United States or Angola ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
A few of the men saluted me with upraised right hand and the exclamation "'Nkos'!" but for the most part they seemed undecided whether to regard me as a friend or an enemy, and therefore preferred for the moment to maintain an attitude of neutrality.
So to-day we consulted Mafuta upon the matter; and after he had heard us, and had shut himself up in the hut for as long as it takes the sun to travel that far through the sky," indicating an arc which would represent about half an hour "he came forth and said that a white man yourself, 'Nkos' would arrive at the village to-night, and would undertake to free us of the beast.
I think, 'Nkos', that if you would go now with me to Mafuta's hut, perhaps taking with you as a gift another handkerchief such as this, the nyanga would be willing to grant your request." "You think so?" I said. "Then in that case let us go."
I demanded. "Even so, 'Nkos'," he answered simply. "But," I said, "the king will never permit that, 'Mfuni; he would be very angry indeed with me should he discover that I had carried off one of his warriors. Probably he would send an impi after us to eat us up." "Nay, O Chia'gnosi, he would not; for it was the Great One himself who ordered me to come to thee," replied 'Mfuni.
But I had not gone six steps upon my way when whether spontaneously or in response to some signal I know not up went the spear of every warrior present, in salute, and a great shout of "Chia'gnosi Chia'gnosi 'Nkos'!" rent the air, to which I, as in duty bound, responded by halting for a moment and raising my hand to my hat-brim in a military salute.
I delivered this message with all the aloofness and dignity of manner that I could muster, and was gratified to observe that it was not without its effect upon the king's envoys, who accorded me the salute of "'Nkos'!" upon their departure. Then, as soon as they were gone, I unpacked my bales and proceeded to sort out and set aside the gifts which I intended to offer for His Majesty's acceptance.
"He is somewhere on the other side of that ridge, 'Nkos'," answered the lad. "He came out from behind the krantz and, entering the long grass, disappeared. But my brother yonder is watching his movements, and if we hasten we may cut him off before he reaches the village. See, 'Nkos', there is my brother you can see his head and shoulders above the ridge; he is waving us to hasten."
And when you are dismissed from duty, come to my wagon, and I will see what may be done toward mending the wound that the king's sword inflicted upon you." "'Nkos'!" answered 'Mfuni, throwing up his hand in salute as he swung round upon his heel and marched back to his place in the ranks.
While I was taking breakfast, about an hour later, 'Ngaga came up from the village to express the hearty thanks of himself and the rest of the inhabitants for the service which I had rendered them by destroying the leopard; and when we had chatted for half an hour or so, and 'Ngaga had accepted a present of a yard of brass wire, a handful of parti-coloured beads, and a cotton handkerchief gorgeously emblazoned in red, blue, green, and yellow, he said: "'Nkos', after I left you last night I went to the hut of Mafuta and was permitted to enter.
You were about to tell me that there is trouble in the village, of a kind that I can cure. Was it not so?" "Even so, 'Nkos'," answered 'Ngaga. "The trouble is this.
Word Of The Day