Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 7, 2025
One would say that this vat of brandy fascinated him, and that he was going to throw himself into it. Alvez generously held him back and put a lighted match into his hand. "Fire!" cried he with a cunning grimace of satisfaction. "Fire!" replied Moini Loungga lashing the liquid with the end of the match. What a flare and what an effect, when the bluish flames played on the surface of the basin.
All the labors of the season were compromised, and Queen Moini, any more than her ministers, did not know how to face the catastrophe. They then had recourse to the magicians, but not to those whose profession is to heal the sick by their incantations and sorceries, or who predict success to the natives.
"Well, some 'pombe'! some mead!" exclaimed Jose-Antonio Alvez, like a man who well knew what Moini Loungga wanted. "No, no!" replied the king; "my friend Alvez's brandy, and for each drop of his fire-water I shall give him " "A drop of blood from a white man!" exclaimed Negoro, after making a sign to Alvez, which the latter understood and approved. "A white man!
The crowd followed, imitating his movements it might be said, as a troop of monkeys following a gigantic, four-handed animal. Then, suddenly, the sorcerer, treading the principal street of Kazounde, went toward the royal residence. As soon as Queen Moini had been informed of the arrival of the new wizard, she appeared, followed by her courtiers.
The fire that came out of the bodies of the king and his minister became a sacred fire. They had nothing to do but honor Moini Loungga by obsequies worthy of a man elevated to the rank of the gods. These obsequies, with all the ceremonial connected with them among the African tribes, was an occasion offered to Negoro to make Dick Sand play a part.
Put a white man to death!" repeated Moini Loungga, whose ferocious instincts were aroused by the Portuguese's proposition. "One of Alvez's agents has been killed by this white man," returned Negoro. "Yes, my agent, Harris," replied the trader, "and his death must be avenged!" "Send that white man to King Massongo, on the Upper Zaire, among the Assonas. They will cut him in pieces.
To charge him with Moini Loungga's death might be a bad affair, from which he might not be able to extricate himself without damage. But Negoro had a good idea. By his means Alvez spread the report that the death of Kazounde's sovereign was supernatural; that the great Manitou only reserved it for his elect. The natives, so inclined to superstition, accepted this lie.
But this time, as there was nothing left of the royal person except a few burnt bones, it was necessary to proceed in another manner. A willow manikin was made, representing Moini Loungga sufficiently well, perhaps advantageously, and in it they shut up the remains the combustion had spared.
The larger part of them accompanied him in this visit to the "lakoni." Moini, the first, according to date, was a vixen of forty years, of royal blood, like her colleagues. She wore a bright tartan, a straw petticoat embroidered with pearls, and necklaces wherever she could put them. Her hair was dressed so as to make an enormous framework on her little head. She was, in fact, a monster.
The king had taken fire like a petroleum bonbon. This fire developed little heat, but it devoured none the less. At this spectacle the natives' dance was suddenly stopped. One of Moini Loungga's ministers threw himself on his sovereign to extinguish him; but, not less alcoholized than his master, he took fire in his turn. In this way, Moini Loungga's whole court was in peril of burning up.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking