discovered +a young girl who had escaped. He brought the +daughter of Bakala into the presence of Moonspirit +still pathetically clutching the amulet which Marufa +had sold her. But from Bakuma, who had fled to the +<pb n="149"/><anchor id="Pg149"/> +forest at the first assault and afterwards to this herdsmen’s +village where the fact of the tabu would not yet +have penetrated, Birnier could interpret little of +value. Of the whereabouts of Zalu Zako she knew +no more than the peasants. She remembered Infunyana, +as he had been called on his previous visit to +the City of the Snake, and to her it seemed that a +god had descended from the blue sky personally to +aid her. So utterly incomprehensible and terrifying +had the attack appeared that unconsciously the inevitability +of her doom was shaken; if such things could +happen, she felt rather than thought, then who could +say what else was possible? She asked permission to +travel with Moonspirit. Birnier, who knew from her +dress, or lack of it, that she was unmarried, smiled as +he wondered whether she was seeking her lover.</p> + +<p>Throughout their journey they had not met a +single warrior; but as they neared the place of the +king they began to meet groups of them. At the +sight of the first headdress Bakuma bolted into the +grass, nor did she reappear until after they had gone. +Later she came to Birnier and asked permission to hide +within his tent when the warriors appeared, and to +his question began to explain the fate to which she had +been doomed. Naturally this account of the Marriage +of the Bride of the Banana at the Harvest Festival was +of value as well as of interest to Birnier, from whom +it had been concealed when in the country before. +He cross-questioned her and made notes; but Bakuma +could give him practically no details of what actually +happened, a secret well guarded by the craft.</p> + +<p>They looked downcast, these warriors, and were +doubtful what to do on meeting another white. +<pb n="150"/><anchor id="Pg150"/> +Many had never before seen a white man and were +inclined to bestow upon Moonspirit all the attributes +which they had given to Eyes-in-the-hands. Eh! +said they, Eyes-in-the-hands is a more powerful +god than the Unmentionable One, for has he not +eaten him up? Eyes-in-the-hands has imprisoned +the thunder and the lightning in a bag which he looses +at will. Who could withstand him? Had they +better not submit before his wrath had eaten them all +up? E-eh! man cannot fight with a god, as any +fool knows.</p> + +<p>They were returning to their homes to make pilgrimage +to the new god, to propitiate him with oxen +and with ivory lest worse befall. However they knew +where Zalu Zako was hidden, also the wizards +whose magic was as a drop of water in a fire. Mungongo +did not fail to relate the marvels of Moonspirit +which he had seen with his own eyes, he and those +with him. The warriors listened without being in the +least impressed. That, said they, was merely woman’s +magic to what Eyes-in-the-hands could do! Aie-e! +had not they fallen dead in masses at the cough of one +of his monster spirits! Aie-e! had not the look of +him burned up the Unmentionable One as a straw in +a fire! Therefore was he not greater than the god? +Aie-e! was he not burning their villages at will! +Aie-e, brothers, they must hasten to appease the wrath +of so terrible a god!</p> + +<p>Birnier saw that it was useless to attempt to argue +with them. Zu Pfeiffer, with his shrewd stroke at the +kernel of their faith in the symbol of the idol, had +established a kind of godhead; and by his ferocious +massacres had thoroughly cowed them. However +<pb n="151"/><anchor id="Pg151"/> +Birnier secured one man to guide him to where Zalu +Zako, the witch-doctors and those who remained with +him, were in hiding.</p> + +<p>On the fringe of the dense forest they camped. The +warrior guide went to acquaint Zalu Zako of their +approach, else otherwise the sight of a white might +provoke an attempt at massacre or flight. On the third +day the man returned bearing greetings from Zalu +Zako personally who remembered well Infunyana, +the only white man whom he had ever met.</p> + +<p>For two days, on a faint trail, in a steamy heat +pulsing with chromatic birds and lizards, they journeyed +through the forest, the skirts of the vast Ituri whose +deepest recess is the home of the pygmy. One early +forenoon they were halted by the warrior in apparently +trackless jungle and bidden to camp. Mungongo was +indignant, but protest was useless as the man refused +to conduct them any farther, saying that Zalu Zako +would come to them. So the carriers cut a circle and +built a zareba and the messenger was swallowed by +the green wall bearing presents of two rifles.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD14" type="chapter"> +<pb n="152"/><anchor id="Pg152"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 14</hi> +</head> + +<p>About a mile from Birnier’s camp, through +forest so dense that even the progress of a native +clambering from trunk to trunk and over undergrowth +ten feet deep was slow and tortuous, was the temporary +village of Zalu Zako; some six or seven hundred +huts of branches and creepers straggling over +a wide area of ground which had been roughly +cleared from undergrowth by a few slaves and +women.</p> + +<p>The hut of Zalu Zako, as those of most of the bigger +chiefs and wizards, was furnished with reeds upon the +floor to avoid squatting actually in the green slime, and +boasted a palisade run from tree to tree enclosing the +huts of his two wives, women and slaves. Every +morning the leader of a long line of slaves bringing +supplies from the villages in the open, chanting softly +the song of the march, entered the village through a +mass of creepers which hung like a curtain of humid +green. Many hundreds of warriors with their chiefs +had deserted their king after the flight from Yagonyana’s +village.</p> + +<p>In the mind of Zalu Zako was doubt and perplexity +as in those of his people. All the accepted <q>laws</q> +and <q>facts</q> of his world had been set at naught; +it was as if buck lived in the rivers and fish ran roaring +through the forests. Fear, curiosity, and resentment +filled him. Sometimes it appeared that Eyes-in-the-hands +<pb n="153"/><anchor id="Pg153"/> +had indeed proved to be a more powerful god +than the Unmentionable One, of whom he was, or +should have been, high priest and king; that he had +eaten him up as they said; so perhaps the better course +was to submit to this being invincible. Yet this very +anarchy of his beliefs had released once more the +passion for Bakuma whom he had renounced, the desire +for whom had been inhibited by the sense of the +inevitability of the mandate of the witch-doctors. +Hereditary custom, which made him feel that it was +incumbent upon him—a primitive sense of duty—to be +king-god warred with this longing for Bakuma. The +fact that he was not yet bound to celibacy quickened +the seed of rebellion against the domination of the +wizards. If he could escape the godhood then Bakuma +was alive again. For to his mind a ban upon the personal +ego was far stronger than any ban upon a second +person.</p> + +<p>Chewing the cud of this sweet grass of hope squatted +Zalu Zako one morning in the dignified solitude of his +compound on the threshold of his hut. Opposite him +sat the brother conspirator of Bakahenzie, Marufa, a +brown shadow in comparison to the gleaming of the +royal insignia of the ivory bangles. They sat silent, +motionless, save for the occasional sparse movement of +snuff taking. In the steamy heat a continual mutter +and rustle persisted, punctuated by the harsh scream +of a green parrot or the squawks of a troop of monkeys. +In the faintly spattered sunlight percolating through +the bowered roof vivid lizards rivalled in colour the +rare finger of an orchid clinging to the great tree +beside the hut. Through the humid air came the +faint chant of carriers at the end of a journey; swelled +<pb n="154"/><anchor id="Pg154"/> +louder and ceased. At the mutter of greeting near +by Marufa grunted.</p> + +<p><q>The beaten dog returns to nose in the garbage,</q> +he mumbled.</p> + +<p><q>Maybe he hath news of the doings,</q> commented +Zalu Zako after a pause.</p> + +<p><q>The young dog starts a buck in every tree stump,</q> +returned Marufa.</p> + +<p>The mumble of voices in the hut of Yabolo near to +<corr sic="Zaku"><anchor id="E20"/><ref +target="e20">Zalu</ref></corr> +Zako’s continued. Neither Zalu Zako nor +Marufa knew other than that, after his downfall, +Sakamata had retired to his native village on the southern +boundary where the people, being laymen, had +believed the excuse for his absence given by Sakamata +that he had retired to the forest for one moon +in the guise of his totem, the wart hog, which animal +became accordingly tabu to their killing for that +period. At length came a young slave from Yabolo +who, after saluting, delivered a message from +Yabolo requesting that Zalu Zako receive him and +his relative, Sakamata, who had weighty news for +him.</p> + +<p>Presently entered the recusant bearing signs of prosperity +in the flowered print about his loins, the ancient +cartridge pouch slung around his waist and a huge +revolver of the pin-fire model dangling from a neck +which appeared more tortoise-like than ever. Before +Zalu Zako he squatted and after they had exchanged +the usual hostages to hostility, Sakamata inquired +most politely after the health of the Son-of-the-Snake, +of his cattle and of his fortune, and last of all of his +women. Sakamata, aware of the loss of prestige +suffered by his old enemy, Bakahenzie, presented +<pb n="155"/><anchor id="Pg155"/> +<corr sic="Zaku"><anchor id="E21"/><ref +target="e21">Zalu</ref></corr> +Zako with a duplicate of the pin-fire revolver. +Followed an equally extensive greeting to Marufa. +Only when these ceremonies had been punctiliously +performed did they begin to discuss the +news.</p> + +<p>At first Sakamata proceeded to repeat the popular +saying regarding the doings of Eyes-in-the-hands. +Various chiefs had visited the fort of the white man +bringing presents in their hands, terrified of what +might happen, yet, according to Sakamata, their fears +had been dispelled immediately; for the wise new +god had received them as brothers and had made +offerings to them as was the custom for strangers +to do. It was true, he admitted in cross-examination, +that whole villages had been put to the sword +and burned; but, he demanded, was not that the +way of a mighty warrior to those who resisted +him?</p> + +<p>Moreover, continued Sakamata, to fight him was +death. His magic was such that no man could +prevail against him. Had any doctor yet succeeded +in making successful magic against the Invincible +One? His magic was terrible to behold. +Spirits which were imprisoned in houses of +trees (boxes) spoke and sang according to their +tribe.</p> + +<p><q>Clk!</q> commented Zalu Zako incredulously.</p> + +<p><q>These words are as the wind in the trees at +night speaking to girls,</q> commented Marufa slowly. +<q>What man hath beheld those things with his own +eyes?</q></p> + +<p>Deliberately Sakamata tapped snuff, inhaled it +with relish, meticulously, that not one grain was +<pb n="156"/><anchor id="Pg156"/> +lost upon his white caterpillar moustache, and said +indifferently:</p> + +<p><q>Even he who sits before you.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q></p> + +<p>Another point was scored. But both Zalu Zako +and Marufa regarded him as one who, having had +dealings with the devil and yet had emerged safely, +was to be suspected of some ghastly pact. After a +calculated pause Sakamata continued nonchalantly:</p> + +<p><q>There is no magic like unto Eyes-in-the-hands, the +Mighty One. A great fort hath he made upon the hill +of thy grandfather (MFunya MPopo), O Zalu Zako, +girded with a great palisade, around which walk ever +<corr sic="the"><anchor id="E22"/><ref +target="e22">the</ref></corr> +red devils in uniform, each one of whom hath a gun +with seven voices. And peering through that palisade, +like a terrible black leopard from his lair, are the monster +coughing devils. Eh! who are they who can +withstand them?</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q> echoed his audience with lively memories +of the <q>coughing devils.</q></p> + +<p><q>And he hath a mighty hut made from the white +man’s cloth of colour like to the forest full of things to +make magic. Seated upon his chair like unto a man +plucking bananas, the eyes upon his hands and in his +head gleam so fiercely that water is made within a +man. He who dares to look sees not only Eyes-in-the-hands, +but his two souls, even as thou seest thine own +two souls staring at thee with the frightened eyes that +are thine!</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q></p> + +<p>This time a genuine belly grunt was elicited, and +even Marufa moved uneasily.</p> + +<p><q>Thou hast been bewitched,</q> he added to mask his +<pb n="157"/><anchor id="Pg157"/> +astonishment. <q>For a man may see his own soul in +any pool, but never two souls!</q></p> + +<p><q>Even is it as I have told thee, O son of MTungo,</q> +asserted Sakamata.</p> + +<p>Sakamata discovered the use of snuff again to be +necessary. He watched covertly the repressed excitement +in the eyes of Zalu Zako.</p> + +<p><q>And what said the great magician unto thee?</q> +Marufa demanded to cover his discomfort.</p> + +<p><q>He spoke white words as a warrior should,</q> said +Sakamata. <q>He gave words which told me that he was +but a small wizard. He made my eyes to see the soul +of a greater god than he, who was there and yet was +not there; for at the touch of his magic hand with +many eyes, behold! there were two more souls of the +god which returned even as I looked.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh! A greater god than he?</q> demanded +Zalu Zako, with a flicker of the white of his +eyes.</p> + +<p><q>Even as I have said, a greater god who is king of +all the white man’s countries in the sea, who eats up +those whom he pleases. Yet, even though he may +bewitch with one of his eyes, did he speak softly to +Yagombi, the son of Bagazaan, and Zalayan, the son +of Kilmanyana, who were with me, bidding us to +tell our brethren that if they would not acknowledge +the true king that then he would eat us up, even as +he ate up the Unmentionable One. But to those who +would submit and make due tribute, would he protect +in peace from the white men who, fleeing from the +wrath of the great god, would soon come to eat up +our country like the locusts.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh! ehh! white men as the locusts!</q></p> +<pb n="158"/><anchor id="Pg158"/> + +<p><q>Thus he spoke and bade us to go forth and tell +our brethren.</q></p> + +<p>This was a wholly new notion and proportionally +serious if true. But Marufa, recovering from the +first shock, wrapped himself in his professional cloak +of omniscient indifference as he recollected that +Sakamata was an unfrocked priest of the craft. The +group took snuff sternly until Sakamata, having accomplished +his mission, deemed it wise to retire to allow +the suggestive ideas to germinate. So gravely he arose +and departed from the hut of Zalu Zako and went +under the patronage of Yabolo to another compound +where, to a group of the most disaffected chiefs, including +MYalu, he repeated nearly word for word +the same harangue.</p> + +<p>In the minds of +<corr sic="Zako Zalu"><anchor id="E23"/><ref +target="e23">Zalu Zako</ref></corr> +and Marufa the report +of Sakamata had been exceedingly disquieting. Marufa +began to wonder whether he had not better make terms +with the new god before worse came to the worst in the +form of white men like locusts, a menace fraught with +dire possibilities which were based upon the rumours +which every native had heard of the ways of white men +in bulk: to the Wongolo merely vague stories from the +north of the conquest of the Sudan by the British. +Marufa’s ambitions in the craft were almost submerged +in the dread that, wizard though he was, he would +have small chance of distinction and power among a +race of wizards. To Zalu Zako, although the prospect +of unlimited white men swooping upon them was +terrifying, his semi-conscious mind was rather occupied +with Bakuma than with affairs of state which seemed +merely to exist to torment lovers. However he, too, +was sufficiently impressed to consider seriously the +<pb n="159"/><anchor id="Pg159"/> +advisability of submitting before it was too late; the +motivating principle of the scheme was an idea which +suggested that, in some indefinable way, such action +might lead to the avoidance of the ban of godhood +and thus to the reinstatement of Bakuma in the realm +of possibilities.</p> + +<p>To Bakahenzie the report was more alarming than +to the others, inasmuch as it appeared to portend the +irretrievable loss of his power. He saw the effect +upon their minds, the inclination to yield to the new +conqueror, which, of course, would mean the last +of his followers being swept away in the crowd like +dry leaves in the wind. But more than the others he +suspected the motives of Sakamata, the man whom he +had unfrocked. Arguing in terms of his own mental +processes he saw correctly enough that Sakamata was +surely playing for himself, and guessed equally truly +that Sakamata would get, or imagined that he would +get, many rewards, political as well as in kind, for his +services as jackal to the white man. But he listened +and said no word for, or against, him. He was astute +enough never to make a move until he had, or thought +that he had, all the moves of the game worked out. +Marufa was just as wily; he related the news given +by Sakamata in a voice which gave no hint by tone or +word what any of his opinions might be. Then, as +they sat like graven images, supremely indifferent to +the doings of Sakamata or aught else, entered the +warrior bearing greetings from Birnier to Zalu +Zako.</p> + +<p>Immediately Zalu Zako, to whose less skilled mind +in intrigue this succession of world-shaking events +was bewildering, feared that already the plague of +<pb n="160"/><anchor id="Pg160"/> +white men like locusts had commenced. But when he +learned that the white man was alone and was Infunyana, +the only white man whom he had ever met, +he perceived vaguely some remote prospect of achieving +his desires. Almost eagerly, for a native, he commanded +the messenger to summon the white man to +his presence.</p> + +<p>To Bakahenzie the unexpected arrival of another +white was an unforeseen potentiality of force which +might be utilized to his own benefit; so thought +Marufa, which was in effect exactly the same reaction +as Zalu Zako’s. Therefore Bakahenzie immediately +protested upon the ground that no stranger could +be allowed to approach the Son-of-the-Snake, or +even the village, who had not been purified according +to custom. When Zalu Zako demurred he +retorted:</p> + +<p><q>Hath not one white man who was permitted to +enter our country without the demon being exorcised +wreaked disaster upon us? Wouldst thou then +destroy us utterly?</q></p> + +<p>Zalu Zako was silent. Much as he would have +desired to browbeat Bakahenzie, much as his confidence +in the powers of the chief witch-doctor had waned in +his estimation, yet there remained sufficient to overawe +him when the matter was put to a crucial test. +Bakahenzie would, so he stated, go himself to see the +new white man, thus unselfishly taking upon his person +the whole risk of the lasting magic of a stranger +unpurified. But Marufa had no intention of allowing +Bakahenzie to obtain a monopoly of this possible new +ally. Unlike Zalu Zako he was not burdened with +awe and had confidence in his own magic to overcome +<pb n="161"/><anchor id="Pg161"/> +any evil that Bakahenzie might seek to work against +him. So when he announced that he would accompany +Bakahenzie, that distressed wizard was too conscious +of his dwindling prestige to object.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD15" type="chapter"> +<pb n="162"/><anchor id="Pg162"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 15</hi> +</head> + +<p>Just after sun-up next morning as Birnier was +seated at the door of his tent reading his +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Melancholy</hi> +and drinking his coffee, a startled <q>clk</q> caused +him to glance round. He saw Bakuma rise suddenly +from the fire and disappear. The next moment +materialized out of the miasma of the morning the +figures of Bakahenzie and Marufa, followed by a file +of warriors.</p> + +<p>Portentously Bakahenzie stalked to the fire and +squatted down without even a murmur to Mungongo +busy with the breakfast. Bakahenzie remembered +Infunyana very well, but nevertheless designedly +Birnier ignored him in return. So they sat, the two +wizards taking snuff with grave concern almost at the +feet of the white who continued to smoke and to +read.</p> + +<p>The sign boded ill, for the insistence upon the +punctilious etiquette inferred that Bakahenzie was +disposed to be suspicious, if not directly hostile. And +indeed the warriors’ description of the magic of +Moonspirit, vide Mungongo, had made Bakahenzie +uneasy.</p> + +<p>After a full half-hour Bakahenzie, as if beaten in this +solemn game, turned gravely and saluted the white. +Birnier looked down from his chair with the affectation +of just having noticed that some one was there. After +a pause he returned the greeting, a little point which +<pb n="163"/><anchor id="Pg163"/> +Bakahenzie thoroughly appreciated. Birnier had +learned that according to Mungongo and the warrior, +Zalu Zako had not yet been anointed king-god; therefore +that Bakahenzie evidently intended to keep the +young man in the background.</p> + +<p>After preliminaries, Birnier inquired after Zalu Zako +and informed Bakahenzie that he had journeyed expressly +to see him. Bakahenzie ignored the question +and began to talk about Eyes-in-the-hands, demanding +to know whether Birnier was his brother.</p> + +<p><q>Nay,</q> said Birnier, <q>Eyes-in-the-hands is not of +the same tribe as Moonspirit,</q> for he sedulously followed +up the title which Mungongo had given him. +<q>Eyes-in-the-hands comes from a country twelve +moons distant from my country.</q></p> + +<p>Marufa squatting beside him grunted; Bakahenzie +took snuff nonchalantly as if he did not believe a +word.</p> + +<p><q>Eyes-in-the-hands is a mighty magician in his +own country,</q> said Bakahenzie in the form of an +assertion.</p> + +<p><q>The magic of Eyes-in-the-hands to the magic of +Moonspirit,</q> stated Birnier, <q>is as water to the beer of +the banana.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eyes-in-the-hands,</q> remarked Bakahenzie indifferently, +<q>hath magic to make the souls of man to be +seen by all.</q></p> + +<p><q>Those are but the souls of the belly and body, but +Moonspirit can enchant so that the spirit of the head +of man be seen at night,</q> boasted Birnier, wondering +what trick of zu Pfeiffer’s had produced the +effect.</p> + +<p><q>Eyes-in-the-hands,</q> insisted Bakahenzie, <q>hath +<pb n="164"/><anchor id="Pg164"/> +a spirit in a piece of a tree which cries or laughs, sings +or talks to his magic.</q></p> + +<p><q>Moonspirit,</q> retorted Birnier (thinking <q>Gramophone, +but I can go one better, my friend</q>), <q>hath +also a spirit in a piece of tree who will speak words +of wisdom unto thee in thine own tongue, who will +repeat that which is said unto him in thy tongue or +in my tongue, who will speak words of wisdom even +unto thee.</q></p> + +<p>Bakahenzie seemed outmatched in the boasting +tournament. He tapped snuff woodenly. Marufa +scratched his skinny ribs thoughtfully. Then Bakahenzie +remarked:</p> + +<p><q>He that hath not been cleansed may not look +upon the Son-of-the-Snake.</q></p> + +<p><q>He that hath not been anointed need have no +fear of the evil eye.</q></p> + +<p><q>Hath not one who was not cleansed entered +and cast evil upon the tribe?</q> demanded Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p><q>If the fence is not strong the leopard will +enter.</q></p> + +<p><q>If the leopard be not strong and swift indeed +may he not be killed in the hut?</q> inquired Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p><q>If a leopard and a wild-cat break in, then wilt thou +not kill the leopard first?</q></p> + +<p><q>Even so,</q> retorted Bakahenzie; <q>then is +water stronger than beer, even as the beer does +reveal?</q></p> + +<p>Birnier nearly smiled in recognition of the hit.</p> + +<p><q>Nay, does not beer make the fool to talk foolishness? +Dost thou then cast away the banana? Does not one +<pb n="165"/><anchor id="Pg165"/> +talk foolishness also who is sick and yet discardeth +good medicine, because he feareth to poison his +belly?</q></p> + +<p><q>Even so,</q> said Bakahenzie obstinately, <q>does the +sick man exorcise the good medicine lest an enemy hath +made magic thereupon?</q></p> + +<p><q>Then,</q> said Birnier, whose only objection to the +ceremony was the delay and the messiness, <q>let the +good medicine be purified.</q></p> + +<p>Bakahenzie grunted and covertly took stock of the +tent and equipment visible. Upon the pile of cases +stacked just inside the tent his eyes rested some time, +but he would not make any inquiry. Marufa, too, +was occupied in the same manner. Bakahenzie was +recalling the previous meeting with Birnier in the village +of MFunya <corr sic="MPope"><anchor id="E24"/><ref +target="e24">MPopo</ref></corr>—of that day when Birnier had +not made any attempt to impress the native mind +with <q>magic</q> other than the ordinary <q>miracles</q> in +the routine of a white man’s life.</p> + +<p><q>When the Son-of-the-Snake,</q> inquired Birnier, +who had learned as much of the hagiocracy as +Mungongo knew, <q>hath taken up the Burden, +wilt thou then drive Eyes-in-the-hands from the +country?</q></p> + +<p>Bakahenzie slowly withdrew his eyes from the +fascinating case as far as Birnier’s booted foot.</p> + +<p><q>Hast thou, white man, the magic twig that makes +fire?</q> he demanded.</p> + +<p><q>Even so.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier took a box of matches from his pocket and +struck one. Bakahenzie and Marufa watched him +solemnly. Then a lean bronze hand was outstretched. +Birnier gave him the box. Slowly and gravely Bakahenzie, +<pb n="166"/><anchor id="Pg166"/> +the chief witch-doctor, extracted a match, +turned it over and over, smelt it, tasted it, regarded +it, and struck it on the top of the box. It was a safety +match, so nothing happened. Birnier, without a +vestige of a smile, instructed him to strike it only upon +the black piece at the side. That impressed Bakahenzie +and Marufa. The former tried again as directed +and succeeded. Holding the match too near the head +he burned the quick of the nail, but not a muscle +quivered. He would not even admit that the white +man’s devil stick had bitten him. But he was still +more impressed.</p> + +<p>At a sign from Birnier, Mungongo brought from the +tent a nickel-plated revolver and cartridges, which he +placed at the feet of Bakahenzie without comment. +Apparently Bakahenzie did not notice the action or the +gift. He held out the matches to return to the white +man. Birnier requested him to keep them. He +wrapped up the box in his loin-cloth and fell to +further contemplation of the cases. He was cogitating. +The value of this white had suddenly increased. +Evidently he could make small magic. Perhaps he +could make as much big magic as Eyes-in-the-hands. +Who knew? But then if that was so he could make +greater magic than he, Bakahenzie, could. Bakahenzie +saw that if Moonspirit were such a great magician he +would be difficult or impossible to control. Naturally +Bakahenzie could only understand his own +motives in others. His problem now was to discover +some means by which he could control Moonspirit, +make of him a familiar to work to his own ends. Why +was he so insistent upon seeing Zalu Zako? Bakahenzie +became more and more suspicious. He saw +<pb n="167"/><anchor id="Pg167"/> +another reason why the white man must be kept away +from Zalu Zako. To refuse to purify him would give +a valid excuse that he may not look upon the Son-of-the-Snake. +But he did not wish to displease him; also +Marufa could perform the purification.</p> + +<p>Again Birnier repeated the question regarding the +overthrow of Eyes-in-the-hands. Bakahenzie took +snuff, regarded the revolver lying at his feet idly, and +deigned to reply.</p> + +<p><q>When that which must be hath come to pass, then +shall the children of the Snake eat up their enemies as +a lizard eats flies.</q></p> + +<p><q>And what is that which must come to pass?</q></p> + +<p>Bakahenzie sat silent awhile, slightly shocked at the +directness of the question; then as if to humour the +white man, he replied:</p> + +<p><q>When the Bridegroom hath taken the Bride.</q></p> + +<p>The ceremony of purification could not take place +until the following day, because such things may not +be hurried; and moreover, various potent charms had +to be sent for to the native village. Meanwhile +Bakahenzie squatted by the fire, contemplating the +nickel-plated revolver and affairs of policy, and opposite +him sat the meditative Marufa.</p> + +<p>From the hour of the monkey, Bakahenzie, unconscious +of the small face and anxious eyes watching the +camp from the tangle of green, was busy muttering +spells over a calabash containing a magic concoction +composed of the entrails of a white goat, certain herbs +and the eyes of a black wild-cat. When the roof of +the forest was a patterned ceiling against an incandescent +glow, Birnier stripped to the waist, and +submitted himself to the hands of the wizard who, +<pb n="168"/><anchor id="Pg168"/> +after scattering the feathers of a scarlet parrot into the +calabash, smeared the left breast, the forehead and the +right arm of the white man, to the accompaniment of +an incantation. These insignia and specifics he must +not remove for three suns; nor could he be permitted +to look upon the semi-divine Zalu Zako until +whatever evil influence his foreign body might +possess should have been exorcised by this powerful +medicine.</p> + +<p>To sit around half nude in such heat was no arduous +undertaking, but to sleep without rubbing off the +concoction was another matter; also the odour +thereof was not pleasing to the nostrils of a white man. +But Birnier accomplished the feat by smoking excessively +and by marking with a pencil the various +nostrums recommended by the amiable Burton, many +of which were hardly less disagreeable than Doctor +Bakahenzie’s prescription.</p> + +<p>That worthy’s slaves had erected a hut for him nigh +to the tent in the door of which he squatted, usually +with Marufa beside him, throughout the day, with +ever a contemplative eye upon his victim, an eye which +Birnier was sure was eagerly seeking some excuse to +plead that he had inadvertently rendered the magic +impotent, and must accordingly have the ceremony +repeated.</p> + +<p>Amused by the ridiculous sight he presented, +plastered over with this filth, Birnier made Mungongo, +whom he had taught to operate a camera, take a photograph +of him, which would entertain Lucille, as well +as be of scientific interest. Bakahenzie and Marufa +watched this performance from the fire with amazement, +for they imagined that the camera was some kind of +<pb n="169"/><anchor id="Pg169"/> +gun. When they heard the click, they grunted as if +expecting the white man to fall dead. Birnier of +course knew the universal native belief in the picture +being the soul, or one of the souls. He summoned +Bakahenzie and Marufa and showed them a photograph +which, after some difficulty, they recognised as +Mungongo.</p> + +<p><q>Eh,</q> grunted a warrior, <q>indeed is Mungongo the +slave of the white man, for hath he not imprisoned +his soul?</q></p> + +<p>Mungongo laughed, yet he believed in the superstition +as implicitly as any of his compatriots, for said +he:</p> + +<p><q>It is a wise man who hath that which is his always +within his hand, even as Moonspirit hath the soul of +his favourite wife with him always, so that she may +not be unfaithful unto him.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh, he is wiser than the Banana Eater!</q> grunted +the warrior in admiration.</p> + +<p>Birnier’s training to control his features was strained +in the effort not to express surprise. He could not +imagine from what Mungongo had derived this +astonishing statement, until he recollected that the +boy had seen a photograph of Lucille among his +papers.</p> + +<p>After this successful demonstration of his sophistication, +Mungongo was anxious that Moonspirit give an +exhibition of his magic to dumbfound the chief witch-doctor, +desiring most ardently to work the gramophone, +to operate which he had also learned. But on reflection, +Birnier decided that it was not his policy +<corr sic="tomake"><anchor id="E25"/><ref +target="e25">to make</ref></corr> +his thunder too cheap.</p> + +<p>Each evening as the last subtle violet quivered in the +<pb n="170"/><anchor id="Pg170"/> +trees had Bakuma glided from the shelter of the undergrowth +under the flap of Birnier’s tent, where she had +lain until the first tint of dawn on the foliage of +the forest. Birnier had wished her to leave for +some village until Bakahenzie had left the camp, +but Bakuma had frantically pleaded to remain, +knowing that the craft was seeking her throughout the +country since Bakahenzie’s latest interview with mighty +Tarum.</p> + +<p>But upon the third day as Birnier was seated reading +philosophically at his tent door, the inevitable happened. +A loud outcry arose and from the tangle of creepers +started the lithe figure of Bakuma, who darted past +him into the tent. For a moment there was silence. +But Birnier guessed what the matter was. Bakahenzie +emerged from the wall of green and cried out in a +loud voice. Instantly the warriors around leaped to +their feet, and broke out into great clamour.</p> + +<p>Mungongo, busy with the cooking pots, rushed +to Birnier’s side, gesticulating wildly. Inside the tent +crouched Bakuma. Towards Birnier advanced Bakahenzie +and the warriors, whose dilated eyes and spears +in their hands betokened that Bakahenzie had stirred +their deepest feelings of terror and murder. Birnier +smoked placidly, neither stirring nor permitting a sign +of their presence to cross his features.</p> + +<p>Mungongo, startled out of his confidence in Moonspirit, +excitedly bade Bakuma go forth as Bakahenzie, +stopping in front of the white man, broke into a +harangue, bidding him to give up Bakuma whose +sacrilege in breaking the magic circle, as he had said, +had brought the terrible Eyes-in-the-hands upon +them; that the welfare of the tribe depended upon +<pb n="171"/><anchor id="Pg171"/> +her sacrifice to the angered Unmentionable One even +as she had been doomed; and threatening that they +would take the insolent white man, whose magic was +as water, and sacrifice him as well, as was desired by +the spirit of Tarum.</p> + +<p>The longer he spoke the more excited he grew. +Motivated by the sudden conviction that the sacrifice +of Bakuma, whose action he had foretold so successfully, +and the slaughter of the white would really restore to +him his repute and remove at the same time the +problem of controlling a superior magician who +threatened to become his rival, Bakahenzie began to +work himself up into the necessary state of prophetic +hysteria. Cowering against the camp-bed Bakuma +whimpered with terror; Mungongo incoherently +begged Moonspirit to give up the girl.</p> + +<p>Not a muscle moved upon Birnier’s face; nor even +did his eyes turn in the direction of the menacing +crowd who with uplifted spears joggled each other +around Bakahenzie. Birnier knew that it was a supreme +test of nerve; knew that any attempt to snatch a +rifle or a movement of any sort, would precipitate action +on their side. He had no intention of surrendering +the girl to a hideous fate, and also he saw beyond the +incident that if Bakahenzie were to triumph over him +now, not only would his prestige with the natives be +gone for ever, but that his fate would be surely sealed. +Slowly, exaggeratedly, as if he were alone, he killed a +mosquito upon his bare right breast and lighted his pipe +anew.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie advanced a step followed by the warriors. +His voice had reached the falsetto timbre. Mungongo +lost his head entirely and seizing Bakuma, began to +<pb n="172"/><anchor id="Pg172"/> +drag her out of the tent. Birnier turned his head +leisurely towards him. Said he very loudly:</p> + +<p><q>It is not seemly to rape a woman in my presence, +O Mungongo. Let her be, for I will buy thee +one.</q></p> + +<p>Mungongo ceased to pull at Bakuma’s arms and stared +as if paralysed. Birnier saw the eyes switch in a +terrified glance at the warriors behind him and heard +Bakahenzie’s yell to kill.</p> + +<p>For one moment he thought that indeed the end had +come. Before he could reach the rifle a dozen spears +would be in his back. He sat motionless, the +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Anatomy +of Melancholy</hi> still in his hand, and watched the gauge of +Mungongo’s eyes. Bakahenzie’s voice rose to a screech. +Suddenly Birnier wheeled round in his chair, snatched +up the pencil and staring hard at them, began to sketch +faces on the open page of the book.</p> + +<p>At the sight the warriors ceased their shuffling dance, +were arrested with the spears in their hands in as many +poses. Bakahenzie’s scream was stoppered as if by a +hand upon his mouth. In the silence their heavy +breathing rivalled the twitter and hum of the forest. +Birnier sketched furiously, glaring portentously from +the group to the paper. Bakahenzie took a step forward, +a nervous step, and yelled, <q>Kill!</q> but +his voice released those of the warriors. In one +loud shout they cried:</p> + +<p><q>He bewitches us! He bewitches us!</q></p> + +<p>As Birnier bent his head to make another magic +mark upon the magic book he heard the rush of +feet.</p> + +<p><q>They have fled!</q> squealed Mungongo, still +clutching Bakuma.</p> +<pb n="173"/><anchor id="Pg173"/> + +<p>Birnier sighed and dropped his pencil as he glanced +up. Bakahenzie and the warriors had disappeared, +but by the fire squatted Marufa unconcernedly +scratching his skinny ribs.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD16" type="chapter"> +<pb n="174"/><anchor id="Pg174"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 16</hi> +</head> + +<p>Changed was the City of the Snake, the place +of kings. Upon the site where had been the +hive of huts wrapped in the green arms of the banana +plantation, laboured under the incandescent sun +gangs of prisoners under armed guards upon the +building of larger huts laid out in streets, broad and +geometrical, lined with correct ditches for drainage. +Around the outskirts here and there remained charred +posts.</p> + +<p>Upon the hill of MKoffo was a palisade enclosing +the barracks of two companies of the askaris and two +guns. No brown cones peeped like candle-snuffers +above the sea of green fronds upon the hills of the +tombs of kings, but from the sacred hill of Kawa Kendi +commanding the approach to the valley rose, black +against the sky, the triangle of the roof frame of a +large bungalow; around the crown of the hill was +a stout palisade through which grinned in the sun +the muzzles of a Nordenfeldt and a pom-pom; and +outside upon a levee strutted rigidly four sentries +night and day, a perpetual reminder to the passer-by +below of efficient vigilance.</p> + +<p>Within was a methodical formation of round huts +dominated by a square one; at the far end, and in +solitary grandeur beneath the Imperial flag upon a +roughly-hewn flag-pole, was a green marquee tent, +the temporary quarters of the Kommandant.</p> +<pb n="175"/><anchor id="Pg175"/> + +<p>Under the tent verandah at the rear where were +his private quarters sat zu Pfeiffer with a towel tucked +around his neck upon which was scattered inch-lengths +of hair. Sergeant Schultz sheared deftly +with clippers like a reaper in a field of corn. When +he had completed the final trimming behind the +ears, he stood aside with the air of an artist viewing +his work.</p> + +<p><q>Is that pleasing to your Excellence?</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer ran a hand around his skull.</p> + +<p><q>Ya, that is better and cooler, sergeant.</q></p> + +<p>With a professional air Schultz whisked around the +Kommandant’s neck with a light brush, untucked the +towel and brushed him down. As zu Pfeiffer rose +Bakunjala appeared with a broom of small branches +and a pan and proceeded to sweep the earthen floor. +Schultz neatly folded up the towel, placed it on the +chair, and stood at attention.</p> + +<p><q>Is that all, Excellence?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ya, sergeant. Take a cigar.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thank you, Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>The sergeant selected one, saluted and departed. +Zu Pfeiffer lounged in a basket chair. The usual +water bag and syphon were suspended at his elbow +above sparklet and brandy bottles, and a box of cigars. +Around him on the floor was a litter of papers, envelopes +and documents. On his wrist sparkled the +jewelled bracelet and between fingers, one of which +bore the large diamond which had earned him his +native name, was an official document bearing the +Imperial Eagles.</p> + +<p>As he read he smiled and patted his left moustache +approvingly. Officially the authorities would not +<pb n="176"/><anchor id="Pg176"/> +comply with his request made before leaving Ingonya +for two more companies of askaris with white non-commissioned +officers and two more guns; but unofficially +he was informed that they would be supplied +later and that the authorities were pleased. He +picked up a private letter and re-read it. Then he +smiled again, a sneering twist remaining at the corner +of the mouth. Always he was informed by sympathetic +friends and an agency of the whereabouts and doings +of Lucille. On the 1st of August she had been due +at Wiesbaden.</p> + +<p>He threw the letter on the table with an irritable +gesture and scowled as he drank. The arrival of the +mail always brought vivid regrets for the glories and +comforts he was missing by being condemned to war +with <q>dirty swines of niggers.</q> That was part of the +penalty he had had to pay for being a gentleman in +a land of dollar grubbers, yet a matter to be written +up against the account of Lucille, the entzückend +Lucille. He must have been verrückt, he reflected +savagely. The delicate lips softened in ludicrous +contrast to the brutal outline of a cropped skull. +The blare of a trumpet disturbed his reveries, reveries +which were apt to rankle until among his satellites +went the word that the Eater-of-men was possessed +by the demon once more.</p> + +<p>After he had elegantly finished a small cup of café +cognac and a cigarette, Sergeant Schultz strutted up, +saluted, and at a nod from zu Pfeiffer handed a +document to the Kommandant, a roster of the chiefs +who had submitted with the approximate number of +their followers. Officially there were five chiefs with +some six thousand men who had nominally accepted +<pb n="177"/><anchor id="Pg177"/> +the new ruler, each one of whom had to leave as +hostage for his fidelity a son, who lived under guard +in the village beneath the guns.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer needed the extra companies and white +men to establish stations at various points with the +object of gradually extending the sphere of military +occupation. Zu Pfeiffer left nothing, as far as he +could foresee, to chance; his maxim was to conserve +his force to the utmost, to attain his objective at +the least possible cost in men and material. The +policy of terrorisation was based on the reasoning that +eventually schrecklichkeit saved both the conqueror +and the conquered bloodshed and trouble; for if +the enemy were not so impressed with the fact that +all resistance was utterly useless, he would resort to +the sporadic risings which would entail more slaughter +on both sides. Zu Pfeiffer, acting on the teachings +of the German masters, sought to make war psychologically +as well as militarily, economically as well as +geographically. Hence his dramatic step in the +overthrow of the idol in person, and the care with +which he planned to impress each chief and native +with his omnipotence and magic. This system of +the application of political science as well as of military +science, of course, was sound, save for a temperamental +error: the lack of sufficient imagination to realize +the unknown quantity of chance, the inevitable mistake +of military scientists who are loath to admit the artist +to their counsels, exemplified by men of genius, such +as Napoleon and Leonardo da Vinci, who were both +mathematicians and artists.</p> + +<p>In zu Pfeiffer’s case, as in others of his type, the +motivating principle was not bourgeois greed of material +<pb n="178"/><anchor id="Pg178"/> +gain for himself; gain he could afford to despise in +his wealth; such would have been contrary to the +code of a gentleman. While he had not hesitated +for a moment to destroy his rival, Birnier, he would +not touch with one finger any of his goods; for that +reason had he given permission to the corporal to +take Birnier’s equipment, so that he would not even +be contaminated by the possession of them, a temperamental +error again which had led to Birnier’s +escape.</p> + +<p>The driving power in his caste and tribe was love +of power to an excess masked with portentous solemnity +under the cloak of benefiting this people and the +peoples of the world; forcing them to have broad +streets and sanitary arrangements, compelling them to +laugh, to sing, and to be happy whether they would +or no: an urge which is the curse of the world, the +impulse to interfere in other folk’s affairs, to teach +them, to make them to know the true God, the +right way of living, the right way of doing everything +from the rising of the first sun of consciousness +to that happy crack of doom when our +planet tries to enforce its orbit upon some other +planet.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer pinched a cigar tip, lighted it meticulously +and considered the roster.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant, this man—what’s the animal’s name? +Kalomato—has his son surrendered himself?</q></p> + +<p><q>No, Excellence. The man says that he has fled +the country.</q></p> + +<p><q>Where does he come from?</q></p> + +<p><q>The neighbourhood, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>That means that his son is with the rebels?</q></p> +<pb n="179"/><anchor id="Pg179"/> + +<p><q>Probably not, Excellence. He is very young, +they say.</q></p> + +<p><q>That does not matter. Sequester all the chief’s +property. If he won’t give it up let the askaris deal +with him. If that doesn’t work, have him shot.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>For such obstinate cases zu Pfeiffer had fallen upon +the custom of serving two purposes by handing over +the victim to the mercies of his askaris which whetted +their sadistic appetites and usually secured the desired +revelation of the whereabouts of the hidden ivory or +other goods under the torture of the burning feet, +and divers other ingenious methods. Of late this +practice had proved so satisfactory that the mere +threat was usually sufficient.</p> + +<p><q>This man,</q> continued zu Pfeiffer tapping the +roster with his long nail, <q>his son is here?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Has he paid the tithe due?</q></p> + +<p><q>No, Excellence. He refuses.</q></p> + +<p><q>Have the son shot.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p><q>Any report this morning?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ja, Excellence. A Wamungo spy brings news +that a white man entered the country from the +south.</q></p> + +<p><q>Description?</q></p> + +<p><q>They say he is a trader, Excellence, coming from +the Kivu direction, but the savage cannot give any +satisfactory description. It is the first white he has +seen, he says.</q></p> + +<p><q>He won’t be the last!</q> snapped zu Pfeiffer with +a twitch of the left sentry moustache. <q>Saunders, +<pb n="180"/><anchor id="Pg180"/> +possibly. If so he should be here shortly to report. +Well?</q></p> + +<p><q>The King and the few men left with him are in +hiding, Excellence, in dense forest. They are demoralized +and quarrel among themselves. Many are +coming to surrender, for they say that you, Excellence, +have eaten their god.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ach!</q> said zu Pfeiffer with satisfaction. <q>What +did I tell you, sergeant?</q></p> + +<p><q>Your Excellence was correct in every respect.</q></p> + +<p><q>Um! Pity I can’t spare a company. That would +settle them before they have a chance to reorganize. +Ach, but they haven’t the sense, the animals, to do +that.… Parade, sergeant.</q></p> + +<p>Schultz saluted.</p> + +<p><q>Ready, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer rose, took up his gold-mounted sjambok, +and the two walked around the big marquee to the +front where between the orderly lines of huts those +askaris not on duty were drawn up for inspection. +The sergeant barked. Bayonets flashed as they +presented arms. Another bark and they ported +arms. Zu Pfeiffer walked down the line inspecting +buttons, bolts, and rifles as meticulously as he had +lighted his cigar. The fifteenth barrel he thrust +away petulantly and flicked the askari’s face with his +sjambok. The muscles of the man’s face twitched as +the blow came and the eyes bulged, but he did not +flinch.</p> + +<p><q>Twenty-five, sergeant!</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer passed on. When the inspection was +finished he stood rigidly smoking, coldly watching +<pb n="181"/><anchor id="Pg181"/> +Schultz dismiss the men. Then he stalked down the +hill with Schultz slightly in the rear, followed by a +big black Munyamwezi sergeant-major, towards the +opposite hill, of MKoffo. But at the bottom of where +there were some half-constructed huts he paused.</p> + +<p><q>The women, sergeant?</q></p> + +<p><q>The large hut, Excellence. Two hundred as +ordered.</q></p> + +<p><q>No women of chiefs?</q></p> + +<p><q>No, Excellence. Those attending on the hostages +are housed apart.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer strode towards the hut indicated which +stood near to the edge of a rased banana plantation. +Two sentries without the fence presented +arms stiffly and remained immobile. Within the +compound were some sixty or more young girls, +mostly having the black complexion of the slave type. +The chattering and giggling ceased as the tall form +of the dreaded Eyes-in-the-hands stood in the gate. +A slight smile flirted his lips.</p> + +<p>From the deep violet of the hut interior +darted a young girl into the sunlight. At the sight +of the white men she poised on her toes, one foot +forward and hands extended as if about to whirl into +a dance, staring with the curiosity of a fawn.</p> + +<p>Tall for a native maid, the light bronze of her +immature breasts revealed that she was of the Wongolo +ruling caste. Around her slender neck was a circlet +of bright blue beads. As zu Pfeiffer stiffened and +stared she wheeled and fled into the hut.</p> + +<p><q>Gott im Himmel!</q> he muttered. <q>The body +of Lucille in Carmen!</q></p> + +<p><q>Who is that woman?</q> he demanded of Schultz.</p> +<pb n="182"/><anchor id="Pg182"/> + +<p><q>I don’t know, Excellence,</q> replied the sergeant +and spoke to the black sergeant-major. <q>She is the +daughter of the chief Bamana, Excellence, visiting +these other women. I will have her removed.</q></p> + +<p><q>I will not have the sense of caste abused,</q> said +zu Pfeiffer, gazing into the hut. <q>That is not policy. +Have her sent to the fort, sergeant, and placed under +guard.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer swung on his heels and strode out and +up the hill of MKoffo. The inspection was more +hurried than usual that day. Then he returned to +the hill of Kawa Kendi to hold court in the big marquee +tent. After a lunch and a long siesta in the heat of +the noonday he strolled around the village superintending +the rasing of huts and the staking out of +the new village which was to rise upon the ashes of +the old one, a concrete example of the wisdom and +power of the new lord, Eyes-in-the-hands.</p> + +<p>Under squads of askaris gangs of prisoners, criminal +and political, bound by a light chain about each neck, +laboured at clearing away charred stumps and debris, +while other natives portered in saplings and loads of +grass, each village which had submitted sending its +allotted quota.</p> + +<p>Trumpets blared. The keepers of the coughing +monsters made magical dances with their fire sticks +up on the hill of Kawa Kendi. The black, white +and red totem of the conqueror fluttered to earth +like a wounded bird. Night closed like a black +lid placed upon the steaming cauldron of the +sun.</p> + +<p>After dinner zu Pfeiffer sat in his private tent at +<pb n="183"/><anchor id="Pg183"/> +the rear of the marquee drinking brandy. Upon a +camp table covered by a violet cloth was the portrait +in the ivory frame at which he gazed as he smoked. +The blue eyes and the feminine lips softened as +sentimentally as any sex-starved Puritan virgin; +perhaps not in spite of, but because of, a mediæval +code as senseless as the native system of tabu, for +natural emotions suppressed find an outlet in some +form.</p> + +<p>From outside came the twitter and hum of the +forest, the rhythm of frogs, the dim bleating of a goat +and the distant wailing of the women’s death lament. +Zu Pfeiffer drank and smoked and stared at the portrait +in the ivory frame. Once he slapped irritably at a +mosquito which had escaped the double net over the +tent door. A wave of emotion seemed to well within +him. He looked as if he were about to blubber as +leaning over the table he peered intently at the pictured +face and whispered:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 5" type="song"> + <l>“Nur einmal noch möcht ich dich sehen,</l> + <l>Und sinken vor dir aufs Knie</l> + <l>Und sterbend zu dir sprechen:</l> + <l>‘Madam, ich liebe Sie!’ …</l> +</lg> + +<p><q>Lucille! … Ach, Lucille!</q></p> + +<p>He drew himself back with a jerk, drank his brandy +at a gulp and called angrily:</p> + +<p><q>Bakunjala!</q></p> + +<p>The flutter of sand preceded a gasped:</p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer gave him an irritable command. Four +<pb n="184"/><anchor id="Pg184"/> +minutes elapsed during which he gazed steadily at +the portrait. He turned at the slither of feet. Bright +blue beads glittered in the lamplight as the daughter +of Bamana sank upon her heels.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD17" type="chapter"> +<pb n="185"/><anchor id="Pg185"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 17</hi> +</head> + +<p>In his favourite seat by the door of his hut sat +Zalu Zako waiting as patiently as only a native can +to see the white man, symbol of a subconscious hope. +The fact that Bakuma had not been found by the +emissaries of the bloodthirsty Bakahenzie evoked a +sensation of pleasure which was expressed merely in +a feeling of well-being. Of her in person he thought +consciously little; his attitude was much as a white +lover who might discover his loved one to be a sister, +and hence, by consanguinity, barred from him for ever, +a terrible fact of fate; but, lacking the sentimental +inhibition, Zalu Zako did not disguise the death wish +because she was denied him. Desires are simpler in +the savage, yet the driving motives are the same as +in the <q>cultured</q> ex-animal overlaid with generations +of inhibitions—tabus—which form complex strata +making the truth more and more difficult to recognise. +From that very obfuscation of motives arises +civilisation.</p> + +<p>Then from the blue depths of the humid green came +a great outcry, answered by the ululation of the +women in warning.</p> + +<p><q>Eyes-in-the-hands!</q> grunted Zalu Zako, voicing +the perpetual fear of the camp, as he leaped for his +gun which Moonspirit had sent him.</p> + +<p>Above the medley of sounds arose an articulate +shout:</p> +<pb n="186"/><anchor id="Pg186"/> + +<p><q>He has bewitched our souls! He has bewitched +our souls!</q></p> + +<p>Zalu Zako paused and listened; replaced the gun +and squatted, resuming his pose of dignity before the +first man made entrance. For a few moments the +shrilling of the women and the wild jabber continued. +Then entered a slave followed by a warrior who, +excitedly falling upon his knees, gasped out:</p> + +<p><q>He hath bewitched our souls! He hath bewitched +our souls! Our spears were blunted by his magic! +Our swords were turned by the wall of his soul! He +is a mighty magician!</q></p> + +<p><q>Of whom speakest thou, fool?</q></p> + +<p>As Zalu Zako put the question the tall figure of +Bakahenzie stalked slowly into the courtyard. The +warrior rose and fled at a command from Zalu Zako. +Bakahenzie greeted him gravely and very elaborately +took snuff in order to show how casual the matter +was. When he had meticulously restored the cork +of twisted leaves, he announced slowly:</p> + +<p><q>As I have prophesied the breaking of the sacred +circle has delivered us into the hands of the false +magician, Eyes-in-the-hands. The daughter of Bakala +is even now at the camp of the white man, whom they +call Moonspirit.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> commented Zalu Zako.</p> + +<p><q>The brother of Eyes-in-the-hands hath taken her +in concubinage,</q> continued Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p>Zalu Zako made no response. Grimly approached +Marufa and squatted beside them.</p> + +<p><q>Even as I have prophesied,</q> commented Marufa, +who never failed to seize an opportunity of suggestion.</p> + +<p><q>I bade him render up the Bride of the Banana; +<pb n="187"/><anchor id="Pg187"/> +but she hath bitten his soul in his sleep. He held her +in his arms. He breathed upon her so that she would +not obey. The magic of this brother of Eyes-in-the-hands +hath indeed rotted the livers of our people, for +they fled like young jackals.</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q></p> + +<p>Zalu Zako stared cautiously at the compound fence; +Marufa regarded Bakahenzie’s left knee with interest. +For fully five minutes no word was said. Then +Bakahenzie portentously:</p> + +<p><q>Tarum demands the brother of Eyes-in-the-hands, +this Moonspirit, for if one be taken then will +the other, Eyes-in-the-hands, wither away and the +Unmentionable One will be revealed.</q></p> + +<p><q>Thou hast spoken!</q> assented Marufa.</p> + +<p>But Zalu Zako continued to stare blankly at the +fence. His mind was aflame for Bakuma. Bakahenzie +had no suspicion of his passion, yet the fear of his +enmity acted like a douche of water in spite of the +fact that the implicit faith in the doctors had been +weakened. But disbelief was not positive enough to +stimulate action. However, from the news of Bakuma’s +proximity, he had gotten strength to doubt the +efficacy of Bakuma’s sacrifice to restore the kingdom, +a strength which prompted him to say:</p> + +<p><q>Who is he that has said that Moonspirit be the +twin of Eyes-in-the-hands? Enemies there are even +among whites. If he be an enemy of Eyes-in-the-hands +and he be a great magician, as they say, then +through his magic may not Eyes-in-the-hands be +slain?</q></p> + +<p><q>He hath but young words,</q> asserted Bakahenzie +stonily.</p> +<pb n="188"/><anchor id="Pg188"/> + +<p><q>But Mungongo, the son of Marula, saith that&qdash;</q></p> + +<p><q>Dost thou ask an infant to teach thee to hunt?</q> +retorted Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p><q>Doth a warrior ask his women to mend his +wounds?</q> added Marufa, putting in a gentle reminder +that Zalu Zako was merely a chief and not of the +craft.</p> + +<p><q>He hath been exorcised, let him be brought and +put to the test before me,</q> persisted Zalu Zako.</p> + +<p><q>That may not be,</q> objected Bakahenzie, <q>for +thou art not yet anointed.</q></p> + +<p><q>But that which is necessary has not yet been +done,</q> objected Zalu Zako obstinately. <q>If he have +no magic and his heart be not white, then let him be +doomed for the Feast of the Moon.</q> And gaining +courage, added the royal phrase: <q>I have spoken.</q></p> + +<p>The three sat motionless. The silence twittered +and hummed. The shadows swelled. Bakahenzie +rose slowly and stalked away through the compound. +Zalu Zako watched his departure without remark +or expression. After an interval, Marufa also went.</p> + +<p>Another person upon whom the news of the +discovery had had a similar reaction was MYalu. +Her proximity released the primitive desire to go forth +and seize her. But such action was arrested by fear +of the consequences from his fellows to whom the +tabu was still real, and of the white man, Moonspirit. +MYalu could never overcome the fiat of the witch-doctors +while he remained with them. Yonder—his +decision to go with Yabolo and Sakamata was +clinched, but—he would take Bakuma with him.</p> + +<p>Straight to the hut of Bakahenzie, who seemed to +be expecting him, stalked Marufa. Marufa squatted +<pb n="189"/><anchor id="Pg189"/> +solemnly near to him. These catastrophic events +had caused a general unrest which had weakened the +discipline of superstition.</p> + +<p>There are two types of magicians: those who are +partially conscious hypocrites, and those who are +gulled by their own fakes; for he who makes magic +must be ever ready with an explanation of failure and +very ingenious in the making. The fool, believing +in his own medicine, is as much astounded at failure +as the victim is angry. Bakahenzie and Marufa +belonged to the first class; yet being of their particular +mental development they were possessed of beliefs +just as deeply as the most credulous layman. That +the wizard, personally, of his own individual power +could slay an enemy by incantation they did not believe; +but that the spirit of the Banana or of other inanimate +objects could do so, they believed most profoundly. +Their creed was a form of pure animism; the storms, +the winds, the lightning, trees, rocks, rivers had +separate and conscious souls; other inanimate objects +not included in an arbitrary list, had unconscious +souls, each and every one capable of doing mischief +or of good; hence the essence of religion in the act +of imploring the good offices of the most powerful +spirits, or in moments of exasperation of threatening +them with dire punishments. Their hypocrisy lay +not in disbelief but in pretending to the people that +their intercession with the gods was infallible; they +knew only too well that the said gods would seldom +incline an ear to the magician.</p> + +<p>Of course nearly every doctor had a slightly different +dogma, usually based upon an incorrect deduction +from a false premise. One doctor would place all his +<pb n="190"/><anchor id="Pg190"/> +confidence in the spirit of the Banana—the most +popular spirit; and another in the spirit of the river, +because out of a dozen times that he had implored +aid, five <q>miracles</q> at least had been vouchsafed, +therefore, argued he, the spirit of the river is the true +and most powerful god. The arguments of others +were equally unsound as they were dominated by some +hidden desire, much as reputable scientists, while +rejecting phenomena accepted by the populace, cling +fatuously to a belief in spooks in order to satisfy a +subconscious desire for immortality, fear of death.</p> + +<p>Hence the confusion in the heart of Bakahenzie. +To him it appeared that the spirits had deserted him +entirely; to him it seemed that perhaps these white +men had indeed the true <q>magic,</q> the art of controlling +the spirits to their will. This terror had urged +him to the destruction of the white man, Moonspirit. +Now Zalu Zako had mutinied, and being unaware +of the powerful impulse from which Zalu Zako had +gotten this sudden strength, Bakahenzie attributed it +to the magic influence of Moonspirit. At any cost, +he argued, must Zalu Zako and the white man be +kept apart.</p> + +<p>But other pressing points were how to accomplish +the slaughter of the white man, and what he should +do now after the attempt to kill him had failed. Either +Moonspirit would flee, which would be most happy proof +to Bakahenzie that he was an impostor and no magician, +or he would seek revenge immediately. No other +action was conceivable to Bakahenzie. Therefore in +such a case the obvious act was to strike the quicker. +He contemplated his colleague without looking at +him. What was his attitude? Bakahenzie, on general +<pb n="191"/><anchor id="Pg191"/> +principles, was suspicious. If Marufa thought that by +supporting the white man he might be able to attain +Bakahenzie’s overthrow and gain the position of chief +<corr sic="witch doctor"><anchor id="E26"/><ref +target="e26">witch-doctor</ref></corr>, +he would do it, even as he, Bakahenzie, +would have done in his place. Therefore upon these +matters did he talk very guardedly with Marufa, who +was unusually reticent. However, after communing +with himself in sphinx-like gravity, Marufa assented to +the proposal that Zalu Zako be isolated in the godhood +immediately.</p> + +<p>So the slow rhythmic beat, which was the summons +to the craft to assemble, throbbed in the clammy air. +Before the humid shadows had lengthened a hand’s +breadth, were some twenty wizards, greater and lesser, +fully dressed in the green feathers of the order, collected +within the compound of Bakahenzie. Silently and +woodenly they squatted in a half circle before the +chief witch-doctor, each and every one excited by the +marvellous stories circulated by the warriors returned +from the camp of Moonspirit, stories which amply +corroborated the tales of Mungongo. Those who +supported Bakahenzie’s party believed implicitly, +because they wished so to do, the <q>reason</q> for the +impotence of their united magic to be the breaking of +the magic circle by Bakuma. But others who cherished +personal ambitions for the head witch-doctorship +were suspicious of each other and of Bakahenzie, each +one according to his grade and consequent knowledge +in the craft.</p> + +<p>When the drum had ceased and they sat in impressive +silence, Bakahenzie, squatting motionless on the +threshold of his hut, began to mutter incantations and +to rock from side to side. Now every one of the inner +<pb n="192"/><anchor id="Pg192"/> +cult knew well enough that this performance was +merely a ceremony prescribed by tradition and +expediency; yet for that very reason and particularly +for the benefit of the lesser wizards, they solemnly +accepted it, grunting in chorus as heartily as the others +to the chant of Bakahenzie. As suddenly as dramatically, +Bakahenzie stopped with eyes staring upon another +world and fell upon his back, to scream and to writhe +realistically as practice assured him. Then when the +mouth was flecked with foam, the spirit of Tarum spake +through the rigid body which lay as in catalepsy with +eyes inverted:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Aie! Aie! I am the spirit of Kintu!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I am he who first was!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I am the banana from whom I was made!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! The time of the nuptial draweth nigh!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! But where is the bride of my bed?</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! Let her be found and prepared!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! For my lips are athirst for her blood!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! Let the son of the Snake be anointed!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! Let him be ready to assist at my feast!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I have spoken, I, the father of Men!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I, Tarum, the soul of your ancestors!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>From the assembly came the low belly grunt of +acceptance, for they were, by suggestion, infected +with the induced hysteria almost as much as the superb +actor himself; they believed; even the members of +the inner cult were convinced for the moment that +indeed the mighty spirit of their ancestors was speaking.</p> + +<p>Slowly, with many prodigious grunts and twists, did +<pb n="193"/><anchor id="Pg193"/> +Bakahenzie’s soul return to his body. He sat up and +after a long pause said impressively:</p> + +<p><q>What hath He said unto you?</q></p> + +<p>And Marufa, as solemnly, related all that He had +said.</p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q> said Bakahenzie tonelessly, <q>it is even as +I have prophesied. These indeed are the words of +wisdom. Is it not so, O my brethren?</q> Again +came the low grunt of assent. <q>Let us obey, that +these foul spirits may pass and the Unmentionable +One return unto his children!</q></p> + +<p>Then, according to custom, all save those of the +inner cult arose and went forth silently. In the heart +of Yabolo, as he squatted as expressionless as the +others, was satisfaction, for he saw, or thought he saw, +that Eyes-in-the-hands would be pleased with the +destruction of a man who might possibly become his +rival; and on that principle imagined himself introduced +by his relative, Sakamata, to Eyes-in-the-hands +as the slayer, or initiator of the slaying, of his rival, +Moonspirit. That Zalu Zako should be anointed +King-God suited him as well as the other wizards and +for the same reason. Therefore Yabolo for once +raised no objection to the behests of Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p>Already from the encampment rose the excited +voices of the warriors who had been informed of the +decision of the assembly of wizards. But the shadows +were long. The forest was even more thickly peopled +with spirits than their own park-like country. One +of the inner cult of five suggested that the attack be +made at dawn; but Bakahenzie, still baited by uncertainty +regarding the reality of the magic of Moonspirit +and the possible influence of Zalu Zako now that he +<pb n="194"/><anchor id="Pg194"/> +had apparently developed a will of his own before they +could shut him up in the godhead, was for immediate +action, and insisted that they call together the warriors +and make special magic to protect them from the forest +demons. Yabolo, as anxious as Bakahenzie, became his +ally in urging that this be done. But Marufa was +not at all of this way of thinking. While the fate of +Zalu Zako was quite immaterial, his attitude to Moonspirit +was much the same as the young man’s, but +prompted by a different motive; a power possible to +utilize for his benefit. But he said no word, listening +indifferently apparently to the throbbing of the drums +summoning the warriors. When the inner circle +broke up he stalked solemnly to his own hut, but when +he was within he took from a gourd a special amulet, +slipped through a hole in the palisade behind the hut, +and disappeared into the forest.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD18" type="chapter"> +<pb n="195"/><anchor id="Pg195"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 18</hi> +</head> + +<p>Meanwhile the object of Bakahenzie’s political +perplexities was also holding a council of war. +Mungongo and Bakuma were divided in opinion. The +former had recovered his complete confidence in +Moonspirit. After the repulse of the greatest magician +and his warriors he became filled with a martial ardour +and strongly advocated advancing upon the village +immediately. Birnier smiled and considered. As a +matter of fact the plan was not so utterly insane as it +appeared. Did he follow up swiftly upon the heels +of the terror-stricken warriors the probability was that +the whole camp would be infected by the spirit of panic +and bolt. However, he could not see any object to +be attained by stampeding the village. Mungongo, +ever eager for a miracle, urged that Moonspirit should +take upon him the spirit form and descend upon them +at night. To his disgust Moonspirit refused, so +Mungongo retired to the fire and consoled himself by +another vivid description of the powers of his master—growing +every day!—to Bakuma, who sat and +listened dully with ever an anxious eye and ear upon +the forest trail.</p> + +<p>Bakuma was obsessed by terror inspired by the fact +that Bakahenzie had discovered her presence; the +inherent awe of the witch-doctor which had been +temporarily allayed by the presence of the white, was +revived, as well as the inevitability of her doom. Only +<pb n="196"/><anchor id="Pg196"/> +the strict injunctions of Moonspirit prevented her +fleeing through the jungle to take refuge in some distant +goatherd village. She was convinced the wizard +would soon find out where she had gone; for she was +persuaded that Bakahenzie had discovered her former +hiding place by magic divination, maintaining as proof +that although she had been as usual completely hidden +in the undergrowth, Bakahenzie had walked directly +to her.</p> + +<p>Birnier foresaw that the situation might become +serious. Bakahenzie’s attitude was one of suspicion +based, he guessed correctly, on professional jealousy. +The finding of Bakuma had probably been more of an +excuse to assail the possible rival and thus to satisfy +this subconscious death wish. Now, reckoned Birnier, +Bakahenzie would probably be more exasperated than +ever at the triumph of the said rival’s magic. He +would therefore, knowing the strength of the driving +force of religious conviction, endeavour to play upon +the emotions of the tribe by advocation of the efficacy +of appeasing their fallen god by the sacrifice of the girl, +and so work them up to an exalted state of fanaticism +to attack in force; an additional stimulant to such +action on their part would be the unconscious satisfaction +in slaying the <q>brother</q> of the one who had +invaded their country, Eyes-in-the-hands.</p> + +<p>Another point was that the more a person is scared +the less easy it is for him to forgive, hence the greater +resistance to the overtures of amity. Beyond the +partially formed idea to overset zu Pfeiffer’s petty +sovereignty was the strictly professional one of studying +from the most intimate view-point possible a system +of primitive theology of a most complex and illuminating +<pb n="197"/><anchor id="Pg197"/> +kind. The main object to be attained therefore +was resolved by the best method calculated to win the +friendship and confidence of all concerned, particularly +of Bakahenzie. To Birnier, who was not as yet +conversant with the system, Bakahenzie seemed of less +importance than Zalu Zako, the King-God, or +potential King-God. Yet apparently he could not +hope to approach Zalu Zako without overcoming +the opposition offered by Bakahenzie. To give up +little Bakuma to the sacrificial orgy was unthinkable; +such an act would have appeared to him +tantamount to sacrificing the girl to attain his own +ends.</p> + +<p>For precaution he placed two of his men as pickets +in the jungle to give warning of any surprise, although +he did not consider that they would be likely to renew +the attack that day; then, as usual when in difficulties, +he retired to his tent for a smoke. As he browsed +upon his estimable friend Burton, his eyes caught a +paragraph upon cures for love melancholy recommended +by the amiable doctor.</p><lb/> + +<p><q>Lemnius, imstit. cap 58. admires rue and commends +it to have excellent virtues, to expel vain imaginations, +devils and to … Other things are much magnified +by writers, as an old cock, a ram’s head, a wolf’s heart +borne or eaten, which Mercurialis approves: Prosper +Altinus, the water of the Nile; Gomesius, all sea +water, and at seasonable times to be sick … the +bone in a stag’s heart, a monocerot’s horn …</q></p><lb/> + +<p>He glanced up to see Bakuma squatting disconsolately +by the fire listening to the hundredth repetition +<pb n="198"/><anchor id="Pg198"/> +of his wonder working according to Mungongo. The +outline of her rounded back and hunched shoulders, +the bronze hands clasped beneath the chin and the +misty brown eyes apprehensively regarding the trail +was a sculpture of melancholy. He smiled as he +reflected that the devils and witches of Chrysostom +and Paracelsus were as real to them as the forest spirits +and the magic of Bakahenzie to this girl. After all +some of these concoctions sounded as if they should +most certainly appeal to Bakahenzie and his brethren +of the craft. He wandered off into a reverie, wondering +why it was that superstition is so hard to eradicate from +the human mind. In Birnier was a strain of humorous +melancholy which appreciated the comedy of human +marionettes made to dance to the legion of devils and +bugaboos invented by themselves, and as a stimulant +to the dominant scientific absorption was the knowledge +that upon him and his fellows depended their +only hope of release—which was the greater reason +that Bakahenzie should slay him, he added whimsically, +did he but know it!</p> + +<p>Moved by the ever-present curiosity to know what +was going on inside other people’s minds, he called +Bakuma and Mungongo to him, observing the sprightly +action of the boy moved by his faith in him for his good +in contrast to the dull movements of the girl in her +lack of confidence to make for her good. And when +they were come to him and were seated on the ground +at his feet he said to Bakuma:</p> + +<p><q>Wherefore hast thou the black bird within thy +breast, O Bakuma?</q></p> + +<p>She gazed up at him with the pathetic pleading of a +gazelle.</p> +<pb n="199"/><anchor id="Pg199"/> + +<p><q>Do not birds seek the broken twigs for the building +of nests, O Moonspirit?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly, but why are the branches of thy tree rotted +and broken?</q></p> + +<p><q>When the axe of the peasant pecks at the roots of +the tree dost thou think then that the sap runs the more +swiftly, knowing?</q></p> + +<p><q>A devil hast told thee this thing, O Bakuma. +When the sun was but a man’s height did not a jackal +break out of the forest seeking to devour, and yet the +chicken was neither hurt nor taken. Are these not +white words?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly, O Moonspirit,</q> acknowledged Bakuma +reluctantly.</p> + +<p><q>Was not then the magic of Moonspirit more +potent than that of thy wizards?</q></p> + +<p><q>Thy words are white,</q> she admitted.</p> + +<p><q>Wherefore then hast thou ashes in thy mouth?</q></p> + +<p>Bakuma dismally contemplated Birnier’s booted +leg.</p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q> grunted the sophisticated Mungongo, <q>to +those who live on the mountain the crocodile is +not!</q></p> + +<p><q>Open thy breasts unto me, O Bakuma,</q> said +Birnier.</p> + +<p><q>Clk!</q> she gasped, making a little gesture of +hopelessness. <q>When the sun shines are not the +flowers open? But when the night hath come where +are the flowers? The deer feed on sweet pastures, but +when the shadow of the lion falleth upon the grass hath +not a great cloud come over the world?</q></p> + +<p><q>But thy lion hath fled, O Bakuma!</q></p> + +<p>She gazed at the white man with curious wonderment +<pb n="200"/><anchor id="Pg200"/> +at the stupidity of one failing to comprehend the +simplest problem. She sighed and then as if with +much patience for another’s shortcomings:</p> + +<p><q>Thou hast strong magic, O white man,</q> said she, +<q>magic that makes the magic of Bakahenzie to fall as +water. Yet was the daughter of Bakala not found by +divination? Was the daughter of Bakala not revealed +to be the bride of the Banana by divination? There +shall be made magic that the voice of the one shall be +obeyed. Eh! Aiee! Aie!</q></p> + +<p>The brown eyes welled opals which splashed upon a +bronze breast. As Birnier watched her, pity stimulated +a desire to relieve this symbol of self-torture, and +he thought of a favourite passage in the <q>Anatomy</q>:</p><lb/> + +<p><q>Ay, but we are more miserable than others, what +shall we do? Beside private miseries, we live in +perpetual fear and danger; for epithalamiums, for +pleasant music, that fearful noise of ordnance, drums, +and warlike trumpets still sounding in our ears; instead +of nuptial torches, we have the firing of towns and +cities; for triumph, lamentations; for joy, tears.</q></p><lb/> + +<p><q>Well, Bakuma,</q> said he in English, smiling +covertly, <q>we’ll see if we can’t get you the nuptial +torches!</q></p> + +<p>Bakuma gazed at him perplexedly with big eyes.</p> + +<p><q>Already Moonspirit begins the incantation of +mighty magic,</q> explained Mungongo solemnly.</p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q> murmured Bakuma expectantly.</p> + +<p>Birnier smoked and pondered. The walls of the +forest were growing closer in the beginning of twilight. +The soul of fear, reflected Birnier, dwells in the +<pb n="201"/><anchor id="Pg201"/> +unknown. Reveal the god in the machine and the +mystery dies. To Bakuma he said:</p> + +<p><q>Listen, O Bakuma, I would speak heavy words to +thee. When thou puttest the seed of the gourd into +the ground then within half a moon there appears the +plant of the gourd; is it not so?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly,</q> answered Bakuma disinterestedly.</p> + +<p><q>Is that then magic?</q></p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q> commented Bakuma, as in astonishment. +<q>Nay, how could that be? Does not the soul of the +plant grow even as a child grows?</q></p> + +<p><q>Good. Turn thine eyes to me.</q> Bakuma +watched the operation of striking and lighting a match +with indifference. <q>Then is this fire which I make +done by magic?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly.</q></p> + +<p><q>And thou, Mungongo, what thinkest thou?</q></p> + +<p><q>Moonspirit tickles the souls of my feet!</q></p> + +<p><q>H’m.</q> Birnier repressed a smile. <q>Thou +knowest that my words are white?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly.</q></p> + +<p><q>Then I tell thee that this is not done by magic.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ehh! Ehh!</q> chorused the twain.</p> + +<p><q>This thing on the end of this thing which you call +a magic fire twig is made of—of—is made of several +kinds of—of earth found in the—earth, and when<corr +sic="&qdash;"><anchor id="E27"/><ref +target="e27">—</ref></corr>and +when&qdash;</q> He sought frantically for native +words which were not, <q>the two are brought together—as +one strikes a spear&qdash;</q> Birnier hesitated, +finding himself as perplexed as a psychologist endeavouring +to explain the abstract working of consciousness +in concrete words. <q>When one strikes a spear +upon a rock there is an eye of fire, is it not so?</q></p> +<pb n="202"/><anchor id="Pg202"/> + +<p>Mungongo’s eyes dimly reflected a growing horror. +Bakuma stared.</p> + +<p><q>The magic of Bakahenzie,</q> murmured Mungongo.</p> + +<p><q>Already is his soul bewitched,</q> muttered Bakuma.</p> + +<p><q>Is it not so?</q> persisted Birnier.</p> + +<p><q>Aye,</q> admitted Mungongo, moving uneasily and +speaking as if humouring a dangerous lunatic. <q>It is +the eye of the angry spirit of the rock.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier saw his danger and made another effort.</p> + +<p><q>Even so. Also thou knowest that thou canst make +fire by the rubbing together of two sticks. Is that +then magic also?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly,</q> continued Mungongo in the same tone. +<q>Can the spirits of the souls of the twigs be summoned +without the incantations by the Keeper of Fires?</q></p> + +<p><q>O my God!</q> groaned Birnier, sotto voce, and +he abandoned the effort to explain combustion. +<q>Thus is it then with these that ye call the magic +fire twigs.</q></p> + +<p><q>Even as we have said,</q> asserted Mungongo +triumphantly.</p> + +<p>Birnier lapsed into silent defeat. Bakuma began to +edge away. As Mungongo rose came a stifled scream +from Bakuma who sprang to her feet and dashed +towards the tent; then as if recollecting that her +saviour had been bewitched by Bakahenzie, fled into +the gloom beyond. Mungongo had seized a spear +stuck in the earth near to him. As appeared the +wizened figure of Marufa, who saluted as he squatted +in the native manner, Birnier recollected that he had +been with Bakahenzie and wondered what he wanted. +Mungongo replaced his spear and came to the tent.</p> + +<p><q>Greeting, O son of MTungo!</q></p> +<pb n="203"/><anchor id="Pg203"/> + +<p>Marufa mumbled the orthodox return.</p> + +<p><q>Thou hast need of Moonspirit?</q> demanded +Mungongo, some of his officious confidence in Birnier +returning.</p> + +<p><q>Doth the leopard go to the goat pen to seek nuts?</q> +grumbled the old man. He tapped out snuff slowly +and grunted.</p> + +<p>Presently said Marufa:</p> + +<p><q>Moonspirit is the brother of Eyes-in-the-hands?</q></p> + +<p><q>Nay,</q> answered Birnier, wondering at the persistency +of this idea. <q>Eyes-in-the-hands is of another +tribe ten moons distant from Moonspirit.</q></p> + +<p>Marufa grunted. Another long pause. Then:</p> + +<p><q>The magic of Moonspirit hath blunted the spears +of Bakahenzie?</q></p> + +<p><q>Even so,</q> said Birnier modestly.</p> + +<p><q>The son of Maliko maketh much magic that the +bride of the Banana be taken from the white stranger.</q></p> + +<p><q>The monkey makes many faces and much noise, but +does he eat up the leopard?</q></p> + +<p><q>The bite of the spear is more deadly than the +bleat of a goat,</q> retorted Marufa.</p> + +<p><q>Doth the wise man eat the heart of a goat to gain +courage?</q></p> + +<p><q>The louder the lion roars the less teeth has he!</q></p> + +<p><q>But only the fool opens his mouth to see how many +he has!</q></p> + +<p><q>The wise father examines the grain of the tusks +before he sells his daughter.</q></p> + +<p><q>But the wise man sees the daughter before he +offers the tusks!</q></p> + +<p><q>Ugm!</q></p> + +<p>Marufa took more snuff and contemplated the +<pb n="204"/><anchor id="Pg204"/> +interior of the tent where a native was lighting a lamp. +Birnier reflected. Evidently Marufa had come with +an object and had inferred that he had something to +bargain about. What was it? Also he wanted to be +sure that he was setting his trap at the right pool. +Birnier decided that he was probably acting on his own +initiative and willing to conspire against Bakahenzie. +An impulse to experiment upon him as he had upon +Mungongo and Bakuma was repressed, for from the +previous effort he had cemented the conclusion that +it was impossible to explain rational phenomena to +irrational minds; that as ever the adventurous +champion of reason would be either regarded as +insane or inspired; that which is not comprehended is +divine or ridiculous. However, through Marufa might +come a suggestion for the tactics of campaign to gain +the good-will of Bakahenzie or Zalu Zako and the +attainment of his scientific object—as well as to give +Bakuma the torches he had promised her. Whether +I will or no, he reflected smiling in the dark, must I +be either a magician or a fool. Fools get nowhere; +witch-doctors do here as elsewhere. He saw that +in order to influence these peoples or any others, he had +perforce to work in terms of their own understanding, +as the early Christian missionaries practised in their +conversion of the Teutons, the Scandinavians and the +Britons. A nucleus of a plan had been given by +Mungongo’s impetuous suggestion. He decided to +develop it. But through Marufa, who first of all must +be impressed with the fact that Moonspirit was the +greatest magician the world had ever seen. So +therefore he called to the native within: <q>O Bakombi, +put out the light.</q> And to Marufa: <q>O wise man, +<pb n="205"/><anchor id="Pg205"/> +thunder has not always lightning. Behold! I am part +of that which is and is not!</q></p> + +<p><q>Clk!</q></p> + +<p>A click of astonishment was squeezed from Marufa +by the chance mystic phrase which was interpreted by +him as referring to the Unmentionable One.</p> + +<p>Then taking out his metal box of vestas Birnier +moistened one. As he rubbed around his eyes Marufa, +who was expecting a miracle, observed the growing +phosphorescence in stoical calm, while Mungongo, +delighted at the long deferred proof of his boasts, +grunted admiringly.</p> + +<p>But when a glowing skeleton hand, which Birnier +had prepared behind his back, hovered over the old +wizard’s head, he grunted and made a slight convulsive +movement.</p> + +<p><q>Have no fear, O my friend,</q> came Birnier’s voice, +<q>the spirit loves my friends and destroys my enemies.</q></p> + +<p>That belly grunt had registered the degree of +impression that Birnier sought. So he lighted the +lamp, bade the excited Mungongo to bring out the +phonograph, a machine adjusted with the recording +cylinders as well as the reproduction, and after a +successful demonstration of magic, discussed with +Marufa a certain scheme to which the old wizard, quick +to see the possibilities, afforded many invaluable +suggestions.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD19" type="chapter"> +<pb n="206"/><anchor id="Pg206"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 19</hi> +</head> + +<p>When Zalu Zako was notified of the verdict of +the Council and the words of Tarum the sense +of the inevitable returned, extinguishing the spark of +rebellion that had been kindled by his passion for +Bakuma. To Bakahenzie, or to the wizards separately, +or collectively, he had had the strength to voice his own +desires, but to the veritable voice of Tarum was no +resistance dared. He was bidden to preside by right +and precedent at the anointing of the warriors. He +did not make any feint at refusal, for his will was +crushed, as it had been weeks before by the doom of +godhood and celibacy.</p> + +<p>Beyond the fact that Bakuma would soon be forbidden +to him for ever, he did not think; desire was +strangled. Even the recollection that Bakahenzie had +stated that Moonspirit had taken her gave him no +reaction. To him as to his brethren, while in physical +love is bound up the control of the universe, because +it is vaguely apprehended as a creative force, it is of no +importance to the individual lover unless he be guilty +of breaking the sexual tabu: if the girl is not a consenting +party to the illicit union then she is free; if +she is, then it is death to both of them, for as every one +knows, such criminal action endangers the balance of +the burden of the world upon the shoulders of the +King-God. Thus it was that the words of Bakahenzie +had produced no reaction against Moonspirit in the +<pb n="207"/><anchor id="Pg207"/> +mind of Zalu Zako; indeed, if the words were true +and he could yet obtain Bakuma, she might have a son +by the white which would obviously bring the marvellous +power of white magic to his successor, the next +King-God; and possibly, had mused Zalu Zako, dimly +straining at such a radical thought against the influence +of the priesthood, make the king more powerful a +magician than the witch-doctors themselves.</p> + +<p>But he obeyed the mandate and took his place as +bidden. Bakahenzie had caused preparation to be +begun immediately for the ceremony of making +enchantment against the spirits of the night. In the +circle of cleared ground, where sat the temporary +Council of Elders, big fires were lighted as the dark +wall of the forest drew in upon them. Bakahenzie +squatted before a big calabash, specially reserved and +enchanted for the making of magic, in which a mess of +certain herbs whose spirits were violent haters of the +demons of all trees, rocks and streams, were to be +released from the vegetable bondage by stewing that +they might be distributed among the warriors for the +night assault. These warriors, some fifty chosen +from the followers of Bakahenzie and Marufa, sat on +their hams within the circle of fires, uneasily casting +glances behind them at the deepening sepia, from +whence arose the nocturnal chant of the spirits of the +forest. In order to insure no interference from +malign animals, Bakahenzie caused to be brought a pure +white goat whose throat was cut and bled into the +cauldron; for as any one knows, that soul which is +white must necessarily fight well against anything that +be black. Yet in spite of this potent magic the +warriors grew unquiet; they felt, rather than thought, +<pb n="208"/><anchor id="Pg208"/> +that if the magic of their witch-doctors had failed +against one white why should it succeed against another +like unto him? And their faith thus weakened, +doubts regarding the efficacy of the same magic against +spirits of the forest bred as mosquitoes after rain.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie remarked the uneasiness, but the stronger +grew his need to restore the waning confidence in his +powers by removing the white; the blood desire had +now been transferred from Bakuma to Moonspirit as +the most effective demonstration possible to him.</p> + +<p>The fires smouldered and flickered yellow tongues +upon the greens of the warriors’ bodies and the blues of +the wizards’ head-dresses. Faint blue vapour swirled +around the scarlet feather above Bakahenzie’s graven +face as he muttered incantations and stirred the +cauldron. Then as the drums throbbed and the +warriors grunted rhythmically to Bakahenzie’s song of +enchantment came a squawk as of a parrot. The chant +ceased. Branches rustled. Every head quirked automatically +towards the sound. Came a low belly grunt +of terror as if an invisible hand had punched them in +their solar <corr sic="plexes"><anchor id="E28"/><ref +target="e28">plexus</ref></corr>.</p> + +<p>Just in the shadow line where the glow of the fires +faintly tinted and greened the curves of his bronze body +against the sepia of his feathers, appeared the figure of +Marufa, his spear lifted on high as he cried out in a +loud voice:</p> + +<p><q>Greetings, O people of the Banana, I bring you +tidings of him who is and is not, of him who was lost +and yet is come. ‘Behold, I show you a sign!’</q></p> + +<p>Against the gloom his left arm and hand glowed with +a strange light. An unanimous <q>Ehh!</q> rose from +the assembled warriors and wizards alike.</p> +<pb n="209"/><anchor id="Pg209"/> + +<p><q>Raise your ears!</q> continued Marufa, <q>that the +Voice may speak unto you!</q></p> + +<p>In the silence came a subdued click and commenced +a high-pitched voice in the dialect:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Aie! Aie! I am the spirit of Kintu!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I am he who first was!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I am the Banana from whom I was made!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>Whites of eyes glimmered like butterflies in starlight. +Nothing was visible. The voice appeared to +rise from every direction. The new miracle petrified +the limbs of all.</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Aie! Aie! My soul is defiled and my children enslaved!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! My face hath been scratched by an alien claw!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I send you the revenge which is white!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I send you the One who is bidden!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! Let that One arise who is I!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! The mighty One who will blot out the curse!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I have spoken, I, the Father of Men!</l> + <l>Aie! Aie! I, Tarum; the soul of your Ancestors!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>A faint whirr as of wings was drowned in the automatic +grunt of acceptance squeezed from all the +warriors and the wizards by the sacred chant, except +those of the inner circle. In dread sat the warriors of +the terrible magic of their doctors which they had once +doubted. But the minds of Bakahenzie, Yabolo, and +the other two master craftsmen were stunned. The +<pb n="210"/><anchor id="Pg210"/> +phenomenon of the glowing hand had they never seen +before, but they recollected the stones of Mungongo. +Even was Sakamata, sophisticated to the wonders of +Eyes-in-the-hands, impressed and bewildered. Dormant +awe for the Unmentionable One was awakened +in every one of them. Zalu Zako felt that his doom +was upon him; that the Unmentionable One was about +to call him to his duty, which invoked fear for the +sacrilege he had committed in entertaining such +radical thoughts in the immediate past. But in +Bakahenzie was a streak of suspicion; how was it that +Marufa was thus chosen as the divine messenger? Yet +perhaps the veritable god was, or gods were, speaking! +Doubt held him silent.</p> + +<p><q>O my brethren, would ye that we seek the voice +of the Unmentionable One?</q> cried Marufa.</p> + +<p><q>Ough! Ough!</q> grunted the wizards.</p> + +<p>Marufa stalked slowly to the nearest fire, muttering +a spell. From his loin cloth he took the three digital +bones of an enemy and proceeded to discover the +whereabouts by geomancy. And behold! the fingers +pointed in one direction which all could see. Oblivious +to the tight indifference of Bakahenzie the old +man rose and began to gyrate, mumbling incantations, +towards a thicket of grass on the fringe of the +undergrowth, holding aloft the magic bones in the +glowing hand. Anxiously the assembly watched the +skinny figure, half bent, glide out from the glow of the +fires into the blue shadows. A small log collapsed, +throwing a red gleam upon the form poised upright +before the clump of grass as Marufa cried out:</p> + +<p><q>Let him who-may-not-be-mentioned speak that +his children may hear!</q></p> +<pb n="211"/><anchor id="Pg211"/> + +<p>Immediately commenced a high voice chanting:</p> + +<p><q>Take up, O Marufa, the wise, the pod of my soul!</q></p> + +<p>Then in the sight of every man Marufa bent upon +his knees, muttering, and arose unharmed. Save for +the slow turn of each head the better to follow the +progress of the magician no limb nor muscle moved as +in silence Marufa bore the like of which had never +before been seen; a thing like unto a stone, having +an ear almost as large and as erect as an angry elephant, +the colour of a lion yet hairless. <q>The pod of the soul</q> +Marufa placed within the circle of the fires so that all +should see. More incantations did Marufa make, +sitting fearlessly; he caressed it as a young man caresses +a maid and came forth again the voice of Tarum:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Rejoice, O my children, for he that is bidden shall come!</l> + <l>Rejoice, O ye warriors, for he that shall lead you shall come!</l> + <l>Rejoice, O ye wizards, for he that is greater than ye shall come!</l> + <l>Rejoice, O ye women, for he that fertilizes shall come!</l> + <l>He shall eat up your enemies as a lion eateth buck.</l> + <l>He shall make your dead to be seen and your phantoms to talk!</l> + <l>He shall give to your women to have sons of your breed!</l> + <l>He shall give you that which was slain on the hill!</l> + <l>He that walks in a flame in the night!</l> + <l>He that is whiter than the flesh of the baobab!</l> + <l>He shall come forth bearing that which ye seek!</l> + <l>He shall come forth bearing that which is yours!</l> + <l>Hear me, my people, and give voice to my word!”</l> +</lg> +<pb n="212"/><anchor id="Pg212"/> + +<p><q>Ough! Ough!</q> came the chorus of assent.</p> + +<p>Not a limb nor a hand moved among the concourse +of warriors and wizards until a new voice, deep, as one +who commands, cried out:</p> + +<p><q>Let the son of Kawa Kendi, the son of MFunya +MPopo, the son of MKoffo, move not; neither he nor +Marufa, the son of MTungo! Unto ye others we say +unto you, depart that we speak in peace with this +our son and priest!</q></p> + +<p>And simultaneously appeared in the gloom of the +undergrowth three pairs of eyes as luminous as the glowworm, +vaster than any human; and beside the souls +of the dead King-Gods were terrible hands. Warriors +and wizards, all save Bakahenzie and Zalu Zako, +literally leaped for the forest and village in one convulsive +bound and grunt. Zalu Zako had remained +upon the ground, green with terror. Bakahenzie +stood upright, his scarlet feather fluorescent in the fire-glow. +The anthem of the forest was only broken by +the rustle of branches and the breathing of Zalu Zako +and Bakahenzie. A harsh voice cried:</p> + +<p><q>Begone, Bakahenzie, son of a dog! Lest we take +thy soul to be with us!</q></p> + +<p>The eyes appeared to float nearer; hands pointed +menacingly. Bakahenzie boggled; hesitated; then +the dignity of his pose melted into the graceful bounds +of a fleeing leopard. Even for the professional ghost +manipulator, such a phenomenon of the spirits, with +whom he was supposed to be on familiar terms, was +demoralizing. But half-way through a thicket of +undergrowth, where he could no longer see the horrific +eyes, his courage began to return.</p> + +<p>To his ears came a new voice chanting:</p> +<pb n="213"/><anchor id="Pg213"/> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Sweeter than warm honey is the scent of my man!</l> + <l>Fiercer than scorpions is the grip of his hand!</l> + <l>Whiter than a spear flash is the gleam of his teeth!</l> + <l>Smoother than river stone is the feel of his chest!</l> + <l rend="margin-left: 15">Bakuma rejoices!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>Peering through the interstices Bakahenzie could see +the gleam of the fire upon the bangles of the Son-of-the-Snake +and the blue flash upon his spear as he melted +into the forest wall.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD20" type="chapter"> +<pb n="214"/><anchor id="Pg214"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 20</hi> +</head> + +<p>The actual sight of spirits from ghostland, of +which hitherto they had only heard, had been too +much for the nerves of the tribe already overstrung +by the overthrow of the idol and the magic and +slaughter of zu Pfeiffer; the warriors had fled +like scared poultry to the jungle, up trees, in +the undergrowth and in their huts, where they +cowered among their women and slaves, reading +awful omens and portents in every sound of the +forest.</p> + +<p>The phenomenon had been just as startling and +awe-inspiring to Bakahenzie as it had been to his most +ignorant dupe. His belief in ghostland was implicit, +but now he had seen what, professionally, he was +supposed to see and converse with on familiar terms. +As Zalu Zako disappeared he continued to listen +intently. Above the slight rustle of the bushes as +the Son-of-the-Snake moved through the undergrowth +rose a feminine laugh. Bakahenzie’s liver was squeezed +by that sardonic chuckle; for, as is well known, female +demons are much more malignant than the male. For +the space of a chant he remained crouching there, +curiosity and the dread of revealing his terror to his +fellows tugging at his feet and fear of the demons +clutching him around the waist. Save the anthem +of the forest no further sound of the ghosts was +audible.</p> +<pb n="215"/><anchor id="Pg215"/> + +<p>Cautiously rose Bakahenzie, wriggled out of his +nest and with as much dignity as maybe, strode back +to the fire. From the village came a slight whimpering. +With satisfaction Bakahenzie noted that no one else +was in sight. For another space he sat with unquiet +eyes and ears upon the forest. Then gathering +courage as nothing happened, he pondered upon what +attitude he should assume.</p> + +<p>Yabolo stalked from round a hut and squatting +calmly beside Bakahenzie, nonchalantly proceeded to +tap out snuff and offered some to Bakahenzie, who +grunted acceptance and sniffed with even greater +indifference. Motionless they continued to sit and +silently. Bakahenzie wondered whether Yabolo knew +that he, too, had fled, and Yabolo, who did know, +waited for the first move on Bakahenzie’s part to +retort.</p> + +<p>Yabolo, indeed, who had been as panic-stricken as +Bakahenzie, was more suspicious in view of the +accounts he had heard of the magic of Eyes-in-the-hands. +Who knew but this vision might not be another +manifestation of Eyes-in-the-hands? And more +slowly a similar idea began to occur to Bakahenzie, +save that he had in mind the incident of Moonspirit’s +magic in the face of his bravest warriors. The calmer +he became the more was he inclined to accept this +explanation of the apparitions; such was infinitely more +comforting to him than the conception that they had +been in truth spirits from ghostland. As the +doubt grew the wisdom of propitiating this powerful +Moonspirit became apparent; yet was present the +dread of loosing what remained of his autocratic +power. The problem now was to enlist the white +<pb n="216"/><anchor id="Pg216"/> +and discover some means of controlling him and his +magic.</p> + +<p>But to both men the vital question was, what had +become of Zalu Zako? There were two alternatives: +if the visions had been genuine ghosts, then undoubtedly +Zalu Zako was dead; but if they had been produced +through the magic of a white man, then, Bakahenzie +argued, Zalu Zako and Marufa must be in league with +Moonspirit, and Yabolo opined that Zalu Zako had +been captured by Eyes-in-the-hands. To the latter +the effect was to strengthen the determination to go +over to Eyes-in-the-hands. If the first possibility +was correct the greater need had he of strong magic +if real ghosts were taking to walking abroad visibly, and +the other case merely proved beyond question the +invincible magic of Eyes-in-the-hands. But to Bakahenzie +the reaction was slightly different, for his +elemental reason took him a little farther than +Yabolo by pointing out that in all his wide experience +never had spirits taken demons’ shape, so that the +suspicion that they had been due to Moonspirit +became more plausible, and was supported by the +recollection of Marufa’s unexplained absence and +sudden reappearance on familiar terms with the +spirits.</p> + +<p>The longer he pondered on the strange actions of +Marufa the more he was persuaded that that wily +colleague was acting upon sound information, and +the tangle of his affairs made him so desperate that +he decided to gamble upon that assumption: for +magician Bakahenzie began to realize that Marufa +had somehow scored a point and that now was +approaching the crux which would determine whether +<pb n="217"/><anchor id="Pg217"/> +he won back or lost for ever that which was the +essence of life to him.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the two puzzled plotters sat motionless +and silent as if mutually agreeing that no question +regarding each other’s late movements had better be +asked.</p> + +<p>Accordingly to the depth of his superstition returned +each witch-doctor. When they were come, without +one word of explanation, Bakahenzie lifted his voice +in a high falsetto, bidding the lay warriors to return +to hear the voice of the elders. Reassured by this +command which carried far on the still air, they began +to emerge from hut and undergrowth. The first to +arrive was MYalu, angry to find the whole assembly +of wizards apparently sitting as if they had never +moved, engaged in mystic incantations. MYalu +had not fled far and from his cranny had seen the +flight of Bakahenzie and the departure of Zalu Zako, +but he dared not betray the doctors. He squatted +sullenly and waited while the remainder of the warriors, +of whom many had also seen the general stampede, +filed to their places.</p> + +<p>When all were assembled Bakahenzie looked up +from his spell and bade them to listen to what message +the faculty—for obvious policy’s sake he included the +whole of the ghosts—had received from ghostland by +the three spirits, emphasising the vision of the magicians +as proof positive of the terrible power of the craft. +By reason of the sin committed by one who had broken +the magic circle, as they all knew, said Bakahenzie, +had this wrath of the Unmentionable One come upon +them, permitting the incarnation of a demon, Eyes-in-the-hands, +to work his will upon them and to +<pb n="218"/><anchor id="Pg218"/> +make them slaves, as were their dogs the Wamungo; +and so in the depth of their tribulation he, Bakahenzie, +whose magic had been rendered impotent +by the betrayal of the Bride of the Banana, had +invoked the spirits of the three, as they all had +witnessed.</p> + +<p><q>Ough! Ough!</q> grunted the warriors in assent, +although many of them were sorely puzzled to know +why the doctors themselves had fled. Yabolo began +to grow restless in his mind. To allow Bakahenzie +to steal all the thunder and condemn the possible +source of political power to the level of an evil +demon was contrary to his policy, but he gave no +physical sign save to become engrossed in his snuff +box.</p> + +<p>Then Bakahenzie continued with a long harangue +maintaining the necessity of the consummation of +the Marriage of the Banana and announced that Zalu +Zako had been taken by the spirit of his forefathers +in order to prepare magic for the eating up of the +terrible Eyes-in-the-hands; that as the voice of +Tarum had said, Zalu Zako would return with +<q>That which was slain on the hill—that which ye +seek, that which is yours.</q> Although Bakahenzie was +not sure to what these words had referred, yet he +was sagacious enough to know that if Marufa had +engineered that scene, then there must be some +plan at the back of it, and in any case knew, as any +white medicine man, that words in mystic phrasing +are always soul-satisfying to the credulous who interpret +them in terms of their subconscious desires. +Then with political prudence he avoided any reference +to uncomfortable topics, by dismissing the +<pb n="219"/><anchor id="Pg219"/> +assembly before any pertinent questions could be +asked.</p> + +<p>But when Bakahenzie had retired to his hut, presumably +for the night, as Marufa had done before him, +he girded himself with an amulet containing the gall +of an enemy killed in battle and a short stabbing spear +and sallied forth through a hole in the fence to brave +the spirits of the forests in his need.</p> + +<p>In the village generally sleep was not entertained +with enthusiasm by any save those women and slaves +who knew not of the great happenings. In the hut +of Yabolo were MYalu and Sakamata. From the +old men MYalu received much consolation and advice, +but no information as to why the wizards had bolted +as fast as the laymen from ghosts invoked by their +own magic. Sakamata confirmed authoritatively +Yabolo’s suspicion that the phenomena had been +produced through the magic of Eyes-in-the-hands, +urging that they lose no time in going to him to make +submission. Yabolo had already decided on that +course, but MYalu refused to give a definite decision +as to when he would go. He sat sullenly, saying no +word, and eventually departed to his own hut +where he dismissed his wives and continued to +brood.</p> + +<p>The fear and rage aroused by the anointing of the +warriors for the capture of Bakuma had been dissipated +by the general panic produced by the ghosts. +Afterwards MYalu had unconsciously hoped, because +he so desired it, that the pursuit of the Bride would +be abandoned; hence Bakahenzie’s renewal of the +chase had angered and frightened him anew. As all +the rest of them, he wondered and pondered upon the +<pb n="220"/><anchor id="Pg220"/> +fate of Zalu Zako and Marufa. Marufa, as he well +knew, had a black heart and two tongues; therefore +was he suspicious of any manifestation with which the +son of MTungo could be connected. Zalu Zako was +wealthy; perhaps he had bribed Marufa to make +magic in order to enable him to escape the doom of +the king-godship and to flee to another country with +Bakuma under the protection of Moonspirit. A +lover’s jealousy is as powerful a driving force as +ambition. In this case it drove even MYalu to defy +the spirits of the night, for at the hour of the monkey +he too stole away into the gloom.</p> + +<p>So it was that as the patterned roof of the forest +was etched in the timid green of dawn peeped MYalu +through the gate of the zareba of Moonspirit to +discover the gaunt form of Bakahenzie squatted by +the embers of a fire within a deserted compound. +Bakahenzie’s quick eyes, on the alert for ghosts or +any moving thing, saw him; so coldly MYalu advanced +and sat beside him, grunting the formal +greeting.</p> + +<p>MYalu noted the age of the spoor about the +compound, the tent peg holes newly pulled. Now +was he sure that Marufa and Zalu Zako were in +league with Moonspirit. Wrath smouldered in his +broad chest. At length spoke Bakahenzie casually:</p> + +<p><q>The Bride of the Banana hath been taken away.</q> +Bakahenzie paused as if weighing his words, and added: +<q>But the feet of spirits are heavy on the land.</q> +MYalu grunted. Bakahenzie had an idea and to +MYalu was born another about the same instant. +Said Bakahenzie, who wished to know the whereabouts +of Marufa, Moonspirit and company: <q>If the Marriage +<pb n="221"/><anchor id="Pg221"/> +of the Bride be not consummated then will the power +of Eyes-in-the-hands prevail.</q> And after a long +pause: <q>Who will seek the Bride?</q></p> + +<p>MYalu remained silent, revolving his own notion in +his mind. There remained with him still many traces +of the awe and belief in the power and knowledge of +Bakahenzie, and so his words threatening the triumph +of Eyes-in-the-hands assured and strengthened his +purpose; for he thought that if he could accomplish +his plan then would Eyes-in-the-hands surely triumph +as Bakahenzie predicted. Thus it was that he +said:</p> + +<p><q>O master of Wisdom, give unto me a mighty +charm against the evil eye of traitors and will I and +those that follow me seek the Bride and bring her so +that which is bidden may be, that the children of the +Banana may triumph.</q></p> + +<p>MYalu rose. The two started on the return to +the village. On the road Bakahenzie sought to flatter +MYalu by pretending to take him into his confidence, +adjuring him to secrecy and informing him that +he would cause it to be known that MYalu, the +son of MBusa, would bring back the Bride of the +Banana. MYalu assented gravely. Just before reaching +the village his keen eyes noticed a slight trail +from the regular path. Broken, twisted and crushed +leaves and strained branches indicated the recent +passage of two or three people through the undergrowth.</p> + +<p>With difficulty, for the Wongolo are not forest +people, he followed the spoor in a semi-circle towards the +village and a footprint in the slime revealed the track +of Zalu Zako or Marufa coming from the fires. MYalu +<pb n="222"/><anchor id="Pg222"/> +grunted, but he said nothing to Bakahenzie or anybody +else. That the vision had been caused by Moonspirit’s +magic he had now no doubt, and his estimation +of Moonspirit’s power increased to the point of terror; +yet the smouldering jealousy and desire for Bakuma +drove him dreadfully on.</p> + +<p>Before the sun was two spans high MYalu left +the village with some two hundred of his followers +anointed against magic and spirits. The track from +Moonspirit’s camp was like an elephant’s path. +Through the steamy heat they followed all day until +they came out upon a river near to a village upon the +border of the forest. The headman of the village +was away with his chief; but women, children and +slaves remained. Zalu Zako, in the company of a +white man called Moonspirit, Marufa, the wizard, and +a girl had arrived, had taken three canoes and had +left up-stream within a hand’s breadth of a shadow. +MYalu took all the canoes available and started in +pursuit, leaving the rest of his men to follow as +soon as they had procured other canoes from the +nearest village.</p> + +<p>The river was small but deep and flowed swiftly +between the vast curtains of the overhanging trees. +When the dungeon of the forest was glooming to +night they saw the gleam of a fire. Swiftly and +silently they landed, surrounded the camp and uttering +the war yell, rushed.</p> + +<p>But Moonspirit, Zalu Zako or Marufa they +found not—only Bakuma with some dozen Wamungo +carriers. Even the dismal squawk of a Baroto bird +could not damp the relief and joy of MYalu. Next +morning he despatched a secret messenger to Yabolo, +<pb n="223"/><anchor id="Pg223"/> +making a rendezvous at a certain village and with a +weeping Bakuma in his train set out to seek the +rest of his fortune at the camp of Eyes-in-the-hands.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD21" type="chapter"> +<pb n="224"/><anchor id="Pg224"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 21</hi> +</head> + +<p>In the village of Bakahenzie was discontent.</p> + +<p>The desertion of Sakamata, Yabolo, and three +chiefs, had corroborated his suspicions of the unfrocked +priest. That Sakamata had been preaching open +sedition he had known, yet Bakahenzie was in the situation +of many a president or prime minister; he had +feared to put his own position in jeopardy by having +the offender removed expeditiously. This treachery, +which synchronised with the time when MYalu should +have either returned or sent a messenger, implied +another grave error. All the information he could +gather was that MYalu had returned through the village +by the river with the girl Bakuma, some prisoners and +some of the white man’s equipment, on his way to the +north-east; but no one apparently had seen Zalu Zako, +Marufa nor the white man.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie was at a loss to discover a plausible +theory to account for MYalu having kidnapped +Bakuma, who could not be of any political importance +to him in going over to Eyes-in-the-hands, but would +rather prejudice him seriously with the rest of the tribe +for the sin of sacrilege in taking the Bride of the Banana. +Shrewd judge of his compatriots though he was, the +possibility of a love motive never occurred to Bakahenzie. +A dominating passion in an individual for +any particular female was rare in the native world; +attractive wives or concubines were chosen and +<pb n="225"/><anchor id="Pg225"/> +bought as one buys a goat or an ox. Bakuma, in her +capacity as a sacrificial victim, was to him merely a +good-looking girl, well selected by Marufa for the orgy +of the Harvest Festival.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie was distraught. He feared that he had +not the authority to prevent further desertions; he +did not know how far Sakamata’s propaganda had +permeated; he could not guess what Zalu Zako, Marufa +and the white man were going to do. As many a +wise statesman before and after him he adopted a +policy of <q>wait and see.</q> To provide an exciting +distraction to keep his constituents amused and from +thinking too much, he borrowed another political +tactic of abusing some one vigorously. He called a +meeting of the faculty and the warriors. There he +solemnly denounced MYalu as a traitor and accused +him of the crime of having abducted the Bride of the +Banana, and consequently as the cause of the continuance +of the misfortunes of the tribe.</p> + +<p>The move was successful, inasmuch that it afforded +discussion and absorbed wrath for two whole days. +Various chiefs proposed as many plans. But none +was taken. Everybody was discontented and +quarrelsome, as fearful of Eyes-in-the-hands as he +was of his tribal god; many were impressed by +the propaganda of Sakamata and Yabolo and the +impunity with which Yabolo and Sakamata and +company had quietly gone over to the enemy. Meanwhile +Bakahenzie squatted in oracular silence, murmuring +incantations that were prayers to the Unmentionable +One interlarded with promises of the things +he would accomplish for the said Deity, with solemnity +and sincerity, for he felt that the result of Marufa’s +<pb n="226"/><anchor id="Pg226"/> +intrigue with the magician Moonspirit would mature +very shortly. What that would be he had no notion; +only he strained every nerve to be alert when the +crisis came to snatch from Marufa the advantage that +wily old man had gained.</p> + +<p>On the third day two more chiefs followed in the +wake of Yabolo. Bakahenzie made no comment, but +he realised that before long, unless the unknown +happened, he would be unable to retain any of his +followers; realised that his one chance lay in procrastination. +In his despair he began to contemplate an +alliance with Marufa, even if he had to take a subordinate +rôle—which would at any rate give him his +only ally, time, to help checkmate his colleague.</p> + +<p>On the next day yet another chief and his men +departed. Bakahenzie knew that they were like a herd +of goats and that to stop the stampede he must adopt +desperate measures. To quell the restlessness which +murmured ominously throughout the camp he called +another meeting as soon as the news had come of the +last desertion. While the drum tapped out the summons +Bakahenzie sat muttering his most impressive +spells alone, endeavouring to discover a plausible excuse +for some sort of excitement to distract the public +mind.</p> + +<p>Slowly and sulkily the remainder of the brethren of +the craft and those lay chiefs that were left, assembled +within the circle of fires. Squatted in the prescribed +order they eyed the figure of Bakahenzie in his red +and green feathers mumbling incantations with doubt +and disfavour. Indeed Bakahenzie seemed to them +the symbol of the fallen god and a past régime; impotent +and as mistaken as they were. In each and every +<pb n="227"/><anchor id="Pg227"/> +one of them were suspicions and fears growing like +weeds in tropic rain that he had made an error in not +propitiating the new god in time, an impulse which +required but a few hours’ growth to propel them out +to the north-east after Sakamata and the others.</p> + +<p>As they watched in silence Bakahenzie was aware of +the state of their minds towards him and grew the +more perplexed in his search for an entertainment +sufficiently stimulating to postpone the effects of their +discontent. Sapiently he decided that any more +messages from Tarum would be unwise in the present +atmosphere. An idea of a revelation by divination to +appoint a substitute for Bakuma as the Bride of the +Banana and thus thrust forward a reason for a feast, +as there was now no Yabolo to object, was abandoned +because such an orgy was exclusive to the craft and +would serve to exasperate the lay chiefs.</p> + +<p>His resource suggested a method. Suddenly he +uttered a piercing yell and fell sideways as in the manner +of one about to receive a communication from Tarum; +but instead of the habitual seizure and cries and +groans he lay rigid and silent. The divergence from +the usual distracted the doubts of the audience.</p> + +<p>The fires flickered and danced to the insectile anthem +as for twenty minutes or more he lay there as one dead. +But at the first flutter of inattention among the doctors +he sat up with closed eyes and called out in a loud +voice:</p> + +<p><q>That which is and must be, shall be!</q></p> + +<p>Intuitively he had followed the precept of witch-doctors +the world over of saying nothing at all in such +a way that as many interpretations may be deduced +as there are listeners. Each and every doctor and +<pb n="228"/><anchor id="Pg228"/> +chief accordingly saw in these mystic words, as Marufa +had done in the chance phrase of Moonspirit, that +which he was most urged to do. Bakahenzie had +accomplished his temporary object. Once more he +cried out:</p> + +<p><q>Let the children of the Banana be as the wild-cat +at the fishpool that that which I have prophesied may +come to pass!</q></p> + +<p>The charging of the air with the familiar suggestion +of magical doings gripped the audience and forced +from them the conventional grunt of assent. +Bakahenzie began again to mutter incantations. He +had, he knew, averted the immediate danger for at +least another sun, or perhaps two. Now was there +only to wait and see. But Bakahenzie, as all great +men, had the distinct vein of luck that follows the +bold. Even as they squatted there, thoroughly worked +up for the reception of a miracle, came a rustle among +the leaves. Every head turned as one to see once more +the mystic gleam of eyes in the gloom as the voice of +Marufa cried:</p> + +<p><q>Let there be a new fire!</q></p> + +<p>From the cavern of the undergrowth emerged a +white man bearing upon his shoulders a burden which, +as he staggered into the gleam of the fires, was seen to +be in form and in shape that of the burned idol. +Then did Bakahenzie leap to his feet and in one +stroke recover his lead and fetter his most dangerous +enemy by proclaiming in a loud voice:</p> + +<p><q>Behold! The bearer of the Burden of the World +even as Bakahenzie hath prophesied!</q></p> + +<p>And as Birnier set down the idol, from warrior and +wizard, with the chief witch-doctor’s declaration, +<pb n="229"/><anchor id="Pg229"/> +<q>That which is and must be, shall be,</q> echoing in +their ears, came the deep grunt of acceptance of the +new King-God of the lost Usakuma, the Incarnation +of the Unmentionable One.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD22" type="chapter"> +<pb n="230"/><anchor id="Pg230"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 22</hi> +</head> + +<p>In the humid heat of the forenoon the small hills +of Fort Eitel, as zu Pfeiffer had renamed the +Place of Kings, in the centre of the rased banana +plantations, resembled scabby pimples upon a shaven +patch of a green head seething with a verminous activity.</p> + +<p>Across the ford of the river came a puckered-faced +Bakuma in the train of carriers and slaves of MYalu, +who with Yabolo was coming to make obeisance to +Eyes-in-the-hands, under the protection of Sakamata. +To Bakuma there was no joy in the prospect of the +sight of her old home; the bitter taste of the oleander +was in her mouth as she trudged despondently with +downcast head.</p> + +<p>But the breast of MYalu was filled with the song +of the cricket. The terrors that had haunted him +throughout the journey, of being overtaken by the +magic of Bakahenzie or his emissaries, for the sacrilege +of stealing the Bride of the Banana, began to evaporate +at the approach to his village where now dwelt a new +god more powerful than any, from whom he was about +to gain protection, honours, and incidentally the ivory, +which his anxious eyes pictured still within his hut. +But when they broke from the outer banana plantation +a mighty grunt was punched from the chests of Yabolo +and MYalu at the vision of the half-completed street +of large huts in the midst of desolation.</p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q> quoth Sakamata, <q>is not the way of the +<pb n="231"/><anchor id="Pg231"/> +mighty one more wonderful than he who is gone? +Behold, he maketh a city like unto that of his people, +a city of gods!</q></p> + +<p>But MYalu had no admiration to spare, for to him +the alleged beauty thereof was fogged by the fact that +his own huts were but blackened ruins. The next +moment MYalu, in spite of his native dignity, started +as one of those uniformed keepers of the coughing +monsters barked at them magic words.</p> + +<p>Sakamata replied. Yabolo and MYalu stiffened as +they observed the cringe of the shoulders as he fumbled +hastily within his loin-cloth and presented a piece of +hard substance, the colour of blue clay with magic +marks upon it. The demon grunted at them to proceed +as if talking to a slave. Followed in file the rest +of the caravan. As Bakuma passed the uniformed +demon standing with the sword and gun with seven +voices upon his shoulder, leered, and grunting in a +strange tongue, stepped forward and spun her round +by the shoulders. Bakuma cried out in terror and +the carriers gasped fearfully. MYalu and Yabolo +wheeled. MYalu’s facial scar twitched with rage as +he raised his spear. But Sakamata clung to his arm +as the soldier, grinning, raised his rifle in their +direction. Bakuma ran on. The man laughed and +turned his back to them, calling out something that +the Wongolo could not understand.</p> + +<p><q>Eh!</q> commented Sakamata indignantly, <q>the +dog hath eaten poison grass! We will tell his words +to Eyes-in-the-hands and he will be beaten until +he stales.</q></p> + +<p>MYalu, slightly mollified by this promise of revenge, +strode on in silence, bewildered and resentful, wondering +<pb n="232"/><anchor id="Pg232"/> +at these strange things in the camp of the new god. +In a large open space resembling a public square, was +a big unfinished hut: the guest house, Sakamata +informed them, for those who sought an audience with +the Invincible One. As they squatted on the floor +waiting patiently until the sun was two hand’s-breadth +above the hill for the appointed time, food and beer +were brought to them by a Wamungo slave. Zu +Pfeiffer was careful to foster the class distinction. +Sakamata duly held forth upon the generosity of +Eyes-in-the-hands, the wonder of his works and presence; +but his words were received in unsympathetic +silence, for the incident on the road had wounded the +dignity of both chief and witch-doctor; raised dim +fears and forebodings.</p> + +<p>At length a strange sound rang out on the still hot +air. The signal, Sakamata explained, that Eyes-in-the-hands +would receive his guests. Leaving Bakuma +squatted in the lethargy which appeared to be habitual +to her now, the three slowly mounted the sacred hill, +marvelling greatly at the black triangle of the roof of +the new temple, gazing with veiled suspicion at the +gleaming brass fittings of the coughing monster in the +great gate, and eyeing uneasily the double lines of +uniformed devils, their bayonets flaming in the sun, who +were drawn up outside the green palace of Eyes-in-the-hands.</p> + +<p>On each side of the tent door stood the two tallest +men in the companies, coal-black forms which towered +above the slighter build of the Wongolo, as rigid and +as silent as trees. Through this terrifying guard +walked Sakamata leading his two compatriots, already +startled and impressed. Immediately within Sakamata +<pb n="233"/><anchor id="Pg233"/> +fell upon his knees. Before them at the end of the +tent sat zu Pfeiffer in the full dress of his regiment, +plumed helmet, blazoned uniform and sword; and +beside him, erect, the two sergeants Schultz and +Ludwig in full parade uniform. Above them was a +blaze of red, white and black and in the midst another +splash of colour. But before this vision had penetrated +their brains, had risen the voice of Sakamata +bidding them to kneel likewise. Bewildered and awed +they obeyed. Then came a voice saying:</p> + +<p><q>Rise, approach, O chiefs!</q></p> + +<p>Accordingly they arose and following Sakamata, +advanced and squatted, their eyes dominated and held +by those myriad gleams of magic <q>eyes</q> on hands and +wrists. Then the interpreter, standing at attention, +spoke this harangue tonelessly:</p> + +<p><q>Greeting and welcome, children of the Banana! +Eyes-in-the-hands who is known to the people where +the sun rises as the Eater-of-Men, hath come from +afar, the messenger of a greater than he, the Lord of +the World, the Earthquake, the World Trembler, who +eats up what he pleases, whose eyes see all things, +whose sword slays all things, whose breath is the rain, +whose voice is the thunder, whose teeth are the +lightning, whose frown is the earthquake, whose smile +is the sun, whose ear is the moon, whose eyes are the +stars, whose body is the world! Look upon one soul +of him which he hath sent that ye may worship and +know him!</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer raised the jewelled hand above his +shoulder as the man ceased. From out the medley of +colours to the unaccustomed native eyes grew slowly +the form and face of a white man as strangely clothed as +<pb n="234"/><anchor id="Pg234"/> +Eyes-in-the-hands, covered with amulets and charms +upon his breast. For four minutes by his wrist-watch, +zu Pfeiffer sat silent and as frozen as his sergeants; then +secretly he pulled a string.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> grunted Yabolo and MYalu involuntarily, +for before them appeared even, as Sakamata had related, +the two souls of every person present. Stunned +at such a manifestation of magic, they slowly turned +from one to the other. As silently as they had +appeared did the visions vanish.</p> + +<p><q>O son of MYana, tell the tale of the possession +of these thy friends and allies,</q> commanded zu +Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p>Sakamata obeyed. But as he recited the approximate +number of MYalu’s followers, the number of +his oxen and goats, the number of fine tusks and small, +the number of wives, concubines, and children, and +slaves, the eyes of MYalu grew unquiet. Had he +known that he would be required to render an account +he would have computed at half the actual amount, +whereas, in order to impress Sakamata with his importance, +he had exaggerated to almost double what he +had ever possessed. Then as Sakamata proceeded to +perform the same service for Yabolo, relating, by +arrangement with his relative, about one-third of his +possession, MYalu observed in a corner a man making +magic upon a table, a native clerk keeping tally; for +zu Pfeiffer kept an exact record of every chief’s alleged +possessions, as given by Sakamata and corroborated—by +silent consent—by the said chief, so that when +afterwards any discrepancy with the said list was discovered, +the chief was proven a liar and subject to the +punishment of further confiscation as such, and served +<pb n="235"/><anchor id="Pg235"/> +as well to enhance the reputation for omniscience of +Eyes-in-the-hands.</p> + +<p>At the end of the recitals of property, MYalu was +told, not asked, to bow his head to the ground in token +of allegiance. He obeyed in bewilderment which +changed to rage when he was informed that the third +of his property must be rendered to the august being +before one sun’s delay; that he was to be ready at a +summons to produce a given number of warriors; +and that his small and only son was immediately to be +placed in the <q>village of sons of chiefs</q> as guaranty of +obedience and good behaviour.</p> + +<p>In a mist of fright, anger and awe, he sat motionless. +Sakamata proceeded to relate the doings of Zalu Zako +and those who had remained faithful to him. Zu +Pfeiffer had fairly precise information from spies of +the movements of the Wongolo since the return of +Sergeant Ludwig, who had burned the village of +<corr sic="Yangonyama"><anchor id="E32"/><ref +target="e32">Yagonyana</ref></corr>, +but shortage of men and the serious +disadvantage of traversing and fighting in the forest +had prevented him from sending another punitive +expedition. Also had he heard of a white man who had +passed through the country. Sakamata, native-like, +eager to placate, asserted that he had actually seen the +white man who was called Moonspirit, and from the +same motive, ever wishing to flatter, announced positively +that he had no magic at all, was dark and small +and a trader, the only kind of white man other than +the military at Ingonya of whom Sakamata had ever +seen.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer stroked his left moustache and reflected. +He had at first thought that the man might possibly +be Saunders, a trader who was in his pay, but now +<pb n="236"/><anchor id="Pg236"/> +decided that he was probably some new trader or +hunter from the Tanganyika district. He instructed +Sakamata that he was to send a messenger to this white +man and command him to come to him immediately. +Then waving the imperious jewelled hand, he dismissed +them. But noticing the sullen countenance of +MYalu, he drew Sergeant Schultz’s attention, ordering +him to mark the man and if the tax was not forthcoming +quickly, to have him given fifty lashes. Silently +Schultz saluted.</p> + +<p>So it was that MYalu, sulky, smouldering with anger +against Sakamata, for he felt that he had been betrayed +into a trap, followed Yabolo out into the sun. Not +only had he not gotten back his ivory left in the village, +but he was ordered to pay much more than he actually +possessed.</p> + +<p>But when he had descended the hill to the guest +house he came to the weeping and wailing of his +people, who informed him that Bakuma had been taken +away by three of the demon keepers of the coughing +monsters.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD23" type="chapter"> +<pb n="237"/><anchor id="Pg237"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 23</hi> +</head> + +<p>Upon the site of Birnier’s old camp in the forest +was a high palisade built from tree to tree. +Inside of the gate beside a small conical hut burned +the sacred fires tended by Mungongo; before a green +canvas tent stood the new idol, which differed from +the original in having a better perspective and proportion +of features and body, yet lacked the master +touch of expression given by the subconscious fingers +of the native artist.</p> + +<p>Against the wall were stacked uniform cases to make +a table, upon which were a hand-mirror and toilet +articles; above a photograph of Lucille was pinned +upon the canvas. Upon the camp bed, screened by a +mosquito net, lay the new King-God, Moonspirit, +the magic book in his hands.</p><lb/> + +<p><q>Kings, princes, monarchs, and magistrates seem +to be most happy, but look into their estate; you shall +find them to be most cumbered with cares, in perpetual +fear, agony, suspicion, jealousy: that as he (Valer. i. 7, +c. 3) saith of a crown, if they but knew the discontents +that accompany it, they would not stoop to pick it up. +Quem mihi regem dabis (saith Chrysostom) non curis +plenum?</q></p><lb/> + +<p>The Incarnation of the Unmentionable One smiled, +<pb n="238"/><anchor id="Pg238"/> +put down the book and glanced across at the photograph.</p> + +<p><q>And yet they still talk of the advantages of a +monarchy!</q> he commented.</p> + +<p>The original plan concocted with Marufa and Zalu +Zako in the forest when making the new idol was that +Birnier should become chief witch-doctor and Zalu +Zako be anointed King-God, with Marufa as the power +behind the throne. Although Zalu Zako desired to +escape the yoke, his protest was enfeebled by the sense +of fatality, and had been utterly squashed by the +promise of Marufa, at Birnier’s suggestion, that the sex +tabu would be lifted from the godhead. But the +negligence of Marufa in allowing the white man to +carry the idol, arranged with the idea of investing +Moonspirit with greater prestige according to the +prophecies already announced by Tarum, had permitted +Bakahenzie to make his <hi rend="font-style: italic">coup +d’état</hi>—thrust the +godhood upon the white and recover his own position.</p> + +<p>Birnier in truth had little option of refusal as well +as little time for reflection upon a situation the +possibility of which had not occurred to him; for +Marufa was completely out-manœuvred by his rival, +and the certainty of escape from his doom offered by +Bakahenzie revived the image of Bakuma in Zalu Zako +and bought his partisanship instantly.</p> + +<p>With Napoleonic swiftness to grasp the advantages +gained Bakahenzie drove the lay chiefs from the +sacred presence, which he surrounded by a bodyguard +of the awed brethren; expelled the household from +Zalu Zako’s compound and hustled the incarnation, +bearing the new god, into holy isolation.</p> + +<p>Bewildered by the rapidity of the moves Marufa and +<pb n="239"/><anchor id="Pg239"/> +Zalu Zako were separated from Moonspirit. In the +general confusion, not knowing exactly what was +happening, Birnier complied with what he believed to +be the regulations regarding gods. But when he +perceived that he was about to be left alone he clutched +Mungongo and refused to part with him. Bakahenzie, +compelled to avoid any delay before consolidating his +position, instantly shut up Mungongo in the same web +by declaring him the Keeper of the Sacred Fires and so +disposed of any agent outside the tabu or craft. As +soon as this was accomplished and a dance to celebrate +the lighting of the new fires commanded, the wily +chief witch-doctor approached Marufa who, realizing +that he was hopelessly outwitted, was only too eager +to make the best terms possible.</p> + +<p>Birnier had known that the King-God was never +allowed to be seen by the populace except at the +Harvest Festival, yet he accepted his isolation +philosophically, lured by the expectation of the +secrets he was about to learn, although his curiosity +led sometimes to the vision of a god peeping through a +fence.</p> + +<p>While the drums summoning the council of chiefs +and wizards were muttering through the moist air, to +Birnier, squatting on the floor of Zalu Zako’s hut with +Mungongo beside him, came Bakahenzie to instruct +him in his rôle. To whet his curiosity still more he +learned that from the moment of appearance in the +gate of the sacred enclosure for the ceremony of the +lighting of the royal fires, every movement of body +and speech was regulated as rigidly as the etiquette of +the Court of Spain. At a signal from the chief +witch-doctor was the King-God to leave the hut and +<pb n="240"/><anchor id="Pg240"/> +appear from behind the idol; with arms in a certain +position was he to approach and squat at an exact spot. +To Mungongo was given charge of the two fire sticks, +newly consecrated.</p> + +<p>As the chief witch-doctor retired the chanting +began. Interested to know what was about to happen +Birnier obeyed in the spirit of a game. So in the +warm darkness they squatted, these two, listening to +the chanting, cries and groans to the accompaniment +of the drums and lyres and the perpetual twitter of the +forest. At last came a violent howl from Bakahenzie +which Mungongo declared was their cue.</p> + +<p>Around the circle of the fence to avoid the eyes of +the audience ran Mungongo to the temporary Place +of Fires. Feeling as if he were once more playing in +an amateur dramatic club, Birnier stalked with +portentous dignity from the hut, past the idol, and +took his seat upon the enchanted place. Without the +palisade and within another squatted in correct order +the lines of wizards and chiefs, Zalu Zako retaining, +rather by prestige of his former holiness and indecision +as to what his status really was, his position at their +head.</p> + +<p>Upon his haunches before a large calabash upon a fire +Bakahenzie finished the mumbling of incantations over +the sacred ingredients, and leaping to his feet began a +wild dance to the throb of the drums and the diaphragmatic +chorus of the assembled cult.… Swifter +and swifter spun the chief witch-doctor. The glow of +the fire tinted his whirling bronze body with flecks +of green and red as he gyrated in and out of the shadows. +Suddenly he threw a handful of herbs upon the fire +which was immediately enveloped in a cloud of smoke, +<pb n="241"/><anchor id="Pg241"/> +into which with a screech Bakahenzie disappeared.… +The drums and grunting ceased. Then +in the swirling column of blue appeared his figure +holding something in his hands. To the wild outburst +of drums and groans he sprang towards the +King-God elect and anointed his breast and shoulders +with a pungent compound, and leaped away into +another dance, while Mungongo plied the two fire +sticks. When the spark was blown upon the dry +tinder and the first flame flickered Bakahenzie dropped +flat before the gate as from the wizards went up the +great shout:</p> + +<p><q>The fire is lighted!</q></p> + +<p>And from the mass of warriors and folk confined to +their huts behind the outer palisade the phrase was +echoed in a mighty wail, startling monkeys and parrots +into as wild an acclamation of the new King-God.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie, rising to his haunches, began a chant in +honour of the new King, a chant based upon the song +composed by Marufa and repeated on the phonograph, +but developing even stranger merits and attributes. +Until the first glimmer of dawn through the forest +roof squatted Birnier, as motionless as etiquette +demanded, listening to the strange psalm of praise +with avid interest and observation.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, amid a furious clamour of the drums, +Bakahenzie, Marufa, and one other of the inner cult +of the five who had not deserted, led the body of the +doctors in a rush into the sacred enclosure, seized upon +the startled King and hustled him to the base of the +idol where, yielding to the whispered instructions of +Marufa, he took the idol once more upon his shoulders +and guided by Bakahenzie, walked out of the gate and +<pb n="242"/><anchor id="Pg242"/> +through the village to the yelling and screaming of the +wizards, some of whom, according to precedent, ran +about screeching and rattling hut doors, pulling +thatches and howling ferociously in search of any +sacrilegious peeper.</p> + +<p>As he tramped on with his load Marufa yelled in his +ear that he must carry the Burden of the World no +matter what happened to him, for if he let the idol +fall then would he be killed upon the spot to save the +sky from falling too. Wondering what this meant and +where he was going, the cut of thongs upon his legs +surprised him into a halt. Immediately a terrific cry +went up:</p> + +<p><q>The Bearer of the World stumbles! Aie! +Aieeeeeeeee!</q></p> + +<p>Despite the furious flogging the intellectual interest +in this strange conception distracted his mind from +the pain of the blows; also his bare back was protected +by the idol and his leggings and trousers deadened the +lashes. A moment more he hesitated. But he was +unarmed and had voluntarily taken on the adventure, +so he would see it through. As he broke into a +shuffling run, for the idol fortunately was lighter than +the previous one and he was a more powerful man +than Kawa Kendi, another howl of joy and relief +echoed throughout the village.</p> + +<p>So along the old forest trail he travelled as fast as +he could, assisted slightly by wizards’ hands as he +crawled over clumps of undergrowth. The intensity +of the whipping had decreased as soon as they were +out of the village but throughout an occasional +vicious whack testified to the presence of some devout +doctor. Thus it was that the white King-God came +<pb n="243"/><anchor id="Pg243"/> +to his throne and sat in state upon his bed to smile +at the reflections of a melancholic philosopher.</p> + +<p>So far so good, reflected Birnier, although the +enforced isolation and strict curtailment of his actions +had already begun to be irksome; yet to attain so +difficult a goal sacrifice must be borne, he argued +philosophically.</p> + +<p>The royal larder, he noticed with thankfulness, was +kept well stocked. Every day appeared a slave who +left just within the entrance chickens, bananas, milk +and fresh water, and sometimes a young goat. All +such provisions which he had happened to take into +the forest with him and so had escaped MYalu’s +marauding hands had been placed in his tent with +other cases, as containing no man knew what mighty +magic.</p> + +<p>For three days he had been left utterly alone. +Sounds of drums and chanting from the distant +village had reached them on the still air, but what +they were doing he could not discover. No layman +was allowed to come near the sacred enclosure. While +he strolled, taking a smoke and constitutional around +and around his <q>pen,</q> as he put it, several of the lesser +wizards appeared and stood at a distance from the +gate to stare at him. When addressed they made no +reply. On the second occasion he began to be irritated, +but he kept his temper and went to cover in his tent, +muttering: <q>Why the devil don’t they bring me some +buns?</q></p> + +<p>On the fourth day patience began to fray. He had +no notion of knowing how long this quarantine was +going to last. He was on the point of going to find out, +but Mungongo pleaded so earnestly that they would +<pb n="244"/><anchor id="Pg244"/> +instantly be killed if they did, that he desisted. So +Birnier retired to the tent to seek consolation from a +record of Lucille’s voice.</p> + +<p>Birnier attempted to cross-examine Mungongo to +find out what was the object of this isolation, but +beyond the fact that strangers were never permitted +to behold the King-God, even lay natives, without +special magic, which was only made once a year at the +Harvest Festival, lest evil be made upon his person and +so endanger the world, Mungongo did not know; +merely, that so it was. What power over the head +witch-doctor the King really had, Mungongo had no +notion. The King-God was the most powerful +magician known, asserted Mungongo. Did he not +make rain and bear the world upon his shoulders? +When Birnier unwisely denied this feat, Mungongo +looked pained and began a remark, but balked before +the name Moonspirit to ask the name of Birnier’s +father.</p> + +<p>At the mental image conjured up of a handsome +white-haired planter and ex-owner of many slaves +Birnier smiled, but he knew the tabu regarding the +ban upon the names of the dead and that he, presumably, +having ascended into the divine plane, was +therefore classed with the departed. He recollected +that the old man, who belonged to a cadet branch of a +royalist family, had been called <q>le Marquis,</q> of which +he was excessively proud. Birnier translated into the +dialect the nearest possible rendition of the title: +The Lord-of-many-Lands.</p> + +<p><q>The son of the Lord-of-many-Lands,</q> continued +Mungongo satisfied, <q>doth but tickle the feet of his +slave.</q></p> +<pb n="245"/><anchor id="Pg245"/> + +<p>On the fifth afternoon, while the god was engrossed +in a cure for love madness which, he reflected, might +be of service to zu Pfeiffer, came a voice without +crying:</p> + +<p><q>The son of Maliko would speak with the Lord, the +Bearer of the World!</q></p> + +<p>Birnier glanced across at the photograph of Lucille.</p> + +<p><q>Some job I’ve gotten!</q> he remarked as he rose. +In the gate sat Bakahenzie. Birnier was conscious of +an idiotic impulse to rush forward to greet him as an +old and long lost friend. But remembering the +dignity of his godhood he remained in the tent +doorway, bidding the chief witch-doctor to advance.</p> + +<p>Birnier retired backwards and sat beneath the net, for +the mosquitoes were as thick as they are on the bayou +Barataria. Mungongo, possibly to prove his erudition, +sat upon one of the cases containing much magic, at +which Bakahenzie from the floor in the doorway looked +askance. Birnier was keenly anxious to know what was +happening regarding the fortunes of the tribe, hoping +that with the restoration of the Unmentionable One +that they would return to their allegiance. According +to etiquette he remained silent, waiting for Bakahenzie +to open the conversation, until, realizing that he was a +god and that the chief witch-doctor was doing the +same thing, reflected swiftly and desiring to make an +impression, repeated Bakahenzie’s mystic phrase which +he had overheard whilst hiding in the jungle previous +to the dénouement:</p> + +<p><q>That which is and must be, shall be!</q> Bakahenzie +grunted his acknowledgment of the profundity of the +statement. <q>He who would trap the leopard must +needs dig the pit!</q> Another uncompromising silence +<pb n="246"/><anchor id="Pg246"/> +urged Birnier to force the pace a little: <q>O son of +Maliko, what say the omens and the signs of the evil +one, Eyes-in-the-hands?</q></p> + +<p><q>When shall the Unmentionable One return unto +the Place of Kings?</q> demanded Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p><q>The Holy One returneth not unto the place +appointed until that which defileth is removed,</q> +retorted Birnier.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie took snuff and appeared to consider. +Then he glanced around the tent as if in search of +something.</p> + +<p><q>When will the voice of Tarum speak through the +pod of the soul?</q></p> + +<p>Mungongo looked expectant and stood up. But +Birnier ignored him.</p> + +<p><q>The fruit doth not fall until it be ripe. He would +know what hath been done by his slaves for the baiting +of the pit for the unclean one.</q></p> + +<p><q>Would the magician that cometh from the sea +make pretence that an elephant is a mouse?</q> inquired +Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p>For a moment Birnier was perplexed; then he +realized that the chief witch-doctor inferred that he, +as King-God, mocked his priest by pretending that he +did not know all things.</p> + +<p><q>Doth the chief witch-doctor make magic for the +curing of the scratch of a girl of the hut thatch?</q> he +retorted. <q>Lest thy heart wither like unto a fallen +leaf, know then that the soul of Tarum hath made +words for the return of the Unmentionable One to +the Place of Kings, but that his children may not be +as the dogs of the village who are driven, he wills that +you prepare the pit for the trapping of the defiled +<pb n="247"/><anchor id="Pg247"/> +one.</q> Bakahenzie’s eyes stolidly regarded the tent +wall. <q>O son of Maliko, hast thou sent forth the +sound of the drum throughout the land that the +children may know of the Coming?</q></p> + +<p><q>When will the voice of Tarum speak through the +pod of the soul?</q> demanded Bakahenzie insistently.</p> + +<p>Birnier sat motionless in the native manner. +Irritated by this childish tenacity to apparently a fixed +idea, he yielded to an impulse which was almost a +weakness.</p> + +<p><q>O son of Maliko,</q> said he, <q>thou art a mighty +magician!</q> Bakahenzie grunted modest assent. +<q>Even as I am.</q> Another grunt. <q>Give unto me +thine ears and thine eyes that I may reveal unto thee +that which is known to the mightiest of magicians.</q> +Commanding the delighted Mungongo to bring out +the phonograph, he continued: <q>Thou hast heard +of the mighty doings of the unclean devourer of men, +Eyes-in-the-hands. I have magic the like of which +man hath never seen. Is it not so?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ough!</q></p> + +<p><q>Yet will the son of the Lord-of-many-Lands make +thee to see that which is, is not!</q></p> + +<p><q>That which is, is not,</q> repeated Bakahenzie, whose +professional mind was pleased with the phrase.</p> + +<p>In the desire to explain rationally the mystery +of a phonograph and despairing of any attempt +to describe the laws of vibration, Birnier sought +for a likely simile. Encouraged by the almost imperceptible +fact that he had awakened Bakahenzie’s +visible interest, he plunged on: <q>Within this piece of +tree is there nought but many pieces of iron such as thy +spears are made of. Thou knowest that there are +<pb n="248"/><anchor id="Pg248"/> +places by the river and in the rocks where a man may +speak and that his words will be returned to him. Is +it not so?</q></p> + +<p><q>They are white words, O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands!</q> +returned Bakahenzie. <q>For the spirits +of the river and the rocks mock the voices of those +who have not eaten of the Sacred Banana</q> (the uninitiated).</p> + +<p><q>But they mock thy voice as well,</q> protested Birnier.</p> + +<p><q>Are there not goats in ghostland who bleat at the +wizard and the peasant?</q></p> + +<p><q>By the Lord!</q> murmured Birnier, although the +mask of his face did not change. <q rend="post: none">Ghostland is full +of goats if one were to credit some of the most modern +witch-doctors! Still demonstration …</q></p> + +<p><q>Thou seest, fellow magician,</q> he continued, <q>the +pod of the soul of mighty Tarum, his ear like unto an +elephant, his colour like unto a lion!</q> Birnier got +out of the mosquito net and knelt beside the phonograph +in front of Bakahenzie. Taking off the trumpet +and cylinder carrier he opened up the inside, revealing +the clockwork motor, wound it up, stopped it and +released it. <q>Thine eyes see that my words are +white. These things are but as pieces of metal of thy +spears. Is it not so?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ough!</q></p> + +<p>Birnier closed the machine, adjusted the trumpet +and put on the cylinder of Marufa’s record.</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Aie! Aiee! I am the spirit of Kintu!</l> + <l>Aie! Aiee! I am he who first was!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>chanted the machine.</p> + +<p>Birnier, noticing that the desired astonishment was +<pb n="249"/><anchor id="Pg249"/> +registered by an almost impalpable start, stopped the +machine and changed the record.</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“Rejoice, O my children, for he that is bidden shall come!</l> + <l>Rejoice, O ye warriors, for he that shall lead you shall come!</l> + <l>Rejoice, O ye wizards, for he that is greater than ye shall come!</l> + <l>Rejoice, O ye women, for he that fertilizes shall come!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>Birnier allowed the machine to run through the +chant until the end:</p> + +<lg rend="margin-left: 2" type="chant"> + <l>“He shall come forth bearing that which ye seek!</l> + <l>Hear ye, my people, and give voice to my word!”</l> +</lg> + +<p>The machine whirred and stopped. Birnier turned +to Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p><q>Thou hast seen, O my brother magician, that my +words are white?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ough!</q> assented Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p><q>Thou hast seen, O my brother magician, that at +the will of my finger upon that which is made but of +spear-heads that the voice of Tarum hath spoken, the +voice which is but the mocking voice of Marufa amid +the trees of the forest?</q></p> + +<p><q>Ough!</q></p> + +<p><q>Dost thou not know that he who knows the ways +of rocks, who can make pieces of spear into that which +will say and do that which he wills, is a greater magician +than he who must needs go unto the rocks to be +mocked?</q></p> + +<p><q>Thou art the greatest of magicians, O son of the +<pb n="250"/><anchor id="Pg250"/> +Lord-of-many-Lands,</q> responded Bakahenzie in a +burst of eloquence. <q>For thou hast entrapped the +spirits of rocks and spears to do thy bidding.</q></p> + +<p><q>O God!</q> sighed the professor, <q>what is the use +of language?</q></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD24" type="chapter"> +<pb n="251"/><anchor id="Pg251"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 24</hi> +</head> + +<p>A favourite panacea for the results of a stupid +action is the sentiment of martyrdom. When +MYalu persisted in bitter reproaches to Yabolo and +Sakamata the first retorted that the punishment was +the result of having committed the sacrilege of +kidnapping the sacred Bride of the Banana. Then +MYalu considered that not only had he been trapped +by one of his own people whom he had deserted, but +to add insult to injury he felt he was not understood. +Neither Yabolo nor Sakamata, as Bakahenzie, could +comprehend a chief and a warrior making such a fuss +over a girl. That the confiscation of MYalu’s property +was an insult they both agreed, but biassed by both +fear of Eyes-in-the-hands and their own interests, they +were disposed to pretend that after all such a small +matter as the abduction of a girl could be overlooked +when committed by the follower of such a powerful +god and magician, as expedience is so often the father +of a dispensation. Yet nevertheless in Yabolo, if not +in Sakamata, whose hatred of the tribal craft was deep +in ratio to the degeneracy of his native code, the +outrage upon Bakuma as the Bride of the Banana, +while an act of dangerous sacrilege when performed +by a Wongolo, violated the half suppressed traditions +and kindled a spark of bitter resentment ready to flare +up against Eyes-in-the-hands or Sakamata; but being +a diplomatist, he concealed that anger, even from +himself to a certain degree.</p> +<pb n="252"/><anchor id="Pg252"/> + +<p>Upon MYalu’s arrival in the guest-house to find that +Bakuma had been taken, his passion had nearly led to +his instant destruction, for he had desired to run amok +among the grinning askaris. Afterwards, when the +efforts of his friends and the hungry points of bayonets +had cooled his ardour, he had wanted to rush straight +to Eyes-in-the-hands who, according to Sakamata +employed as master of ceremony at the daily audiences, +would instantly restore Bakuma to him and visit a +terrible punishment upon the evil-doer. But the +august presence could not be approached so casually: +petition must be made in orthodox form and the royal +pleasure awaited meekly.</p> + +<p>According to the words of the Son-of-the-Earthquake, +as zu Pfeiffer was officially designated by his +men, who placed the actual name under the tabu in +token of the acceptance of the magic purple, came a +guard to take away MYalu’s first-born as hostage to +the village of the sons of chiefs. Seething with red +rage MYalu mutely followed Yabolo to the place +appointed for their housing. Then on the following +afternoon at the time of audience MYalu waited in the +broiling heat for three hand’s-spans of the sun without +being summoned to the green temple. And thus it +was for three days.</p> + +<p>But upon the fourth, when MYalu squatted in the +general hut in company with Yabolo, Sakamata, and +other renegade chiefs, smouldering with bitter resentment, +came the pulse of a distant drum, the furious +tattoo and long pause, tattoo and long pause, which +accompanies the mighty shout at the coronation of a +new King-God, <q>The Fire is lighted!</q> news that +had throbbed from that point within the forest +<pb n="253"/><anchor id="Pg253"/> +from village to village to the slopes of the Gamballagalla +and to the Wamungo country. The perceptible +effect upon that circle of bronze figures was a scarcely +audible grunt, yet nevertheless the message was like +unto a live ember dropped in the dry grass of the cattle +country.</p> + +<p>That morning one of the renegade chiefs had brought +in two others to make their allegiance and received as +reward for his fidelity a remittance of one-third of the +tax levy upon his property, a policy adopted by zu +Pfeiffer calculated to encourage the recruiting of his +followers by establishing a reputation for lavish +generosity to those who obeyed him, in contrast to +his merciless severity to the recalcitrant ones.</p> + +<p>An hour later MYalu was summoned from the +sweating throng squatted before the line of demon +keepers through the giant ebon guards to audience with +the Son-of-the-Earthquake. At the entrance as bidden +he knelt, for he knew that he would be compelled did +he refuse. A white flame was in his heart, but yet +the magnificence of the son of the World Trembler and +his satellites, the terrible ghosts of the distant white +god, with amulets and charms upon his breast, had awed +and subdued MYalu. Then came the voice of Sakamata +relating that the chief MYalu, son of MBusa, +made complaint to the Son-of-the-Earthquake that +his slaves, the keepers of the coughing demons, had +taken a girl named Bakuma, daughter of Bakala, and +that he craved restitution of his property. While this +was being translated by the corporal interpreter, +MYalu watched the magic flame in the mouth of +Eyes-in-the-hands, marvelling greatly at the smoke +which emerged. Then said the interpreter:</p> +<pb n="254"/><anchor id="Pg254"/> + +<p><q>The son of the Lord-of-the-World, the Earthquake, +the World Trembler who eats up whom he +pleases, whose eyes see all things, whose sword slays +all things, whose breath is the rain, whose voice is the +thunder, whose teeth are the lightning, whose frown +is the earthquake, whose smile is the sun, whose ear is +the moon, whose eyes are the stars, whose body is the +world, saith that when the son of MBusa (MYalu) +bringeth three chiefs of the same rank to sit at the Feet +then shall the daughter of Bakala return unto him, +but in the meantime shall her girdle remain untied. +He hath spoken!</q></p> + +<p>As he finished zu Pfeiffer made the signal of dismissal +with his jewelled hand, but MYalu with the throb of +that distant drum in his ears, cried out in protest, +saying:</p> + +<p><q>The words of the Son-of-the-Earthquake are like +unto spears made of grass!</q></p> + +<p>The interpreter boggled at the translation of the +sentence. Zu Pfeiffer saw a ripple of insubordination. +He rapped out an order to have the man taken away +and given fifty lashes. Instantly the guards surrounded +MYalu, who submitted in sudden misgiving, +and led him away to receive the punishment.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer gave orders that the girl Bakuma should +be found and called the next case, Kalomato the +elderly chief who had had all his property sequestered +until he should deliver his eldest son as hostage. He +was a slight withered old man with a white tuft of +beard and at the hands of the askaris, after considerable +endurance, had screamed his submission. Now he +hobbled into zu Pfeiffer’s presence with the aid of a +stick. Pompously the interpreter recited the list of +<pb n="255"/><anchor id="Pg255"/> +the titles of the august one, and then dwelt upon the +wondrous benefits to be obtained at the magic jewelled +hands, and demanded that the old chief <q>eat the dust</q> +and obey the royal mandate.</p> + +<p>But the sharp eyes gazed steadily from their wrinkled +sockets with a curious gleam in them as he mumbled +that <q>his soul had wandered</q> (he had dreamed) <q rend="post: none">and +had met the spirit of Tarum, who had forbidden him +to obey the white god.<corr sic=" "><anchor id="E29"/><ref +target="e29">”</ref></corr></q></p> + +<p><q>The shenzie</q> (savage—used contemptuously) +<q>longs for more fire for his paws, O Bwana,</q> translated +the interpreter into Kiswahili.</p> + +<p><q>What does he say?</q> demanded zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p><q>He says, Bwana, that he hath dreamed that his +god hath told him that he must not obey you. Indio, +Bwana.</q></p> + +<p><q>Tell him that I slew his god, as every man knows.</q></p> + +<p><q>The Son-of-the-Earthquake bids thee to know that +he hath eaten up thy god as he eateth up thy warriors +when his wrath is aroused. Eat dust that thy beard +grow yet longer; stretch thy tongue and thou shalt +be eaten entirely and all that is thine!</q></p> + +<p><q>The Fire is lighted,</q> mumbled the old man.</p> + +<p><q>What does he say?</q> demanded zu Pfeiffer sharply.</p> + +<p><q>He attempts to make magic against thee, Bwana,</q> +replied the interpreter who knew not the meaning of +the phrase.</p> + +<p><q>Take away the animal,</q> commanded zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p>The old man was accordingly led out to the further +attentions of the soldiery. But during that afternoon +zu Pfeiffer became conscious of a subtle air of defiance, +a restlessness and exchanging of glances, so that the +demon which Bakunjala had once seen so vividly came +<pb n="256"/><anchor id="Pg256"/> +back to roost somewhere beneath the immaculate +uniform.</p> + +<p>Neither he nor his sergeants nor their men could +speak the Wongolo tongue fluently, so that for interpreter +he was compelled to employ one of the corporals. +To employ any newly subjected race or tribe as +soldiers or in any responsible capacity is unwise, for +ties of blood are liable to lead to treachery; to trust +to the idiosyncrasies and personal values of any native +interpreter is equally impolitic. Zu Pfeiffer and his +party were as unaware of the meaning of the phrases +exchanged as they were of the message in the throbbing +of that distant drum. Between the conqueror and +the subjected tribe was a wall denser than any steel; +the same wall of tabu of the craft that Birnier was +finding so difficult to penetrate.</p> + +<p>Every attempt to persuade any of the witch-doctors +to disclose the secrets of their craft through the +interpreter was doomed to failure; even had zu +Pfeiffer been able to speak the dialect as well as Birnier +he would never have accomplished it. Yet he tried +the impossible. The answer was invariably a mask of +ox-like stupidity or the retort that he, being a mighty +magician, must needs know that he did but <q>tickle their +feet</q>! At length, irritated by this persistence, he +had Sakamata put to the torture and had for his pains +a story in which the idol as the first man was the father +of the tribe whom the people believed to have been +eaten up literally, so that the conqueror had become +the father of the people, having the idol inside him, +and the chance that the tale had a faint resemblance to +an account by a Frenchman of the superstitions of a +West African tribe, convinced him. Implicitly he +<pb n="257"/><anchor id="Pg257"/> +believed the ingenious yarn invented by a wily witch-doctor +to save his hide and the perquisites of his job +by placating the white man, the trap into which most +white chroniclers have fallen. This conviction, which +flattered his sagacity and lulled any suspicions, +strengthened his arm in the delivering of punishment +and reward.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD25" type="chapter"> +<pb n="258"/><anchor id="Pg258"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 25</hi> +</head> + +<p>In the camp of Bakahenzie was the low mutter of the +drums by day and night. The village had straggled +farther through the forest in each direction save that +of the sacred enclosure. Already were some five +hundred warriors there and more were pouring in +every day. Busy were Bakahenzie and wizards, great +and small, in the preparing of amulets of the hearts +of lions, livers of leopards and galls of birds, and the +brewing of potent decoctions to be smeared with parrot +feathers upon the warriors old and young against the +evil eye and the spirits of the night. And dispensed +by Bakahenzie and Marufa, from whom had come the +original idea, was a special and rather expensive charm +against the coughing monsters, which was made by, +and invested with, the magic of the King-God himself, +a can key. That morning had there been a special +meeting of the craft and the chiefs before the sacred +enclosure, where they had looked upon the sacred form +of the King-God and heard the magic elephant’s ear +give them instructions and a prophecy. Around and +about a hundred fires, flickering mystically in the moist +cavern of the forest, shuffled and chanted the warriors +invoking the aid of Tarum, the spirit of their ancestors.</p> + +<p>On the threshold of his hut squatted a sullen Zalu +Zako. He had discovered that he had escaped from +the river bearing him to the pool of celibacy to find +that the bird had been captured by another. Although +<pb n="259"/><anchor id="Pg259"/> +he had known that before attaining his desire he would +have had to extricate Bakuma from the net of the tabu, +yet, lover-like and human, that task unconsidered had +seemed as easy as stalking a buck in a wood. But the +joy of his own release had been dissipated as a cloud +of dust by a shower by the news of MYalu’s abduction +of the girl and his desertion. Zalu Zako was so +obsessed by chagrin at this wholly unexpected appearance +of a rival that he was inclined to regret that he +had ever thought of the move by which he could +escape his late doom and rescue Bakuma at the same +time. The illusion of nearness to the desired object +had served naturally to whet his appetite; the balked +love motive dominated him almost to the exclusion +of political affairs. What his official status was now +that all precedent had been broken Bakahenzie did +not know and had not decided, and Zalu Zako cared +less.</p> + +<p>Though his faith in most of the tribal theology was +unshaken, he did not believe in the sanctity, or the +necessity, of the marriage of the Bride of the Banana, +because he had a defensive complex of desire for her +that inhibited that belief. Towards MYalu, Zalu +Zako’s natural reaction was revenge. The matter +was how to accomplish that end. To reveal to Bakahenzie +that he was the lover of Bakuma would be +tantamount to admitting sacrilege in having a passion +for the Bride of the Banana.</p> + +<p>As Zalu Zako was unable to get at the person of +his rival the most logical method to his mind was by +witchcraft. To obtain some relics of the body of +MYalu proved easy, as his wives and slaves being forced +to flee, had been unable to burn the deserted hut, thus +<pb n="260"/><anchor id="Pg260"/> +leaving in the customary place in the thatch some of the +hair and nail clippings. Also to find an excuse for the +cursing of MYalu was still easier. So at a meeting +of the chiefs he rivalled Bakahenzie in denunciation +of the absconding chief, insisted that a mighty magic +be made against him and produced the necessary +corporeal parts upon which to work. So it was that +Bakahenzie and Marufa, a quiet watchful Marufa, +brewed the magic brew and condemned MYalu by +the proxy of his nail clippings to die, a process +that took root in a very firm conviction in the mind +of Zalu Zako and the others that die MYalu would.</p> + +<p>After this satisfaction of the first fierce instinct +Zalu Zako was more at liberty to consider other matters, +which resulted in an effort to quicken the collective +will to recover the tribe’s country and possessions, +symbolised in Zalu Zako’s mind by the delicate figure +of Bakuma.</p> + +<p>The ceremony of the lighting of the new fires he +had attended perfunctorily. To have regret or pity +for the white man, Moonspirit who had taken over his +doom, never occurred to Zalu Zako, for to him as to +Bakahenzie Moonspirit was a mighty magician who, +if competent to effect the magic he had already +displayed, was capable of looking after himself; +moreover, as he had recalled the Unmentionable +One, he stood as the incarnation of the tribe, the god, +therefore beyond human consideration.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie’s chief regard was, of course, to unify +the tribe once more and to rouse those who had +submitted to Eyes-in-the-hands to rebellion, which +was but a projection of his desire, as that of all +patriots, to consolidate his own position and to regain +<pb n="261"/><anchor id="Pg261"/> +his lost prestige. He had had no need to command that +the news be sent abroad. At the ceremony of the +Lighting of the Fires the drum notes had been picked +up by the nearest village and sent ricocheting across +the length and breadth of the country, rippling through +the Court of the Son-of-the-Earthquake.</p> + +<p>Bakahenzie’s confidence had increased tenfold since, +by his clever coup, he had locked up the white magician +in the godhead. He believed that Moonspirit was +the mightiest magician the world had ever seen, a +demi-god; for had he, Bakahenzie, not seen these +wondrous miracles with his own eyes? Had not he, +Bakahenzie, captured and tamed this marvellous +power to his own ends?</p> + +<p>So absolute was this confidence in the powers of +the white that Bakahenzie was perfectly sincere, as +Mungongo and Bakuma had been, in asserting that +the <q>son of the Lord-of-many-Lands</q> was pleased to +pretend that <q>an elephant was a mouse,</q> that he +<q>tickled their feet.</q> The only doubt raised in his +mind at that interview was whether he could persuade +this powerful being to destroy the usurper <q>out of +hand,</q> as it were, or even whether Moonspirit could +do so; for it was quite reasonable to him to suppose +that even a god, in fighting another god, might have +to do battle for the victory.</p> + +<p>Not in spite of, but because of, this firm faith +Bakahenzie took more precautions than ever before +to surround the captured god with the toughest +fibres of the tabu to keep him in isolation. Obviously +such a valuable prize demanded special precautions. +He promulgated an ordinance, in the amplitude of +his regained power, that no lay man nor any wizard +<pb n="262"/><anchor id="Pg262"/> +save the inner cult, whom he dared not forbid, were +to approach within sight of the sacred enclosure. +In the jungle of his mind lurked the fear that the new +god might be seen to leave the sacred ground and thus +render the penalty of death imperative according to +the laws of the tabu upon a god who jeopardised the +tribal welfare as MFunya MPopo had done by his +failure to bring rain. The belief that he could control +a force which he admitted was infinitely greater than +he, and of punishing it if it did not behave, was not +at all inconsistent to the native mind, nor more +illogical than many theological ideas of whites.</p> + +<p>At the last interview Bakahenzie had tried to +persuade Birnier to permit him to speak into the mighty +ear of the magic box; in effect an attempt to gain +complete control. But Birnier, when he at length +had realised that Bakahenzie’s mental development +was little greater than Mungongo’s, and keenly aware +of the isolation to which he was to be subjected, as +well as the purpose in the witch-doctor’s mind, had +resolutely refused. Bakahenzie had accepted the +intimation that the god would not work miracles +through any other mouth than that of his incarnation, +and after a long cogitative silence had departed without +further comment.</p> + +<p>But of course he came back again next day, as +Birnier had known that he would. Birnier hinted at +the expected initiation into the <q>mysteries</q> of the +craft, particularly of the Festival of the Banana and +the other ceremonies connected with his rôle as +King-God. But Bakahenzie’s gaze, fixed upon an +object on the toilet table, did not quiver. Birnier +repeated the inquiry more bluntly. Said Bakahenzie:</p> +<pb n="263"/><anchor id="Pg263"/> + +<p><q>The fingers of the son of Maliko are hungry to +touch the magic knife of the son of the Lord-of-many-Lands.</q></p> + +<p><q>Damn it,</q> muttered Birnier. <q>That’s my favourite!</q> +But he handed the razor to Bakahenzie, +saying: <q>Is not the porridge pot free to all brothers?</q> +Gravely Bakahenzie slipped the safety razor into +his loin cloth, mumbled the orthodox adieu and +departed.</p> + +<p>Although devoted to Birnier as much as ever, +Mungongo was bound just as much by the articles of +the tabu as any other native; in fact, since his appointment +to the high office of Keeper of the Fires, he was +if possible more terrified by the bogies of their theology +than before. Put one foot out of the sacred ground +he would not, for he was convinced that immediately +he did so, the ghosts of the dead kings would instantly +strangle him. Birnier attempted to persuade him to +get into communication with Marufa, but that wily +gentleman, grieving over the failure of the coup he +had aided Birnier to make, and for the moment +completely under the domination of Bakahenzie, +who, he knew, had him watched every moment of the +day and night, would never approach the Place of the +Unmentionable One. Nor dared Zalu Zako break +the tabu placed by Bakahenzie. To Bakahenzie and +not to Birnier he owed his escape from the dreaded +godhood. One who had released him might quite +reasonably have him back again if annoyed. The few +wizards who came to gaze at the imprisoned god like +children at the Zoo, as Birnier had commented, were +deaf to any remark, instruction, or plea of the Holy +One. So it was that Birnier began to realise that +<pb n="264"/><anchor id="Pg264"/> +the functions of a god were so very purely divine +that he would never be allowed to interfere in human +affairs at all except by grace of the high priest, and +possibly he was not the first god who had found that +out.</p> + +<p>This jungle of secrecy and the denial of any active +part in the organising of the tribe began to irritate +Birnier. Yet he perceived clearly enough from his +knowledge of the native mind that a premature +effort to force either confidence or action would +end in disaster. Patience and perseverance alone +would bring success; and the moulding of the +material through forces which already controlled it. +He must play the witch-doctor to the full. Working +upon this hypothesis he determined to control +Bakahenzie through <q>messages</q> from the spirit of +Tarum. The trouble was to find out whether +Bakahenzie would obey him or not and to what +extent.</p> + +<p>So in the early hours of one morning Bakahenzie’s +watchers in the forest shuddered as they heard more +of the mysterious voices of the Unmentionable One +making wondrous magic within the temple as Mungongo +chanted, at Birnier’s prompting, the god’s +instructions to his high priest and people. The form +of the chant was not correct as Mungongo’s memory +was very unreliable, but as Birnier remarked to the +portrait of Lucille, <q>I don’t suppose Maestro Bakahenzie +is such a stylist as he would have the public +suppose.</q> Afterwards, to Mungongo’s delight, who +was never tired of any manifestation of Moonspirit’s +magic, he put out the light and lay upon his bed within +the temple listening to the voice of Lucille pouring +<pb n="265"/><anchor id="Pg265"/> +out the passion of <q>Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix,</q> in +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Samson et Delilah</hi>, to the sleepy ears of +the monkeys above the figure of the idol limned against the moon-patterned +roof of the forest.</p> + +<p>But scarcely had the moist ultramarine shadows +turned to mauve than the voice of Bakahenzie hailed +the god most punctiliously from without. However +Birnier happened to be sleepy, and the chance of the +early hour presented such an opportunity to gain +prestige that he sent the Keeper of the Fires to inform +the High Priest that the god was not yet up and that +he must needs wait. And wait did Bakahenzie, like +unto a graven image at the gate until the sun was four +hand’s-spans above the trees. When Birnier had +breakfasted upon broiled kid, eggs, banana and +weak tea, Bakahenzie was summoned to the august +presence.</p> + +<p>Wondering what new idea Bakahenzie had gotten +into his head Birnier solemnly talked the usual preliminaries, +intending to announce in the best manner that +Tarum had a message for the son of Maliko; but to +his astonishment Bakahenzie forestalled him by +demanding to know when the god would speak +again.</p> + +<p>When Mungongo had gravely placed the machine +at his feet Birnier set the record. The chant bade +the son of Maliko to summon the wizards and the +warriors of the tribe to the abode of the Unmentionable +One; to send to those who had fallen into +the power of Eyes-in-the-hands instructions that +they were not to reveal by word or deed that the +Unmentionable One had been pleased to return, but +to wait like a wild cat at a fish pool until a signal was +<pb n="266"/><anchor id="Pg266"/> +given through the drums, when they were to smite +swiftly at every keeper of the demons and to flee +immediately to their brethren in the forest; that +they were on no account to kill or wound Eyes-in-the-hands +nor any white man that was his, lest their +powerful ghosts exact a terrible penalty and refuse to +be propitiated; that when these things had been +done would the spirit of Tarum issue further instructions.</p> + +<p>In composing this message Bernier had sought to gain +the advantage of a surprise attack and to secure the +massacre of as many of the askaris as possible; to save +zu Pfeiffer and his white sergeants from the fate which +would await them should they fall into the hands of +the Wongolo; to minimise the loss of men which +would occur were the tribe to attempt to face the +guns; afterwards to lure zu Pfeiffer away from his +fortifications and the open country, in order to compel +him to fight in the forest where he could not ascertain +what force was against him; and in the meantime to +slip round and establish the idol in the Place of Kings, +which act would consolidate the moral of the tribe +as well as cut the line of zu Pfeiffer’s communications +with Ingonya.</p> + +<p>As Bakahenzie listened gravely and attentively, +Birnier keenly watched his face. Although the mask +did not quiver, a half suppressed grunt at the end +persuaded him that Bakahenzie was duly impressed, +but he made no comment. After regarding Mungongo +solemnly putting away the machine Bakahenzie +remarked casually:</p> + +<p><q>In the village is a messenger from Eyes-in-the-hands +who sends thee greetings.</q></p> +<pb n="267"/><anchor id="Pg267"/> + +<p>This was the first news that Birnier had received +since his ascent to the godhood. He had expected +that sooner or later zu Pfeiffer would hear of the +presence of a white man, but he was rather startled +at the inference that zu Pfeiffer knew who he was. +He made no visible sign as he waited. Bakahenzie +took snuff interestedly and continued:</p> + +<p><q>Eyes-in-the-hands bids thee to go unto the Place +of Kings to eat the dust before him.</q></p> + +<p>Bakahenzie regarded him with keen eyes. Birnier +considered swiftly. From the latter part of the +message he gathered that zu Pfeiffer was not aware +of his identity. His opinion of zu Pfeiffer’s character +suggested certain psychological possibilities. His policy +was to lure him away from his fort; to destroy +his military judgment. Therefore to cause him at +this juncture to be violently disturbed by a personal +emotion might tend to confuse his mind. Enmity—fear—might +equally serve as the lure required. In +spite of committing a breach of native etiquette +Birnier could not resist smiling. He reached for the +<q>Anatomy</q> and as he scribbled two words he said to +Bakahenzie solemnly:</p> + +<p><q>O son of Maliko, say unto this man of many +tongues as well as many eyes, ‘that the jackal follows +the lion that he may feed upon his leavings; that +the voice of the hyena is loudest when he eateth +offal.’ And shall the slave take unto him that +which is mighty magic, such magic that when Eyes-in-the-hands +doth but touch it shall he trumpet like unto +a wounded cow elephant. Bid him to mark that my +words be white!</q></p> + +<p>And when Bakahenzie had gone Birnier turned to +<pb n="268"/><anchor id="Pg268"/> +the portrait on the wall and remarked as he indulged +in the luxury of a grin: <q>Say, honey, but if that +doesn’t make him mad, I’ll—I’ll +eat my own manuscripts!</q></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD26" type="chapter"> +<pb n="269"/><anchor id="Pg269"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 26</hi> +</head> + +<p>In a corner of one of the half-completed huts in a +half-completed street of the new village of the +Place of Kings squatted Yabolo and other chiefs. +As Sakamata was up in the fort serving Eyes-in-the-hands +they could talk freely, yet in low tones and with +wary eyes for the interstices of the unfinished wall. +More than one chief had been thrashed but none as +high in rank as MYalu; moreover, those that had +been severely punished had been taken in fair fight or +had attempted to escape, whereas MYalu had done +nothing that they considered to merit punishment. +The growing detestation and hatred smouldering within +all of them against the new ruler had burst into flame +at the first hint of the news vibrating upon the moist +air. Later had come another drum message bidding +them await new words of Tarum, and forty-eight +hours afterwards the messenger sent by zu Pfeiffer to +summon Moonspirit, who squatted in the group, +whispered word for word Birnier’s message on the +phonograph, adding further instructions from Bakahenzie +that the signal should be another message upon +the drums: <q>The Fire is lighted.</q></p> + +<p>Warm banana wrapped in leaves, which a slave +had brought in, was placed before the chiefs while +the messenger related the gossip of the village in the +forest. Later, while lolling through the mid-day +heat waiting for the time of audience, he produced +<pb n="270"/><anchor id="Pg270"/> +from his loin cloth the magic charm which the son +of the Lord-of-many-Lands, the King-God, had sent +to Eyes-in-the-hands and repeated the prophecy that +he should trumpet like unto a wounded cow elephant, +eliciting many grunts of admiration and awe. Then +he inquired for Sakamata and MYalu, and upon hearing +the account, reported that they were both traitors +and had been condemned to die by the magic of +Bakahenzie and Marufa.</p> + +<p>Each and every chief felt that he had been betrayed +by Sakamata. Even Yabolo, his relative, particularly +because his visionary schemes had come to nought, +was against Sakamata. Sakamata had heard the message +of the drums, <q>The Fire is lighted.</q> But of the +details of the return of the Unmentionable One +and of the new King-God he knew nothing, although +every other Wongolo man, woman, and child, knew +it. The terror of the tabu, of the power of the +Unmentionable One, was more overwhelming than +his fear of Eyes-in-the-hands, wizard and ex-member +of the inner cult though he be. The Unmentionable +One had returned, a miracle! In a thousand signs +of birds and beasts, twigs and shadows, Sakamata +saw omens of evil. He knew that he was an outcast, +that his fellows were plotting; that they knew something +that he did not; yet he dared not tell Eyes-in-the-hands +lest he be killed on the instant, not by +Eyes-in-the-hands but by the mystic power of the +Unmentionable One.</p> + +<p>Farther down the line, in a small hut, lay MYalu +motionless. His mind was a whirling red spot of +rage and pain, obliterating the image of Bakuma, his +ivory, and everything. From the base of the spine +<pb n="271"/><anchor id="Pg271"/> +to his neck he was criss-crossed with bloody weals +administered with a kiboko (whip of hippopotamus +hide) by one of the black giants who formed the door +guard at the tent of Eyes-in-the-hands. More +stimulating to his anger even than the excessive pain +was the indignity, that he, MYalu, son of MBusa, a +chief, had been flogged like a slave before all men! +Could he have gotten free he would have leaped upon +zu Pfeiffer, god or no, and torn him to pieces with +hands and teeth. But he could scarcely move. Never +had such an act been conceived by MYalu. The +native dignity and reserve was shattered. He lay +upon his belly and glared with the eyes of a maddened +and tortured animal.</p> + +<p>The yellow glare in the open doorway was darkened, +but MYalu did not stir. The figure of Yabolo, a +short throwing sword in hand, moved towards him +and squatted down, muttering greetings. MYalu +made no response. Yabolo repeated the message +from the spirit of Tarum.</p> + +<p><q>Let thy spear be made sharp, O son of MBusa, +that we may make the jackal who would command the +lion to eat offal!</q> MYalu grunted. <q>The son of +Bayakala saith that it will be soon, so that thou mayest +yet eat of thy defiler ere thou art gone to ghostland.</q> +MYalu turned his head. <q>The son of MTungo and +the son of Maliko,</q> explained the old man, <q>have +made magic upon the parts which thou didst foolishly +leave within thy hut.</q></p> + +<p>Again MYalu merely grunted and turned away +his head. But that dread news had quenched the +white flame of anger. The spirits were wroth; even +had they caused him to eat the dust before all men. +<pb n="272"/><anchor id="Pg272"/> +Conviction in the efficacy of the magic for which he +would have bought Marufa to make against Zalu Zako +was as absolute as his faith in the death magic made +against him by the two powerful witch-doctors, and +intensified by the miraculous return of the Unmentionable +One against whom he had committed sacrilege. +He recollected the cry of the Baroto bird on the night +on which he had kidnapped the Bride of the Banana. +The spirit of Tarum was wroth. The mighty new +King-God of the Unmentionable One was about to +eat up all the enemies of the land. MYalu was +convinced that he was doomed; certain that Yabolo +knew that he was doomed; that every man knew that +he was doomed.</p> + +<p>For ten minutes the figures, squatting and lying, +remained as motionless as bronzes. Then MYalu +rose to his knees and said calmly: <q>Give me thy +sword, O son of Zingala.</q></p> + +<p>Silently Yabolo handed him the sword which +MYalu placed beneath him and laid down again. So +quietly he died.</p> + +<p>From the sacred hill blared the harsh cry of the +yellow bird, as the natives called the trumpet, announcing +that the august presence was in audience. But +instead of the usual crowd of immobile figures squatted +almost under the shadow of the pom-pom within the +gate of the fort, sat only the messenger. Sakamata, +knowing that something portended and yet not +exactly what, was so scared that his skinny limbs +quivered as if with an ague. Although he desired to +warn Eyes-in-the-hands in order to save himself, he +dared not attempt to do so lest the august one visit +his anger upon his person; vague ideas of redeeming +<pb n="273"/><anchor id="Pg273"/> +his treachery by delivering Eyes-in-the-hands over +to his countrymen were stoppered by terror of the +wrath of the Unmentionable One.</p> + +<p>So it was that the pomp of the Son-of-the-Earthquake +and the glory of the soul of the World-Trembler +with many charms upon his breast was reserved for the +humble messenger who entered escorted by Sakamata. +After bowing in the prescribed manner the messenger +squatted at zu Pfeiffer’s feet and addressed himself +to the corporal interpreter.</p> + +<p><q>The son of the Lord-of-many-lands, that is the +King-God of the One-not-to-be-mentioned, sends +greeting to the son of the World-Trembler, called +Eyes-in-the-hands, and this message: ‘Say unto the +man of many tongues as well as many eyes that the +jackal follows the lion that he may feed on the leavings; +the voice of the hyena is loudest when he eateth +offal!’</q></p> + +<p><q>What does the animal say?</q> demanded zu +Pfeiffer, impatient of the native preamble.</p> + +<p><q>He says, Bwana,</q> said the interpreter, <q>that the +white man is sick and cannot move, but that he will +come as soon as he is well.</q></p> + +<p>From the folds of his loin cloth the messenger was +dutifully extracting something wrapped up in a +banana leaf, which he handed to the interpreter as +he finished the message:</p> + +<p><q>And by his slave he sendeth that which is mighty +magic; such magic that he who toucheth it shall +trumpet like unto a wounded cow elephant.</q></p> + +<p><q>He says, Bwana,</q> continued the interpreter +glibly, <q>that he sends to the mighty Eater-of-Men +a small present,</q> and with the words the corporal +<pb n="274"/><anchor id="Pg274"/> +guilelessly proffered the small package. Zu Pfeiffer +took it and tore off the covering.…</p> + +<p>Then was the magic of the new King-god of the +Unmentionable One made manifest to all men, and +particularly a group of chiefs hiding in a small thicket +beneath the hill, for indeed did the Son-of-the-Earthquake +trumpet like unto a wounded cow elephant +at the sight of an ivory disc on which was written:</p> + +<p><q>Amantes—Amentes!</q></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD27" type="chapter"> +<pb n="275"/><anchor id="Pg275"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 27</hi> +</head> + +<p>All day at Fort Eitel had been stir and bustle, +the blare of trumpets and the barking of sergeants, +white and black. Long lines of women and slaves +streamed in from the surrounding countryside bearing +loads of corn and bananas. In the half-made parade +ground at the foot of the hill of Kawa Kendi, half a +company of Wongolo whom zu Pfeiffer had conscripted +from the chiefs, stumbled and ran in awkward squads. +In the hut of the Wongolo chiefs squatted Yabolo +among the rest, silently observing the preparations +for the punitive expedition which Sakamata had +informed them was being prepared in response to +the insolent challenge of the white man who had +allied himself with the <q>rebels.</q> But over them, +as well as every Wongolo in and about the place, +was a sullen air not of defiance but of expectant +listening.</p> + +<p>In the mess hut a nervous Bakunjala prepared the +table for dinner, the whites of his eyes rolling at every +sound of zu Pfeiffer’s voice from the marquee adjoining. +Never in his experience, nor in that of other servants or +soldiers, had the demon so utterly possessed the dread +Eater-of-Men as since the receipt of some terrible +magic sent to him by the white man. Opinion was +divided as to whether this white man was the one +who had been arrested and sent to the coast with +<pb n="276"/><anchor id="Pg276"/> +Corporal Inyira or whether he was a brother; some +said that the magic leaf which the messenger had +brought was the soul of the white man, others +maintained that it was the incarnation of Bakra, +which explained why the Eater-of-Men was so +entirely possessed. Had he not screamed? they +demanded, which clearly proved, as everybody knew, +the dreadful agony as the ghost entered into the +body.</p> + +<p>Even the white sergeants were frightened of their +chief. They had been seen talking together secretly, +doubtless discussing what medicine they could give +him to exorcise the demon. Had he not been +commanded by this demon to leave the safety of the +fort where they had the guns on the hills, and to go +into the forest where, as anybody knew, their eyes +would be taken from them so that they could not see +to kill the dogs of Wongolo? They were all conscious, +native-like, that something was brewing among the +Wongolo, but what it was exactly they did not know. +Two men had had fifty lashes that morning because +they had not saluted the totem—flag—correctly; +and a Wongolo chief had been shot because he had +not brought in the amount of ivory commanded. +None dared to warn the Eater-of-Men. Some one +had said that the <q>leaf</q> was the soul of the idol come +to lead the Eater-of-Men to destruction. This idea +took deep root among the Wunyamwezi soldiers, for +although they had delighted in the slaughter and +rapine under the leadership of the Eater-of-Men, +yet always had there been an uneasy feeling of sacrilege +in destroying an idol.</p> + +<p>In the half of the marquee reserved for the Kommandant’s +<pb n="277"/><anchor id="Pg277"/> +private quarters sat zu Pfeiffer in his camp +chair with the inevitable stinger at his elbow. Erect +by the door stood Sergeant Schultz taking details +for the disposition of stores and troops during the +absence of the punitive expedition. Never had he +in four years’ service seen the lieutenant as he was +now. Although Schultz could speak Kiswahili +fluently he knew no word of Munyamwezi, else he +might have been disposed to agree with Bakunjala +and his friends. As it was he thought that the Herr +Lieutenant had gotten a touch of the sun or was +drinking too heavily or perhaps a bit of both; for +to his mind the act of dividing up their scanty +forces and leaving their fortified positions to enter +the forest, with no chance of keeping open the +line of communication, appeared to be military +suicide.</p> + +<p>He deemed it his duty to bring this point of +view to his Kommandant’s notice, but he was +uncomfortably aware of zu Pfeiffer’s headstrong +character.</p> + +<p><q>What time does the moon set, sergeant?</q> +demanded zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p><q>About three, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Good. Then at five precisely the column will +move. Warn Sergeant Schneider.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ya, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>You will transfer the remainder of your +men and the Nordenfeldt as soon as we have +gone.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ya, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>That is all, sergeant.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer dropped his head wearily on to his +<pb n="278"/><anchor id="Pg278"/> +hand. Schultz remained rigidly by the door. Zu +Pfeiffer glanced up peevishly.</p> + +<p><q>I said that was all, sergeant,</q> he exclaimed +tetchily.</p> + +<p><q>Ya, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Herr Gott, what are you standing there for like a +stuffed pig?</q></p> + +<p>Schultz saluted.</p> + +<p><q>Excellence, it is my duty to remind your +Excellence that according to regulation 47 of …</q></p> + +<p><q>To hell with you and your regulations, damn +you.… Will you leave me alone!</q> The last +was almost a plea.</p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>Schultz saluted briskly and went. Again zu +Pfeiffer’s head dropped on to the cupped hand and he +gazed at the portrait in the ivory frame.… Against +the blue twilight of the door appeared a tall figure in +white.</p> + +<p><q>What in the name of&qdash;</q> began zu +Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p><q>Chakula tayari, Bwana,</q> announced Bakunjala +timidly.</p> + +<p><q>I don’t want any chakula,</q> said zu Pfeiffer. +<q>Wait. Bring some here.</q></p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q></p> + +<p>Bakunjala fled, to reappear almost instantly with +a covered plate, which he placed on the table as +bidden and vanished. Zu Pfeiffer regarded distastefully +his favourite dish of curried eggs. Then he +bawled irritably:</p> + +<p><q>Lights, animal!</q></p> +<pb n="279"/><anchor id="Pg279"/> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q> gasped Bakunjala appearing in the +doorway with the lamp.</p> + +<p>But zu Pfeiffer pushed the plate away to stare at +the photograph of Lucille. The stare turned to a +glare, and then as if mutinying against his god, as +Kawa Kendi had done when summoning rain, he +suddenly snatched at the frame and flung it upon the +floor with an oath, grabbed up a fountain pen and +began to write.</p> + +<p>Indeed zu Pfeiffer was half insane with anger which +he was disposed to vent upon Lucille by proxy as +the source of yet another trouble and possibly official +disgrace. He had not had a notion that Birnier could +have survived the gentle hands of the corporal until +without warning came that ivory disc with <q>Amantes—Amentes!</q> +scribbled upon it, which not only inferred +that Birnier had escaped, but that he was near to +him and intended to champion these native dogs +against the Imperial Government in the person of +himself.</p> + +<p>The message had been made the more insulting by +the note of exclamation at the end implying derisive +laughter. It had, as Birnier had calculated that it +would, struck zu Pfeiffer upon the most tender spot +in his mental anatomy, evoking a homicidal mania +which dominated his consciousness. To be cheated, +to be swindled, to be sworn at, cursed, even to be +beaten was sufferable to a degree, but to be laughed at—zu +Pfeiffer’s haughty soul exploded like a bomb at +an impact. For a time he had been absolutely +incoherent with rage. His one impulse had been +to rush out and tear Birnier limb from limb. Well +might the listening natives believe in the mighty +<pb n="280"/><anchor id="Pg280"/> +magic of the new King-God, that it should make the +Son-of-the-Earthquake to trumpet like a wounded +cow elephant!</p> + +<p>Then out of the dissolving acrid smoke of wounded +pride begin to loom arbitrary points. First, that +Birnier would have complained, as he once had threatened +to do, to Washington, which would infuriate +the authorities in Berlin; and secondly, that he would +have written to Lucille revealing the attempt he +had made upon the life of her husband as well as +the things he had said. How Birnier had escaped +was immaterial, but the particular fate that awaited +Corporal Inyira was decided but futilely; for the +bold son of Banyala and his merry men were footing +it to the south of lake Tanganika, scared by day lest +the long arm of the Eater-of-Men should overtake +them and haunted by the terror of seeing another +illuminated ghost by night.</p> + +<p>As the jewelled hand glittered in the lamp-light +came the mutter of a distant drum on the moist +darkness; zu Pfeiffer, abnormally irritable, raised +his head, scowled, and muttering that he would have +to issue an order to have the drums stopped, bent +again to the uncongenial task of finishing the report +due for headquarters before he left. The drum ceased; +began again and was answered by another drum seemingly +nearer at hand.</p> + +<p>Five or ten minutes elapsed. As zu Pfeiffer took +up a fresh sheet of paper a shot rang out followed +instantly by yells. Zu Pfeiffer with an oath +sprang to his feet, snatched at the revolver hanging +above his camp bed and rushed out as a fusillade of +shots mingled with wilder cries. The gruff coughs +<pb n="281"/><anchor id="Pg281"/> +of the corporal in charge of the guard competed with +the sharp barks of Sergeant Schultz. Zu Pfeiffer, +bawling for a sergeant, ran to the great gate where the +pom-pom was stationed. On the opposite hill red +flashes of rifle fire darted downwards. Came another +outburst of yelling. Forms of askaris scurrying to +their places round the fence brushed by him on every +side.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant Schultz!</q> shouted zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p>A figure in white appeared beside him in the +darkness.</p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p><q>Put the gun on them! Quick!</q></p> + +<p>At the bark of the sergeant the gun crew, already +at their post, deftly manipulated the machine which +coughed angry red bursts of flame into the darkness. +The cries and howls ceased as suddenly as they +had begun.</p> + +<p><q>Cease fire!</q> commanded zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p>In the resulting stillness muttered shouts and cries +from somewhere in the village below were punctuated +by odd shots from the other hill.</p> + +<p><q>Sergeant Ludwig!</q> yelled zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p><q>Report!</q> snapped zu Pfeiffer.</p> + +<p><q>An unknown body of natives attacked and killed +the sentry on the eastern gate, Excellence,</q> came +Sergeant Ludwig’s voice from the gloom. <q>They +entered and were repulsed according to instructions. +That is all, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Losses?</q></p> + +<p><q>None other, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>What about the lower guards?</q></p> +<pb n="282"/><anchor id="Pg282"/> + +<p><q>I do not know, Excellence.</q></p> + +<p><q>Take a platoon and investigate. We will cover +you with the gun.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>The mutter of his orders was drowned in the +excited jabber of the askaris.</p> + +<p><q>Didimalla!</q> came the dreaded voice of +the Eater-of-Men. Instantly there was silence. +<q>Report!</q> commanded zu Pfeiffer to Sergeant +Schultz.</p> + +<p><q>A body of natives attacked upon the western +gate, Excellence. They were repulsed.</q></p> + +<p><q>Losses?</q></p> + +<p><q>Two men killed and three wounded.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ugm! Where’s the interpreter?</q></p> + +<p><q>Bwana!</q></p> + +<p>Cloth creaked as the man saluted in the dark.</p> + +<p><q>Where is Sakamata?</q> demanded zu Pfeiffer +in Kiswahili.</p> + +<p><q>Here, Excellence,</q> replied Sergeant Schultz. +<q>He was running away. I had him arrested.</q></p> + +<p><q>Good. Bring the animal to my quarters.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence.</q></p> + +<p>The sergeant and the interpreter, with a trembling +Sakamata between them, followed zu Pfeiffer to the +tent. As he entered he picked up the portrait in +the ivory frame and replaced it carefully on the table +and sat down.</p> + +<p><q>Ask the shenzie why he has not informed us of +this attack?</q></p> + +<p>The interpreter put the question to the terrified +old man who mumbled that he had not known anything +about it.</p> +<pb n="283"/><anchor id="Pg283"/> + +<p><q>Ugm!</q> grunted zu Pfeiffer. <q>Send for a +file of men, sergeant, and&qdash; No!</q> Zu Pfeiffer +rose. <q>I’ll get the truth out of him. Stand aside, +corporal!</q></p> + +<p>The corporal obeyed with alacrity as jerking his +revolver downwards zu Pfeiffer pulled the trigger. +The shot took off two of Sakamata’s smaller toes. The +corporal grinned in appreciation. Zu Pfeiffer experienced +a shadow of the pleasure he would have had in +mutilating Birnier.</p> + +<p><q>Pull him up!</q> commanded zu Pfeiffer. <q>Now +ask him again!</q></p> + +<p>For a moment or two Sakamata, scarcely conscious +of any pain in his fright, could not comprehend +what was said; at length he mumbled and +muttered. The interpreter lowered his head to +listen.</p> + +<p><q>Well?</q></p> + +<p><q>He says, Bwana, that he does not know anything; +that they will not tell him, but that he has heard that +the god has come back.</q></p> + +<p><q>The god! What god?</q></p> + +<p><q>The god which these shenzie (savages) had here +before the Bwana came.</q></p> + +<p><q>The idol!</q> Zu Pfeiffer ripped out an oath. +Then glaring questioningly at the shrunken figure on +the floor considered.</p> + +<p><q>Tell him he lies. How does he know that the +idol has come back if they will not tell him anything?</q></p> + +<p>Again the interpreter jabbered at Sakamata who +mumbled back.</p> + +<p><q>He says, Bwana, that his words are white. That +<pb n="284"/><anchor id="Pg284"/> +they have not told him, but that he has heard the +message of the drums. ‘The Fire is lighted!’</q></p> + +<p><q>What is that?</q></p> + +<p><q>I don’t know, Bwana.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ask him, you swine pig!</q></p> + +<p><q>He says that whenever there is a new king +that they call out those words, meaning that he is +come.</q></p> + +<p><q>Ugm!</q> Zu Pfeiffer took out a cigar and lighted +it as he considered. I believe the animal is right, +he reflected. That swinehund American has done +this! He turned sharply to Sergeant Schultz: +<q>Post double guards; bring me Ludwig’s report +and take this thing away and have it shot.</q></p> + +<p><q>Excellence!</q></p> + +<p>The party went out. Zu Pfeiffer sat smoking +fiercely. A single shot rang out. Presently came +Sergeant Ludwig in person.</p> + +<p><q>I have to report, Excellence, that the investigation +infers that the attack was only made with the +purpose of freeing the sons of chiefs, for the picket +has been slain but all the others are unhurt save three +wounded.</q></p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer swore mightily, but he dismissed the +sergeant with an admonition to have his troops ready +for inspection at four-thirty. He drank a brandy +neat and sat on, staring at the darkness. Then +suddenly he exclaimed and wheeled to the abandoned +report.</p> + +<p><q>This is an undeniable overt act,</q> he muttered, +seeing what he considered an opportunity to neutralise +the suppositious complaint which Birnier had sent to +Washington; and taking up his pen began a formal +<pb n="285"/><anchor id="Pg285"/> +accusation against Birnier, as an American subject, +for having violated the international laws of the +Geneva Convention by aiding and abetting rebels of +his Imperial Majesty.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD28" type="chapter"> +<pb n="286"/><anchor id="Pg286"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 28</hi> +</head> + +<p>Sergeant Schultz’s gloomy foreboding of +the inevitable result attending the refusal to follow +the teachings of his national preceptors was justified.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer, crazed with wounded pride or magic, +according to the white or black point of view, had +held rigidly to his schedule; precisely at four-thirty +he had inspected the expedition and marched at the +first streak of dawn. Schultz removed to the other +hill, leaving twenty-five men and a gun under a black +sergeant. Afterwards he visited the village. The +bodies of five of the picket were lying in the sun +mutilated. Not a native of any sort was to be seen +or heard. He sent out scouts. A village a couple +of miles away was deserted too. He wished to burn +the huts and plantation to clear the ground around the +fort but he dared not do so without orders. Muttering +to himself he returned and posted double +sentries.</p> + +<p>Throughout the day and the moonlight not a +sound of a drum or the voice of a native disturbed the +moist heat. He slept for a while and then took to +pacing upon the levee outside the fort. He was +aware of a restlessness among the men. About +midnight a nervous sentry fired at a moving shadow +in the village. Erratic shots followed; flickered and +ceased at the sergeant’s angry order. The trees +seemed to whisper mockingly. The sergeant decided +<pb n="287"/><anchor id="Pg287"/> +that it must have been a prowling jackal or hyena; +but the incident made him irritable.</p> + +<p>In ordinary circumstances he would have posted +picket sentries as provided by the regulations, but he +could not spare any of his fifty men, for in the case +of an attack they would never regain the fort. The +moon sank as if reluctantly, seeming to hesitate upon +the fringe of banana fronds at something that she +alone could see. But the night creaked slowly on. +Schultz knew that the favourite hour for an attack +was just at the first glimmer of dawn when the spirits +are making for their homes and the light is deceptive.</p> + +<p>He was standing in front of the Nordenfeldt when +a sentry’s keener ears caught a peculiar whispering +rustle. As Schultz turned his head to listen, the +whisper grew in volume to the sound of a hail-storm—the +patter of bare feet on sand. Faint light on spears +rippled round the base of the hills. Schultz sprang +inside the barrier barking at his men to open fire. He +deflected the muzzle of his gun and began pumping +nickel into the advancing mass of yelling figures.…</p> + +<p>The rush carried the fort; for the defenders +were out-numbered by fifty to one. Schultz fell under +a dozen spear thrusts. The askaris were massacred +to a man before the sun rose inquiringly beyond the +sacred hill of Kawa Kendi.</p> + +<p>When all the bloody acts of war were done and the +triumphant yelling quietened, there came from across +the river a pulsing trickle of sound in the sizzling heat, +which was answered by a thundering crash of spear +against shield and the <q>Ough! Ough!</q> of three +thousand warriors gathered upon the hill to do homage +to the Unmentionable One.</p> +<pb n="288"/><anchor id="Pg288"/> + +<p>Across the river, at the ford where Bakuma had sung +her swan song, came the procession led by the craft +in full panoply. In the van stalked Bakahenzie, grave +and solemn as befitted the high priest. Around him +capered with untiring energy a group of lesser wizards +whose duties were as those of professional dancers, +having dried bladders and magic beads fastened to +their ankles and wrists. Then behind Marufa a +litter was borne by sacred slaves doomed to perish +after performing their holy office, in which, swathed +entirely from the public gaze, was Usakuma, the +Incarnation of the Unmentionable One. In another +litter, as securely screened, was the son of the Lord-of-many-Lands, +endeavouring to endure a perpetual +bath of sweat in the sacred cause, peeking professorial +eyes through the interstices, scribbling in a notebook. +Behind again marched Mungongo bearing a +smouldering brand of the Sacred Fire; then Yabolo, +reinstated in office for a reason that any politician will +understand. After him came more litters bearing the +magic <q>things</q> of the Incarnation of an Incarnation, +the King-God.</p> + +<p>As they splashed across the river, like troops of bronze +gazelle, women and girls dashed eager to gather of +fertility from the water enchanted by the passage of +the Bearer of the World.</p> + +<p>So they came through the banana plantation and +up the wide street which the Son-of-the-Earthquake +had planned. The chant quavered like a dragonfly +in the sun and the chorus of the warriors replied with +the rhythm and the profundity of gargantuan frogs. +Then as Bakahenzie stepped upon the incline of the +hill, burst from the women the cricket song which is +<pb n="289"/><anchor id="Pg289"/> +made tremolo by the rapid beating of the fingers upon +the lips, as from the drums went out the message over +the land that the Unmentionable One had indeed +returned to the Place of Kings, the City of the Snake.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later a half-stewed god, as exhausted +as any emperor after a state parade, was permitted +to emerge from the litter and to recuperate within +the cool of the unfinished house that was to have been +the bungalow of the Kommandant. No one else +save the Keeper of the Fires, Bakahenzie and Marufa, +were within the stockade which ringed the fort. +Outside rose the mutter and rumble of the warriors +and the cries of the women. The huddled lines of +huts which had been barracks were already in process +of demolition at the hands of the slaves, and the square +within the fort was cleared of the slain askaris by the +simple process of heaving the bodies over the palisade. +The idol remained within the litter until the consecrating +of the defiled ground should be performed by +Bakahenzie and the craft.</p> + +<p>No Wongolo nor any wizard, not even Bakahenzie, +would touch the enchanted coughing monsters; but +as the holy slaves were already doomed they were set +to pull and to push the Nordenfeldt from the embrasure +beside the entrance across the levee until it toppled +over and rolled half-way down the hill, where it was +allowed to stay, surrounded from morning to night +by a crowd of women and children and idle warriors.</p> + +<p>The thirst which afflicted Birnier rendered him +oblivious of his godhood and of the sacred office of +Mungongo who was dutifully busy upon his knees +blowing up the sacred fires from the ember which he +had carried; so that at a summons to bring water +<pb n="290"/><anchor id="Pg290"/> +he was both embarrassed and awed, for the presence +of the High Priest intensified his natural terror of +breaking any of the meshes of the tabu. At the +second imperative demand Bakahenzie soothed the +angry god by commanding a slave to run to fetch +water from without. But even then Birnier had the +parched felicity of waiting while the High Priest +solemnly exorcised the gourd of water which, as all +food, could not be permitted to pass the lips of the +King-God without the prescribed incantations.</p> + +<p>However, within quite a reasonable time the sacred +prisoner was accommodated with the possession of his +goods, magic and culinary. The bungalow of the +Kommandant, Birnier gathered, was to be converted +into the temple after the ceremony of purification, +and the idol was to stand in front in the place occupied +by its predecessor at the coronation of the late Kawa +Kendi.</p> + +<p>All that day were Bakahenzie and Marufa and the +wizards working hard at the various ceremonies of +purification of those who had slain, the consecration +of the Holy Hill, and the exorcising of the evil spirits +attached thereto by the residence of the Son-of-the-Earthquake. +Meanwhile Birnier and Mungongo were +left to themselves within the enclosure to listen to +the chanting and thrumming of the drums. Birnier +had much to do in compiling his notes and reflections; +Mungongo nothing save to prepare their meals and +attend the Sacred Fires.</p> + +<p>Exactly what had happened Birnier did not know +and could not extract from Bakahenzie, who adopted +his usual effective method of ignoring every direct +question. Before they had left the place in the forest +<pb n="291"/><anchor id="Pg291"/> +he had informed Birnier that the commands of the +spirit of Tarum through the magic ear had been +performed, but with what restrictions, modifications, +or embroideries, Birnier had no means of ascertaining. +His definite knowledge was that Zalu Zako, together +with other chiefs and a vast crowd of warriors, were +to remain in the forest where zu Pfeiffer was to be led +into ambush by the power of the magic which he had +sent, the American flag, an idea which certainly tickled +Birnier’s sense of humour considerably, particularly +as it appealed to him, if successful, as an ideal case of +poetic justice.</p> + +<p>That zu Pfeiffer’s fort had fallen was obvious, +although what the disposition of his forces had been +and of how the assault had been carried, Birnier had no +idea. But of one thing he was reasonably sure, and +that was that his analysis of zu Pfeiffer’s reactions and +the psychological effect upon the natives of having +the idol reinstated in the Place of Kings, had been +entirely correct. After all, as he admitted with a +smile, zu Pfeiffer’s system of native psychology had +been based on the same fundamental principles as +his own except that he had not reckoned with the +unknown quantity, the equal intelligence working +against him and able to discount his moves, plus heavier +artillery in the form of an emotional broadside, the +possibility of which rather naturally had never occurred +to him.</p> + +<p>An item which worried Birnier was that he had +no means, and could hope for none apparently, of +discovering whether and to what extent his orders +through the phonograph had been carried out +regarding the treatment of the white men. Their +<pb n="292"/><anchor id="Pg292"/> +fate at the hands of the Wongolo, particularly after +the merciless massacres inflicted by zu Pfeiffer, would +scarcely bear imagining. From the fact of the instant +and apparently easy success of the assault on the +forts, he did not doubt that zu Pfeiffer, who had been +foolish enough to be lured into dividing his forces, +was doomed to defeat. In this instance he would not +have any of the advantages of his triumphal entry +into the country; would not be able to accomplish +a surprise attack, and the weakening of the native +moral by massacre and the downfall of the idol; +in fact he had these very forces against him: for the +success of their first venture, their overwhelming +numbers in the forest, the exaltation of fanaticism +excited by the restoration of their tribal god, practically +tacked a label of suicide upon his military actions.</p> + +<p>During that day Bakahenzie, evidently too busy +with the duties of his office, did not come near to +him. But that evening, in order to ensure as far as +possible obedience to his orders through the mouth of +the oracle, Birnier caused Mungongo to chant further +instructions into the phonograph commanding that +the Son-of-the-Earthquake was to be brought alive +to receive judgment from the Unmentionable One +through the Incarnation, the son of the Lord-of-many-Lands. +Whether this would work or not +Birnier of course could not know. Already had he +discovered that nobody could control the complicated +machinery of the native tabu any more than any +one statesman could manage always any vast political +machine; indeed he, as many others, might more +than conceivably be ground up by the gargantuan +engine with whose starting lever he had played. All +<pb n="293"/><anchor id="Pg293"/> +he could do had been done; nothing remained but +to adopt Marufa’s favourite maxim: <q>wait and +see.</q></p> + +<p>In the evening Mungongo, who had at length been +persuaded to project his eyes beyond the sacred ground +even if he would not his feet, reported that much +chanting and drumming indicated that the warriors, +or a great number of them, had departed, evidently +to reinforce the troops of Zalu Zako or with the +object of taking zu Pfeiffer in the rear: a fact which +made Birnier a little uneasy lest the news of the fall +of the station might bring zu Pfeiffer to his senses and +cause him to return, in which case the position might +prove to be somewhat uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>However, the night passed to the soft thrumming +of the drums. At dawn appeared Bakahenzie as +solemnly as usual. He began by demanding that the +<q>pod of the soul</q> of Tarum should be prepared to +listen to him. Birnier observed a slight increase +in the domineering manner and realized more keenly +that unless he checked that tendency the worthy +High Priest would become altogether unmanageable.</p> + +<p>Birnier commanded Mungongo to bring forth the +instrument and reproduced for Bakahenzie’s benefit +the oration of the previous night. Bakahenzie listened +solemnly, grunted acquiescence, and again made +his request. Birnier refused abruptly. Again Bakahenzie +grunted acceptance which caused Birnier to +speculate upon what move the wily doctor had in +mind. However, after the usual starting of false +trails, he announced that the consecration of the idol +would take place that day and began to instruct the +new god in his divine duties. That there was something +<pb n="294"/><anchor id="Pg294"/> +unusual in the form, either exaggerated or +curtailed, Birnier gathered from Bakahenzie’s method +of expounding the rites; and the solution came in +the announcement, just before leaving, that as +soon as the Son-of-the-Earthquake had been <q>eaten +up,</q> that he, Bakahenzie, would summon the craft +and the people to the Harvest Festival.</p> + +<p>The form of the statement again drew Birnier’s +attention to the fact that Bakahenzie was assuming +the reins of power far too fast for his satisfaction; +that unless he contrived to put on the curb he would +never attain the goal of a beneficent agent nor be +able to satisfy his professional curiosity.</p> + +<p>However, when he had gone, Birnier began anew +to question Mungongo regarding the reputed ceremonies +of the festival, but beyond the fact that it +was an occasion allied to the Christian-Pagan festival +of a kind of thanksgiving for the harvest and sacrifice +to the god which involved the ceremony of the +marriage of the Bride of the Banana, Mungongo knew +nothing.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon Birnier was required to preside at +the consecrating of the ground and the setting up +of the idol. But all he had to do was to squat silently +in front of the new temple and before Bakahenzie and +the group of the cult, while the concourse of the other +wizards and the few chiefs that were not away grunted +a belly chorus upon the levee without. The ceremony +was disappointing as ceremonies go, for beyond the +stewing in the great calabash of a magic concoction +with which to anoint the hole for the feet of the idol, +the doorposts of the temple and the House of Fires, +to the accompaniment of the usual chanting and +<pb n="295"/><anchor id="Pg295"/> +drumming, it was ended by a dance, with Bakahenzie +as the premier danseur.</p> + +<p>After his evening meal of boiled chicken, goat flesh +and milk, Birnier squatted in the doorway of his new +quarters smoking. He had no lights as his store of +carbide was finished. Before leaving for the forest +to carve the Incarnation of the new Unmentionable +One, he had had the forethought to despatch a +messenger to a certain village on the great lake to +intercept his carriers with goods and the mail for +which he had sent after escaping from the noble +son of Banyala; he had already informed Bakahenzie +of the coming of a fresh stock of magic and impressed +upon him that great precaution must be taken to +ensure that it came directly to him, lest contact with +strangers should offend the spirits. Bakahenzie had +assented in his usual non-committal manner, a +manner that was beginning to get upon Birnier’s +nerves.</p> + +<p>As he smoked, staring up at the great moon over +the sinister head of the idol framed in the green +light, he observed that the day after the next would +be the full moon, the Harvest Moon, the time of +the yearly festival. Then, by a coincidence which +sometimes seems to have a telepathic basis as explanation, +he heard a curious soft sound from apparently +behind the hut. Mungongo, squatting near his +Sacred Fires in the immobile manner of the native, +heard the sound too. Again a sibilant whisper, +almost like the hiss of a snake, brought a <q>Clk</q> of +astonishment to Mungongo’s lips. He rose swiftly +and disappeared behind the hut. Another muffled +exclamation of astonishment aroused Birnier’s curiosity. +<pb n="296"/><anchor id="Pg296"/> +He followed, to find Mungongo leaning over the +palisade as if speaking to some one.</p> + +<p><q>Ehh!</q> murmured a familiar voice. <q>’Tis +Moonspirit!</q></p> + +<p>With a grunt of horror Mungongo turned upon +Birnier and began to push him away, gasping: <q>She +is accursed! If the evil of her eyes rest upon thee +thou art sick unto death!</q></p> + +<p><q>The devil take you!</q> muttered Birnier, angry +at the touch of force; then recollecting that the tabu +forbade alien eyes to gaze on his sacred body upon +which the world depended, he realized that Mungongo +was trying to save him. He held him off by the arms, +saying: <q>Be quiet, thou fool! Hath not my magic +shown thee that I am above all magic?</q></p> + +<p>Mungongo appeared to consider that there was +some truth in the statement and at any rate it gave +him something to think about. He stood passively +but as if momentarily expecting Birnier, magic or no, +to melt before his eyes. Bending over the fence +Birnier saw the slender form of Bakuma crouched +against the earth.</p> + +<p><q>What dost thou here, O little one?</q> he whispered, +for of course he knew nothing of her fate after +the abduction by MYalu.</p> + +<p>So horror-struck at her own temerity in approaching +the person of the King-God was she that she dared +not raise her eyes as she stuttered:</p> + +<p><q>A demon hath driven the bird of my soul into +the net of thy wrath.</q></p> + +<p><q>Still the black wings in thy breast, O Bakuma,</q> +said Birnier, trying to soothe the child. <q>Come +thou within and show thy father thy bosom.</q></p> +<pb n="297"/><anchor id="Pg297"/> + +<p><q>Ehh! Ehh!</q> gasped Bakuma, quivering in +greater panic than ever.</p> + +<p>Aware of the danger Birnier stooped, took her by +the arms and lifted her over the palisade, remarking +the violent trembling of the frail little body whose +limbs seemed like candles.</p> + +<p><q>Come thou,</q> said Birnier, moving towards the +hut.</p> + +<p>But she cowered where he had dumped her, covering +her eyes with her hands so that she gazed not upon the +sacred body. Mungongo stood like a tree, the whites +of terrified eyes glimmering in the moonlight. Birnier +picked up the girl and carried her into the hut, +followed by a quaking Keeper of the Sacred Fires.</p> + +<p><q>Go, thou fool,</q> commanded Birnier, <q>and +watch that none approaches!</q> Mungongo gasped. +But he obeyed. <q>Now, little one,</q> continued Birnier, +<q>bare thy bosom that I may know how to make +the magic of healing.</q></p> + +<p>Squatting on the threshold, her emaciated arms +still covering her eyes, Bakuma strove to obey. At +length she faltered out the story of her double abduction. +The capture by the askaris had made but little +difference to her, for, as she phrased it, the beak of +her soul was like unto the mouth of the crocodile. +Her captor had thrust her into a hut in the village +together with some other female captives, but as the +man had had to continue his military duties, night +had fallen before he returned, by which time she had +bribed some of the women, whose captivity was not +as loathsome to them as the pride of their race should +have made it, with a powerful charm which Birnier +had given her, a nickel-plated razor-strop. She had +<pb n="298"/><anchor id="Pg298"/> +escaped. But more fearful of her doom as the Bride +of the Banana than she was of MYalu or the askaris, +she had hidden in the forest, living upon wild fruit and +roots. Then had she heard the drums announcing the +return of the Unmentionable One, and aware that +Moonspirit had gone into the forest to seek Him, had +guessed that he was triumphant. Away in the +jungle she had heard the sound of the rejoicing at +the homecoming of the King-God; had hesitated, and +at last she had come to Moonspirit, in spite of his +divinity, in the fluttering hope of aid, driven by a +demon to break another tabu, the same demon which +urges so many to break magic circles—the subconscious +love motive.</p> + +<p>Poor kid! commented Birnier to himself as he +regarded the pitiful cowering form. We haven’t +gotten the nuptial torches for you yet, but we will, +by God!… Give me thine ear, O little one.… But +as he talked to her, soothing the terror by promises +of mightier magic, came Mungongo crying in a terrified +whisper that Bakahenzie was claiming audience. At +the back of the next room of the bungalow, built +upon a plan of the one in Ingonya, was a bathroom, +and into that was Bakuma hurried and bidden to lie +as quiet as a crocodile.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD29" type="chapter"> +<pb n="299"/><anchor id="Pg299"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 29</hi> +</head> + +<p>Bakahenzie had come to announce that the +certain magic <q>things,</q> which a messenger had +brought from the white man’s country, had arrived. +Although he could not expect an answer to his letter +to Lucille in Europe, there might be others; and such +an event as the receipt of a mail once in six months is +apt to be exciting. Birnier forgot his rôle for the +moment, leaped to his feet preparatory to rushing out +to meet the runner, but a grunt from Bakahenzie and +an alarmed cry from Mungongo were just in time to +prevent him from jeopardizing the stability of the +world and all that he had won by violating the tabu by +stepping beyond the sacred ground. Other gods and +emperors have indeed wrecked empires through a +lesser aberration. Even realization of the penalty was +scarcely enough to hobble his impatient legs, for the +very suggestion of what the mail represented melted +the fetters of this native world as wax in the sun.</p> + +<p>Indeed more effort of will was required to return to +his god-like throne upon the camp-bed, and to amble +through the etiquette which discussion of such an +important matter demanded, than to carry the idol on +his back through the forest and bear the sound thrashing +to boot. Then as a further test, Bakahenzie slowly +developed a dictum that the magic things could not be +permitted to enter the sacred enclosure until they had +been disinfected from the multitude of evil eyes +<pb n="300"/><anchor id="Pg300"/> +through which they must have passed. At that the +god came near to swearing or weeping, he did not +know which.</p> + +<p>But as he fumed inwardly he recollected that at +any moment Zalu Zako and his troops might return; +or if the battle had gone the other way, then zu +Pfeiffer; in the former case the excitement would +still further delay the goods and mail, and the latter +event might entail the complete loss. As well as the +growing irritation caused by Bakahenzie’s interminable +list of tabus was the necessity of proclaiming, or rather +gaining, his authority before he could be of any +assistance either to Bakuma, the white men or himself. +Indeed he had been waiting the arrival of these goods +to secure the subjection of Bakahenzie to his will. +He determined that the trial should be now. Merely +to demand would, he felt, arouse the obstinacy of the +chief witch-doctor, who would never, unless compelled +by force or cunning, give up the reins of power which +to him was the <hi rend="font-style: italic">raison +d’être</hi> of his life. Birnier must +attack through the line of least resistance. With the +carriers bearing the mail was a case of <q>imprisoned +stars</q> (rockets) and a special cinema outfit, so that +Birnier felt that he could afford to explode the last +manifestation of magic which remained to him. After +a judicious interval, he said to Bakahenzie:</p> + +<p><q>O son of Maliko, is not my tongue the tongue of +the Unmentionable One?</q></p> + +<p><q>He who knoweth all things knoweth that which is +white,</q> retorted Bakahenzie.</p> + +<p><q>Verily. Therefore do thou cause to be brought +that which is come, that which the fingers of the +Unmentionable One are hungry to touch. Thou +<pb n="301"/><anchor id="Pg301"/> +knowest his power of magic. Therefore are the evil +eyes of the multitude but dry leaves in the wind of his +breath.</q></p> + +<p><q>Indeed thy words are white, O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands.</q></p> + +<p><q>Depart then that the hunger of His fingers may +be appeased.</q></p> + +<p><q>The drums speak not yet of the eating up +of Eyes-in-the-hands. Hath not the ear of the +spirit of Tarum spoken upon these matters?</q> +inquired Bakahenzie in his favourite dialectical +manner.</p> + +<p><q>The spirit of Tarum hath naught to say +to thee,</q> replied Birnier, <q>but the fingers of +Tarum will to make thee to itch even as his +fingers.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier called to Mungongo who brought and placed +at his feet a fairly powerful electric battery. Bakahenzie +eyed the box; curiosity was keenly awakened. +He stared interestedly when Birnier raised the lid. +Taking the handles he said:</p> + +<p><q>These, O son of Maliko, are the hands of Tarum +made manifest. He wishes that thou shouldst feel +the itch of his desire!</q> and with the words he clapped +one handle to the belly and the other at the base of +the spine of the chief witch-doctor. Bakahenzie +convulsed as he was compelled to do. Swiftly Birnier +applied the shock to the shoulders, holding the handles +there as he remarked to a violently trembling +Bakahenzie: <q>Behold! the itch of the fingers +of Tarum!</q></p> + +<p>But as he lowered his hands towards the spine again, +Bakahenzie moved rapidly and with no dignity.</p> +<pb n="302"/><anchor id="Pg302"/> + +<p>Solemnly Birnier replaced the handles and closed the +lid, and said quietly:</p> + +<p><q>Thou hast felt, O brother magician, that the +fingers of Tarum do itch indeed?</q></p> + +<p><q>Truly!</q> responded Bakahenzie with a celerity as +unusual as the quaver in his voice. <q>Indeed thy +words are white, O mightiest of magicians. What +are indeed the evil eyes of savages against the +power of thy magic, O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands!</q></p> + +<p>And contrary to all precedent Bakahenzie rose and +left. Within a quarter of an hour his voice announced +that slaves with the magic <q>things</q> were without the +palisade, and called upon Mungongo to go to the gate +to fetch them as strangers were forbidden even to +look upon the King-God. Birnier, by the light of a +torch, opened the mail, sent a wad of letters and +a sheaf of telegraph slips on to the floor, and +snatched a long green envelope scrawled in French +characters:</p> + +<p>Monsieur le Curateur du Jardin des Plantes.</p> + +<p>For a moment he stared at it perplexedly, for there +was no stamp or cancellation.</p> + +<p><q>What in the name&qdash;</q> he muttered as he slit it +open.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right; margin-right: 2"> + <name type="place">Entebbe,     </name><lb/> + <date>Août 13, 19—</date><lb/> +</p> + +<p>Mon petit loup, what have you been doing? Oû +est tu? Comment et pourquoi? Oh, I am cross +with you, with Monsieur le Professeur! Why do you +write me so ridiculous a letter? I laugh, but always +<pb n="303"/><anchor id="Pg303"/> +I laugh, so what good is that to you? I will not reply +to your letter, mon vieux—jamais. But I will tell +you so that you may know why I am here. Yes, +parmi les animaux!<lb/></p> + +<p>Birnier winced at the phrase which seemed to come +back at him like a boomerang from the lips of zu +Pfeiffer.<lb/></p> + +<p>I am to go for vacation to Wiesbaden with some +very terrible peoples. Oh, on me dégoûte! I have an +engagement for the winter in Berlin as before. I have +engagement for Paris—eh! but—pouf! Figure me on +the charming <hi rend="font-style: italic">Mauretania</hi> and I am +sitting on the deck +where you once made yourself so ridiculous. Rappelle +toi? I am sick—No, mon vieux, pas du mal de mer! +I should not be for everybody to look at. Oh, no! I +am sick, I tell you. Je rêve de mon petit coco parmi +les sales animaux! Je me dis: Zut! il est fou! il est +tapé! Mais en moi même je l’adore! Tout de suite +I tell a creature who brings me my books, my fan, un +espèce de tapette, je m’en vais là, moi! He ask +me where? I tell him I go to look for mon amant in +Afrique Centrale! Mais oui! He thinks I am mad! +I tell him so and I laugh! How I laugh. But he is +right, yes, je suis folle—de toi!</p> + +<p>Alors I come to Marseilles and I catch a boat to +Mombassa. Ouf! Je vais mourir à cause de mon +petit loup! La mer rouge! Quel cauchemar! Enfin +I still arrive what of Lucille is left and I ask for you, for +Monsieur le Professeur Americain, but no one knows +you. On the boat I have attached to myself trois +mousquetaires Anglais. Tous les trois sont drôles! +<pb n="304"/><anchor id="Pg304"/> +They bring me on the ever so funny little train to here. +Entebbe. Les Anglais sont très polis, tu sais! Monsieur +le Gouverneur stop drinking whisky politely to tell me +that Monsieur has been and has gone! Quelle horreur! +You have gone but three days! Pense tu! I ask +myself what have I done that the bon Dieu should be +so unkind. Then quel malheur! I remember to +myself that I commence to come to you on +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Friday!</hi> +You laugh! Yes, I laugh too but—Quien sabe? I +commence to come to you on a Friday and you are +gone three little days!</p> + +<p>Then my good friends, les trois mousquetaires, send +for me a what they call a runner—the red +peas—C’est +drôle! but the little pea black he did not find +you. He brings a message that you had gone to some +place with a terrible name.</p> + +<p>Then come the two most ridiculous letters. I will +<hi rend="font-style: italic">not</hi> reply to any such +ridiculous letters—jamais!<lb/></p> + +<p>Birnier scowled. Two letters? he muttered. +What letters?<lb/></p> + +<p>You must come now. Immediately. I want you. +I will wait here for you. You must leave your +ridiculous animals as I have left mes affaires for you. +Come to me. I wait for you.<lb/></p> + +<p>Lower down on the same page, but written with a +thick pen, the letter continued:<lb/></p> + +<p>Again I have read your absurd letter. Tu es fou! +You make such a noise because this foolish young man +is jealous of mon mari and make you to go round the +<pb n="305"/><anchor id="Pg305"/> +detestable country, which you like so much, instead of +straight through to the ridiculous place you say you +want to go.<lb/></p> + +<p>Birnier smiled grimly.<lb/></p> + +<p>Peuh! <corr sic="Ecoute"><anchor id="E30"/><ref +target="e30">Écoute</ref></corr>, +mon cher, it is true I have met the +young man in Washington. Mon Dieu, are there not +plenty of young men in Washington, Paris, Berlin? +He fell in love with me. Mon Dieu, they are as thick +as the blackberries! Perhaps I tease him pour faire la +blague! Pourquoi pas? I give him a photograph +and I sign it, just as I sign plenty for amusing friends. +But then he become too ridiculous. He has no sense +of humour comme tous les Allemands. He wishes to +fight all my friends, tes compatriotes si sombres et +graves! Figure toi! Then he make a challenge and +naturellement it is not the custom in thy country. +Mon pauvre petit Dorsay refuse and this person +become crazy wild, as you say, and he strike him with +his cane in the street. Quelle horreur! Quel +scandale! He run away of course. The Embassy +help him. Qui sait? That is the last I hear until +I receive this ridiculous letter, together with thy +ridiculous letter. I send him to you. How drôle that +you two should meet all among les animaux. It is so +funny that he did not kill you, this monstre allemand! +Tu es en cross encore avec moi? Zut! mon vieux +it is not my fault that everybody goes mad after +me except mon petit mari! Leave the ridiculous +garçon where he is. But why do I talk so much about +a cochon? Because you are ridiculous! Tant pis +pour toi! Now sois gentil and come to me +<hi rend="font-style: italic">immediately</hi>—unless +<pb n="306"/><anchor id="Pg306"/> +you love your sales animaux plus que moi! +If you do not come I will never never, jamais de ma +vie, give you one single baiser again! No! Mille +baisers! Mais comme je te deteste!<lb/></p> + +<p rend="text-align: right; margin-right: 2"> + <name><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Lucille.</hi></name><lb/> +</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD30" type="chapter"> +<pb n="307"/><anchor id="Pg307"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 30</hi> +</head> + +<p>Forty-eight hours later, the furious drumming, +chanting and screaming heralded the return of the +victorious troops of Zalu Zako. Birnier from his gaol +on the hill watched the bronze flood pour like a stream +of lava out of the plantation and flood the village, +spears flashing silver points in the slanting rays of the +sun. But what had happened to zu Pfeiffer and the +white sergeants? No sign of them could he see. +Waves of sound lapped continuously around the +temple.</p> + +<p>The long mauve shadow of the hill ate up the village. +Fires began to flicker amid the huts and away in the +recesses of the plantation. The lowing of cattle added +to the general clamour. As the western sky was still +ablaze with incandescent colour stole the cold green of +the advancing moon in the east.</p> + +<p><q>Mungongo, what are thy brethren about to do?</q></p> + +<p><q>It is the Festival of the Harvest, as I have told thee, +O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands.</q></p> + +<p><q>But they have not the Bride?</q></p> + +<p><q>Nay.</q> Mungongo glanced apprehensively towards +the temple where in what was to have been a bathroom, +was Bakuma hidden. <q>He-who-may-not-be-mentioned +demands but blood. The Bride is the food +of the wizards. But to each warrior is every woman +his bride this night.</q></p> + +<p><q>Why didst thou not tell me this thing before?</q> +<pb n="308"/><anchor id="Pg308"/> +demanded Birnier, who knew that such was one of the +customs of primitive tribes in all parts of the world +and in all ages.</p> + +<p><q>Thou didst not ask me,</q> retorted Mungongo, to +whom the affair was such a matter of course that it +was not worth mentioning.</p> + +<p><q>Do they make sacrifice?</q></p> + +<p><q>The Bride is married to the Banana, but of the +manner of her nuptial know I not. Am I a wizard?</q></p> + +<p>The divine king grimly watched his subjects. In the +growing light flitted gnomes around the huts in and +out the sepia caverns of the plantation. As a banana +front was etched in sepia against the great moon, the +ocean of clamour was cleft by the high treble of the +tribal troubadour. At the bottom of the wide street +appeared dancing figures. As they approached, +Birnier could distinguish Bakahenzie, Marufa and +Yabolo in the van, dressed in full panoply, whirling and +leaping with untiring energy. Behind them shuffled +and pranced a vast mass of warriors, behind whom +again several hundred women shrilled and wriggled in +the mighty chorus. The rhythm of the drums +increased to the maddening action impulse of the two +short—long beat:</p> + +<p>Pm-pm—Pommmmm! Pm-pm—Pommmmm! +Pm-pm—Pommmmm!</p> + +<p>The treble solo of the chant darted above that throb +and grunt like a mad bird skimming the turbulent tops +of a dark forest.</p> + +<p>Pm-pm—Pommmmm! Pm-pm—Pommmmm! +Pm-pm—<corr sic="Pommmm"><anchor id="E31"/><ref +target="e31">Pommmmm</ref></corr>!</p> + +<p>The rhythm seemed like a febrile pulse within +Birnier’s brain, dominating him with hypnotic suggestion +<pb n="309"/><anchor id="Pg309"/> +to action. An urge to scream and to yell, to +dance and to leap, plucked at his limbs. Resurgent +desires from he knew not what subconscious catacombs, +wriggled and struggled furiously within him. +The great moon scattered blue stars upon the spears +as if upon the green scales of some leviathan squirming +in delirious torment.</p> + +<p>Control the twitching of his muscles to that rhythm +Birnier could not. He had to fight to resist the waves +of hysteria permeating the air. He glanced at +Mungongo. The whites of his eyes were rolling. +Birnier cursed the insistency of the drums and the +orgiastical grunts. Forcibly he kept up a running +fire of psychological explanations: <q>Annihilation of +inhibitions … dissociation of personality … +triumph of the subconscious animal,</q> as a wizard +muttering incantations against evil spirits. He felt +dizzy. <q>God, I’m drunk with rhythm!</q> he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>The priests were entering the large gate of the +outer enclosure. In the village and on the opposite +hill the people resembled a swarm of black locusts. +The drums ceased. Bakahenzie and Marufa and +Yabolo ran straight towards him screeching. This +was the cue.</p> + +<p>Birnier walked back slowly. In awful silence they +began to push the idol. The wood creaked protestingly. +Slowly the mass slid on to Birnier’s back. +He gripped it and began to walk to the entrance. As +he passed Mungongo the Sacred Fires shot up yellow +tongues. A sound like a moan rose dripping with +screams and grew into a continuous thunder of noise. +The drums rippled a furious tattoo. The three +<pb n="310"/><anchor id="Pg310"/> +wizards dashed before him, leaping high in the air. +Birnier shuffled a dozen yards to the left and turned. +He stopped.</p> + +<p>Upon the ground, just within the outer gate in +view of the multitude beyond, green ivory in the +moonlight, was the naked figure of a white man. +Above him pranced Bakahenzie in whose hand gleamed +a knife.</p> + +<p>The training of his life enabled Birnier to throw upon +the screen of his mind the essential points more rapidly +than conscious thought. Bakahenzie, as well as the +others, was in an abnormal state of excitement. There +was no time to employ <q>magic</q> rockets or anything +else. He swung the idol upon one shoulder and ran +forward. He saw the blue eyes move and the bracelet +wink in the moonlight as he stepped over the bound +form. He bent, balancing the image upon his shoulders, +and seized zu Pfeiffer by the arm.</p> + +<p>The throb of the drums and the roar of the people +who knew not but that this act was in accordance with +the rules, continued. The priests remained motionless: +expectant. Bakahenzie stood rigid as if paralysed +by the unexpected: the knife was a blue snake in his +hand.</p> + +<p>Half blinded with sweat, with his muscles cracking, +Birnier staggered on with the heavy burden, dragging +the nude body after him. Hours seemed to pass, each +second of which might bring a spear in his back before +he reached the place before the temple. He slid the +idol into the hole and turned.</p> + +<p>From the tumult of sound the screech of Bakahenzie +shot up like a snipe from a rice field. The other +wizards sprang with him. The moonlight kissed a +<pb n="311"/><anchor id="Pg311"/> +spearhead beside the stone figure of Mungongo by the +Sacred Fires. Birnier leaped, plucked the spear, +caught zu Pfeiffer in his arms and raised him +shoulder high that all might see.</p> + +<p>At the entrance of the enclosure Bakahenzie and the +other two were arrested by astonishment. Lowering +the body to the base of the idol which leaned sideways +in a drunken leer, Birnier lifted the spear and brought +it down accurately between zu Pfeiffer’s left arm and +breast, and dropping swiftly upon his knees to cover +his actions, slashed his own left forearm. Then he +jumped to his feet and held the blooded spear aloft +as he cried aloud:</p> + +<p><q>The god hath taken his own!</q></p> + +<p>Bakahenzie was the first to see that the white breast +of the victim was indeed deluged in blood; perhaps +the veneration engendered by <q>the fingers of Tarum</q> +moved beneath the blood lust.</p> + +<p><q>The god hath taken his own!</q> he repeated in a +piercing scream. Marufa echoed the shout. As they +turned the cry was ricocheted beyond the farthest hill.</p> + +<p><q>The god hath taken his own!</q></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always" id="WD31" type="chapter"> +<pb n="312"/><anchor id="Pg312"/> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Chapter 31</hi> +</head> + +<p>The reflection of a shaft of moonlight through the +half-completed thatch upon zu Pfeiffer’s <q>magic</q> +mirror, which the natives had not dared to remove, set +afire the sapphires upon his bracelet as he sat rigidly +in a camp chair in a suit of pyjamas. Upon the bed +lay Birnier, nursing his bandaged left arm. Now +and again the thrumming, chanting and the shrilling +of the saturnalia without rose into discordant yells +like a gust of wind whipping tree-tops into fury.</p> + +<p>Zu Pfeiffer appeared taciturn and suspicious. +Perhaps the slackening of his will, tautened to meet +death as his caste demanded that he should, and the +confrontation of the object of his violent hate, had +completely unnerved him. When Birnier had dragged +him within and cut his bonds, he had grunted curt, +official thanks for the rescue. As sullenly he had +hesitated at the offer of the pyjamas, but as if deciding +that he could not retain any dignity in his own bloodied +skin, had accepted them, as well as a sorely needed +drink of water.</p> + +<p>The reaction after the crisis, and possibly the influence +of the general hysteria in the air, had distorted Birnier’s +vision of things. He was very conscious of a neurotic +desire to laugh unrestrainedly. Thus it was that for +nearly half an hour the two men remained in the gloom +in silence. Birnier had a psychological comprehension +of the highly nervous tension of his guest. For he +<pb n="313"/><anchor id="Pg313"/> +had long ago realized that the only solution of zu +Pfeiffer’s crazy statement that he was engaged to the +wife of a man to whom he was speaking, indicated a +form of insanity.</p> + +<p>A psychological law is that natural emotions must +have an outlet; if they are repressed they are apt to +cause a state of mental disease which in an aggravated +form may lead the patient to the asylum, but in the +incipient stage are as common as jackals in Africa. Zu +Pfeiffer was suffering from such a case of mild psychosis. +Brought up under an iron code which did not permit +his instincts to react, the repressed emotions bubbled +out in the form of a deification of his Kaiser and the +adoration of Lucille, both states being absolutely apart +from all reason, indeed approached to a state of +dissociation of consciousness. The desired unattainable +is projected into the dream plane, the realm of +myth. Such a case is the historical one of the man +who, keenly intelligent upon every subject mentioned, +startles the visitor by the demand for a piece of toast, +gravely explaining that he is a poached egg and that +he wishes to sit down; or as Pascal, who ever had +beside him the great black dog. To attempt to +rationalise with such an one was merely to excite the +insane part of him. So it was that Birnier determined +to ignore the subject entirely, perfectly aware that the +sullenness of the man sitting in the camp chair opposite +to him was caused by an exaggerated terror that he +would insist upon speaking of the one subject which +should be tabu.</p> + +<p>The associative suggestion of Lucille diverted his +mind until he became immersed in thoughts of her. +A queer vision of a well-fed tiger playing with a kid +<pb n="314"/><anchor id="Pg314"/> +entered his mind. More conscious than ever of her +attraction by reason of the intensified sense of her +wrought by her letter, he glanced surreptitiously at +the rigid form in the chair and a wave of pity mixed +with a half conscious pride that she belonged to him, +rose within him. Then Birnier started as he was +brought back to a realization of the passing of time by +a harsh voice that told of creaking nerves:</p> + +<p><q>Herr Professor, what is your pleasure to do with +me, if you please?</q></p> + +<p><q>I beg your pardon!</q> Birnier sat up. <q>Er—naturally +I shall endeavour to get you away as early as +possible. It would be as well if you took advantage of +the present—er—saturnalia to escape. I cannot do +much. I can provide you with a gun and food. As +you are not injured you should be able to get a reasonable +distance from here by morning; for the rest I +am afraid you must fend for yourself. I wish that I +could do more, but I’m afraid that my power is not +yet sufficient to ensure any help from the natives.</q></p> + +<p>An inarticulate sound emerged from zu Pfeiffer’s +mouth. Birnier’s eyes caught the sheen of the +photograph upon the wall. Escape! Lucille! Almost +involuntarily he stretched out a hand and took Lucille’s +letter from the table. Again came zu Pfeiffer’s +voice:</p> + +<p><q>I thank you, Herr Professor, but I cannot accept—for +myself.</q> Birnier stared at him. <q>I wish you to +understand that for myself that is impossible.</q> The +tall figure seemed to straighten in the chair. <q>But as +I have the honour to serve his Imperial Majesty I am +bound to preserve to the best of my ability my body in +order to answer for my culpable negligence which has +<pb n="315"/><anchor id="Pg315"/> +resulted in the loss of my two companies. Most +distinctly, Herr Professor, I wish you to know that I +accept your offer in order to place myself before the +Court Martial that awaits me.</q></p> + +<p>Birnier almost gasped. That this anomaly of a +man, who was capable of cold-blooded murder at the +prompting of an hallucination, and who now appeared +equally capable of the utter annihilation of self at the +service of his Imperial Master, meant what he said, +Birnier did not doubt. Yet it was not anomalous. +Logical in fact; the capability of supreme sacrifice +for either of his idols.</p> + +<p><q>I understand you, Lieutenant,</q> said he courteously. +<q>I&qdash;</q> The two letters in his hand crackled. +Before he could master the mean desire he had handed +the second letter to zu Pfeiffer with the words:</p> + +<p><q>Forgive me, I have here a letter which it is my +duty to return to you.</q></p> + +<p>The sapphires winked as zu Pfeiffer held up the letter +in the shaft of moonlight. There was a suppressed +grunt as of pain. Zu Pfeiffer rose stiffly and walked +to the door. His tall figure was silhouetted in profile +against the green sky and as Birnier watched he saw a +gleam as of crystal upon an eyelash. Birnier, ashamed +of his sole vengeance, turned away.</p> + +<p>But as if revenge were recoiling upon him came in +the wake of that satisfied primitive instinct a surge of +longing for Lucille. Lucille! Lucille! God! how +he desired to see those eyes again! Feel those lips and +hear the gurgle of her laughter! Sense the perfume +of her hair as she murmured: <q><hi rend="font-style: italic">Mon +petit loup!</hi></q> +Birnier sat holding the letter. He fought with an +impulse to abandon everything to go to her—if he +<pb n="316"/><anchor id="Pg316"/> +could get out! How stale and monotonous the +adventure and the scientific interest suddenly seemed! +After all, what had he accomplished? What could he +accomplish? Even yet he had learned but little of the +secrets of the witch-doctor’s craft. Perhaps there was +little or nothing to learn? And zu Pfeiffer? He +stared across at the portrait of Lucille. And as he +gazed a wave of pity rose within him for this boy made +mad by the witchery of those eyes and the music of +that voice. A sentence in Lucille’s letter appeared +to stand out from the context: <q><hi +rend="font-style: italic">Mon Dieu, they are +as thick as the blackberries!</hi></q></p> + +<p>And yet—and yet&qdash; Why the devil had she +taken it into her head to come out to Uganda above +all places? he asked himself. She was so damnably +near to him. He smiled satirically as he recollected +her phrase about those fools who made of love a +nuisance, and yet now what was she doing? After +all the suspicion in his mind that love is everything to +a woman seemed proven true.</p> + +<p>But how adorable she was! He fingered the letter +as if it were part of her. Well, she was young; success +and adulation from one capital to another had interested +and amused her for a few years, but when +Milady had suddenly discovered that the Career bored +her she had thrown up everything and logically—to her +mind—expected her mate to do likewise! With what +insouciance had she treated the affair of zu Pfeiffer and +the youngster whom he had struck. When Birnier had +met her she had had a story of a young fool count in +Paris who had shot himself, merely because she would +not listen to his suit; and she had protested with one +of those wonderful shrugs and a moue, saying that she +<pb n="317"/><anchor id="Pg317"/> +could not marry all the men in the world! That +apparently bloodthirsty indifference had of course +tended to make more men <q>crazy wild,</q> as she put it, +about her. And that reputation had added to her +numerous attractions even to Birnier.</p> + +<p>He could escape if he wished—with zu Pfeiffer. He +could take Mungongo with him. Yet would Mungongo +dare the tabu at his bidding? Birnier doubted it. +Would Mungongo even consent to let him, Birnier, +who was now in his eyes the King-God, go and so +imperil the foundations of the native world? Birnier +was certain that he would not. They were all +dominated by this confounded idol of wood, he reflected. +Bakahenzie, or even Mungongo, would cheerfully +sacrifice him if either imagined that the damned +Unmentionable One desired it, at the suppositious +bidding of something which was nothing.</p> + +<p>Through the sweet scent of her in the air like a +compelling aura about him, came suddenly zu Pfeiffer’s +voice speaking in the accents of agony; yet all he +said was:</p> + +<p><q>Herr Professor Birnier—I am compelled—to—to +apologise for …</q></p> + +<p>The voice failed and the haughty blond head turned +away, unable to complete to the uttermost the greatest +sacrifice he had ever attempted.</p> + +<p><q>Please don’t,</q> said Birnier comprehendingly. <q>I +understand.</q></p> + +<p>And Birnier did comprehend; realised the small hell +in zu Pfeiffer as a higher developed tabu did a childish +tabu unto death. Zu Pfeiffer, white man, had been +just as guilty of an attempt to commit murder at the +suppositious inversion of a thumb of an idol as Bakahenzie; +<pb n="318"/><anchor id="Pg318"/> +not an idol of wood but the projection of his +subconscious desires. Zu Pfeiffer would sacrifice a +million at the bidding of his Kaiser, whose divinity was +the same myth, the projection of himself. Yet what +had been Birnier’s object in undertaking all these pains +and penalties but to study mankind in the making, the +black microcosm of a white macrocosm; to aid them +to a better understanding of themselves and each +other? Was not Bakahenzie an embryonic zu +Pfeiffer? How could one aid a zu Pfeiffer if one did +not know a Bakahenzie?</p> + +<p>From the saturnalia in progress outside came another +swirl of sound seeming to lap mockingly against the +motionless figure of zu Pfeiffer silhouetted against a +green sky; and above him towered the idol leaning +sideways.</p> + +<p>As if in drunken laughter of the follies of black +and white humanity! mused Birnier. Yet what +am I doing? At the crook of a dainty finger am I, +too, to bow to an idol? Am I to pity zu Pfeiffer and +these children?… Savages! Good God, what +am I?</p> +<!-- <pb n="319"/><anchor id="Pg319"/> +[Blank Page] --> + +<!-- <pb n="320"/><anchor id="Pg320"/> +[Blank Page] --> + +<!-- <pb n="321"/><anchor id="Pg321"/> +[Blank Page] --> + +<!-- <pb n="322"/><anchor id="Pg322"/> +[Blank Page] --> + +</div> + +</body> + +<back> + <div rend="page-break-before: right" type="extra pages"> + <index index="toc"/> + <index index="pdf"/> + <head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Extra Pages</hi> + </head> + + <div rend="page-break-before: right" type="extra pages"> + <pb n="1"/><anchor id="Pg1"/> + <p rend="text-align: right"> + <hi rend="font-size: 150%">Witch-Doctors</hi></p> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always" type="extra pages"> + <pb n="2"/><anchor id="Pg2"/> + <p rend="margin-left: 8"><hi rend="font-style: italic">L’homme + est bien insensé! il</hi><lb/> + <hi rend="font-style: italic">ne sçauroit forger un ciron, + et</hi><lb/> + <hi rend="font-style: italic">forge des dieux à douzaine!</hi></p> + <p rend="margin-left: 24"><hi rend="font-size: 75%">MONTAIGNE</hi></p> + </div> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: right" type="errata"> + <index index="toc"/> + <index index="pdf"/> + <head rend="text-align: center"> + <hi rend="font-size: 100%">Errata</hi> + </head> + + <list><anchor id='e1'/> + <item>CHARACTERS</item> + <item>Changed: Ludwig  <ref target="E1"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">do. do.</hi></ref></item> + <item>To: Ludwig  <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">German sergeant</hi></item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e2'/> + <item>CHARACTERS</item> + <item>Changed: Schneider  <ref target="E2"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">do. do.</hi></ref></item> + <item>To: Schneider  <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">German sergeant</hi></item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e3'/> + <item>Chapter 1</item> + <item>Changed: “This Saka—Saka”—<ref + target="E3"><hi rend="font-weight: bold">Zu</hi></ref> + Pfeiffer glanced at</item> + <item>To: “This Saka—Saka”—<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">zu</hi> + Pfeiffer glanced at</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e4'/> + <item>Chapter 1</item> + <item>Changed: retreat. At <ref target="E4"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">MFunga</hi></ref> + MPopo’s is the</item> + <item>To: retreat. At <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">MFunya</hi> + MPopo’s is the</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e5'/> + <item>Chapter 1</item> + <item>Changed: As <ref target="E5"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zu</hi></ref> + Pfeiffer nodded languidly</item> + <item>To: As <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">zu</hi> + Pfeiffer nodded languidly</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e6'/> + <item>Chapter 1</item> + <item>Changed: seemed to escape <ref target="E6"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zu</hi></ref> + Pfeiffer. He gave</item> + <item>To: seemed to escape <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">zu</hi> + Pfeiffer. He gave</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e7'/> + <item>Chapter 1</item> + <item>Changed: man’s arrival?” demanded <ref + target="E7"><hi rend="font-weight: bold">Zu</hi></ref> + Pfeiffer harshly.</item> + <item>To: man’s arrival?” demanded <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">zu</hi> + Pfeiffer harshly.</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e8'/> + <item>Chapter 1</item> + <item>Changed: Zu <ref target="E8"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Peiffer</hi></ref> + finished the report leisurely</item> + <item>To: Zu <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Pfeiffer</hi> + finished the report leisurely</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e33'/> + <item>Chapter 3</item> + <item>Changed: I thank you<ref target="E33"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">,</hi></ref> + And if&qdash; Were</item> + <item>To: I thank you<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">.</hi> + And if&qdash; Were</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e9'/> + <item>Chapter 6</item> + <item>Changed: as balanced as a dancer’s<ref target="E9"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold"> </hi></ref></item> + <item>To: as balanced as a dancer’s<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">.</hi></item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e10'/> + <item>Chapter 6</item> + <item>Changed: to matters of more importance.<ref target="E10"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">”</hi></ref></item> + <item>To: to matters of more importance.<hi + rend="font-weight: bold"> </hi></item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e11'/> + <item>Chapter 9</item> + <item>Changed: shall lave hungry ears of<ref target="E11"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold"> </hi></ref></item> + <item>To: shall lave hungry ears of <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">&qdash;!</hi></item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e12'/> + <item>Chapter 9</item> + <item>Changed: <ref target="E12"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h</hi></ref>!</item> + <item>To: <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h</hi>!</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e13'/> + <item>Chapter 9</item> + <item>Changed: As we …<ref target="E13"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold"> </hi></ref></item> + <item>To: As we …<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">”</hi></item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e14'/> + <item>Chapter 9</item> + <item>Changed: The personality of <ref target="E14"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Bernier</hi></ref> + had been apparently</item> + <item>To: The personality of <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Birnier</hi> + had been apparently</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e15'/> + <item>Chapter 9</item> + <item>Changed: and the two <ref target="E15"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Nordenfelts</hi></ref> + and two pom-poms</item> + <item>To: and the two <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Nordenfeldts</hi> + and two pom-poms</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e17'/> + <item>Chapter 11</item> + <item>Changed: “<ref target="E17"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee</hi></ref>!” + </item> + <item>To: “<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee</hi>!” + </item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e18'/> + <item>Chapter 11</item> + <item>Changed: <ref target="E18"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee</hi></ref>!</item> + <item>To: <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee</hi>!</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e19'/> + <item>Chapter 13</item> + <item>Changed: in of fresh <ref target="E19"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">masssacres</hi></ref> + adding to the</item> + <item>To: in of fresh <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">massacres</hi> + adding to the</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e20'/> + <item>Chapter 14</item> + <item>Changed: Yabolo near to <ref target="E20"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zaku</hi></ref> + Zako’s continued. Neither</item> + <item>To: Yabolo near to <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zalu</hi> + Zako’s continued. Neither</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e21'/> + <item>Chapter 14</item> + <item>Changed: enemy, Bakahenzie, presented <ref target="E21"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zaku</hi></ref> + Zako with a </item> + <item>To: enemy, Bakahenzie, presented <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zalu</hi> + Zako with a </item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e22'/> + <item>Chapter 14</item> + <item>Changed: which walk ever <ref target="E22"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">the the</hi></ref> + red devils in</item> + <item>To: which walk ever <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">the</hi> + red devils in</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e23'/> + <item>Chapter 14</item> + <item>Changed: the minds of <ref target="E23"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zako Zalu</hi></ref> + and Marufa the</item> + <item>To: the minds of <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Zalu Zako</hi> + and Marufa the</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e24'/> + <item>Chapter 15</item> + <item>Changed: village of MFunya <ref target="E24"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">MPope</hi></ref> + —of that day</item> + <item>To: village of MFunya <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">MPopo</hi> + —of that day</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e25'/> + <item>Chapter 15</item> + <item>Changed: not his policy <ref target="E25"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">tomake</hi></ref> + his thunder too</item> + <item>To: not his policy <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">to make</hi> + his thunder too</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e26'/> + <item>Chapter 17</item> + <item>Changed: position of chief <ref target="E26"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">witch doctor</hi></ref>, + he would do</item> + <item>To: position of chief <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">witch-doctor</hi>, + he would do</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e27'/> + <item>Chapter 18</item> + <item>Changed: earth, and when<ref target="E27"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">&qdash;</hi></ref> + and when&qdash;” He</item> + <item>To: earth, and when<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">—</hi> + and when&qdash;” He</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e28'/> + <item>Chapter 19</item> + <item>Changed: in their solar <ref target="E28"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">plexes</hi></ref>.</item> + <item>To: in their solar <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">plexus</hi>.</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e32'/> + <item>Chapter 22</item> + <item>Changed: the village of <ref target="E32"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Yangonyama</hi></ref>, + but shortage of</item> + <item>To: the village of <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Yagonyana</hi>, + but shortage of</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e29'/> + <item>Chapter 24</item> + <item>Changed: the white god.<ref target="E29"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold"> </hi></ref></item> + <item>To: the white god.<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">”</hi></item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e30'/> + <item>Chapter 29</item> + <item>Changed: Peuh! <ref target="E30"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Ecoute</hi></ref>, + mon cher, it</item> + <item>To: Peuh! <hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Écoute</hi>, + mon cher, it</item> + </list> + + <list><anchor id='e31'/> + <item>Chapter 30</item> + <item>Changed: Pm-pm—<ref target="E31"><hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Pommmm</hi></ref>!</item> + <item>To: Pm-pm—<hi + rend="font-weight: bold">Pommmmm</hi>!</item> + </list> + </div> + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter"/> + </div> +</back> + +</text> + +</TEI.2> |