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Updated: May 5, 2025
For a number of years he has paid heavy tribute to Machenga, thus purchasing immunity from being `smelled out'; but during this last year he has become a favourite of the Great, Great One, and presuming upon this, I understand that now he has refused to pay further tribute to Machenga, and has defied him. Mark my words: he will be among those smelled out to-morrow!" "You think so?"
Meanwhile, during this interlude, brief as it was, five new victims two of them indunas had been smelled out and brought forward; but the king, intent only upon what was passing between Machenga and myself, had forborne to give the fatal signal to the Slayers, and thus the little group of victims and executioners stood motionless in the centre of the arena, while every eye was turned upon the chief witch doctor and myself.
"Think ye that Machenga craves such baubles as those? They are well enough for children and fools, but Machenga accepts only gifts of real value." "Such, for instance, as " I suggested. "One of the magic fire tubes with which you caused a flying pigeon to fall dead at the king's feet to-day," answered my visitor. "Nay," said I, "that may not be.
"Yet Machenga smelled him out and caused him to be slain as an enemy of mine," the king reminded him. "Do I not know it?" retorted the old man bitterly. "And if Machenga had smelled me out, I too should have been slain, although, as thou sayest, thou hast proved me and know me to be faithful and true!
But he refused them, demanding as a gift one of my magic fire tubes; and when I refused him he went away, threatening me that to-day I should be sorry that I had refused him. Then I knew that it was no messenger, but Machenga himself who had visited me; and I knew the man for a liar and cheat. Thou dost ask whether all those slain suffered unjustly. I answer thee that they did!
As for Machenga, after watching his assistants for a minute or two, he stalked slowly toward the king and seated himself at His Majesty's feet, where, after a time, he seemed to lose all consciousness of outward things, and to sink into a state of profound and anxious thought.
And what he has done to Logwane he has, doubtless, done to many others of Your Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects." "How knowest thou all this, Chia'gnosi," demanded the king; "and how am I to know that thy words are true?" "Have I not proved it to thee by destroying Machenga?" retorted I. "Thinkest thou that if Machenga had been what he claimed to be I could have slain him?
For a period of about five minutes these terrible beings whirled and flashed hither and thither in bewildering confusion; then, with the precision of highly trained soldiers, they suddenly halted, and I became aware that Machenga, their chief, was again upon his feet, standing in their midst.
I knew not then who he was, nor did he say; indeed, he pretended to be a messenger from Machenga: but presently I knew him for Machenga himself, although I had never before seen him, and I set forth certain gifts, which I offered him.
The "witch doctors" or magicians of the nation numbering in all something over a hundred all of whom were then in Gwanda for the purposes of the ceremony, would assemble at sunset that same evening in a sort of fetish house; and there, under the leadership and direction of one Machenga, the head or chief witch doctor, would perform certain mysterious rites, and submit themselves to a certain mysterious form of treatment, lasting the entire night, which, it was generally understood, would enable them infallibly to "smell out" or detect every individual who might harbour evil thoughts or designs against the king.
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