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Updated: May 2, 2025
"Scragga, son of Twala, the great king Twala, husband of a thousand wives, chief and lord paramount of the Kukuanas, keeper of the great Road, terror of his enemies, student of the Black Arts, leader of a hundred thousand warriors, Twala the One-eyed, the Black, the Terrible." "So," said I superciliously, "lead us then to Twala. We do not talk with low people and underlings."
My lords and Ignosi, rightful king of the Kukuanas, I have brought with me these men," pointing to the row of chiefs, "who are great men among us, having each one of them the command of three thousand soldiers, that live but to do their bidding, under the king's. I have told them of what I have seen, and what my ears have heard.
These, after silence had been proclaimed, Infadoos proceeded to address. He narrated to them in vigorous and graceful language for, like most Kukuanas of high rank, he was a born orator the history of Ignosi's father, and of how he had been basely murdered by Twala the king, and his wife and child driven out to starve.
But since it was impossible for us to dictate in what way we should be assailed, we had to make the best of it, and accordingly sent orders to the various regiments to prepare to receive the separate onslaughts. This cruel custom is not confined to the Kukuanas, but is by no means uncommon amongst African tribes on the occasion of the outbreak of war or any other important public event.
After supper we produced our pipes and lit them; a proceeding which filled Infadoos and Scragga with astonishment. The Kukuanas were evidently unacquainted with the divine delights of tobacco-smoke. The herb is grown among them extensively; but, like the Zulus, they use it for snuff only, and quite failed to identify it in its new form.
The conformation of these mountains is unlike that of Sheba's Breasts, being sheer and precipitous, instead of smooth and rounded. Infadoos saw us looking at them, and volunteered a remark. "The road ends there," he said, pointing to the mountains known among the Kukuanas as the "Three Witches." "Why does it end?" I asked.
This expression of opinion seemed, on the whole, to be favourably received; indeed, among the Kukuanas my utterances met with a respect which has never been accorded to them before or since.
"When we are among the Kukuanas, my good friend Infadoos, we do as the Kukuanas do," I said majestically, and turned round quickly to address Good, who was tramping along sullenly behind, his mind fully occupied with unsatisfactory attempts to prevent his flannel shirt from flapping in the evening breeze.
"Oh, Lord!" groaned Good; and, as was his way when perplexed, he put his hand to his false teeth, dragging the top set down and allowing them to fly back to his jaw with a snap. It was a most fortunate move, for next second the dignified crowd of Kukuanas uttered a simultaneous yell of horror, and bolted back some yards. "What's up?" said I. "It's his teeth," whispered Sir Henry excitedly.
"White people," he said, "who come hither, whence I know not, and why I know not, greeting." "Greeting, Twala, King of the Kukuanas," I answered. "White people, whence come ye, and what seek ye?" "We come from the Stars, ask us not how. We come to see this land." "Ye journey from far to see a little thing. And that man with you," pointing to Umbopa, "does he also come from the Stars?"
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