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"On this side of the River Tava live the Black Kendah, on the farther side, the White Kendah." "And what is that hill?" "That is the Holy Mount, the Home of the Heavenly Child, where no man may set foot" here he looked at us meaningly "save the priests of the Child." "What happens to him if he does?" I asked. "He dies, my Lord Macumazana." "Then it is guarded, Harût?"
That is all, and the fee is half-a-crown." "You mean one shilling," I suggested. "No, my father Macumazana. One shilling for simple magic such as foretelling the fate of common black people. Half-a-crown for very difficult magic that has to do with white people, magic of which only great doctors, like me, Mavovo, are the masters."
"Very," I answered, "and of a strange formation. But how do those who dwell on it climb that precipice?" "It cannot be climbed," he answered, "but there is a road which I am about to travel who go to worship the Child. Yet I have told you, Macumazana, that any strangers who seek to walk that road find death. If they do not believe me, let them try," he added meaningly.
"So you come with Macumazana to call at our poor house, as we call at your fine one in England. You think we got the beautiful lady you marry, she we give old necklace. That is not so. No white lady ever in Kendahland. We hear story from Macumazana and believe that lady drowned in Nile, for you 'member she walk much in her sleep. We very sorry for you, but gods know their business.
Then I took up my parable and explained to Bausi that so far from stopping in Beza Town for the rest of our lives, we were anxious to press forward at once to Pongo-land. The king's face fell, as did those of his councillors. "Listen, O lord Macumazana, and all of you," he said.
Hans rolled his little yellow eyes without even turning his head until they rested on the stately countenance of Harût, and answered in Bantu: "I hear, Liar-with-the-White-Beard, but what have I to do with this matter? Jana is my enemy who would have killed Macumazana, my master, not your dirty snake. What is the good of this snake of yours?
Then Harût observed casually: "The Lord Macumazana think this poor business and he right. Very poor business, any conjurer do better. All common trick" here his eye fell upon Mr. Savage who was wriggling uneasily in the background. "What matter with that gentleman? Brother Marût, go see." Brother Marût went and freed Mr.
What is the Child, and this is more important what can it do? As your throat is going to be cut shortly you may as well tell me the truth." "Lord Macumazana, I will. Who and what the Child is I cannot say because I do not know. But it has been our god for thousands of years, and we believe that our remote forefathers brought it with them when they were driven out of Egypt at some time unknown.
No sooner had they gone than Harût entered looking more dignified than ever and, bowing gravely, seated himself upon the mat in the Eastern fashion. "Some strong spirit must go with you, Lord Macumazana," he said, "that you should live today, after we were sure that you had been slain." "That's where you made a mistake. Your magic was not of much service to you there, friend Harût."
"O Macumazana," he exclaimed, weeping in his terror, "O Macumazana, if ever I have been a friend to you, help me out of this deep pit into which I have fallen through the tricks of that monkey of a daughter of mine, who I think is a witch born to bring trouble upon men.
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