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Updated: May 21, 2025
These are my words." "Then whither would you go from Tomboura?" asked Kouaga, apparently astonished at Omar's sudden decision. "I will only approach Mo by the Great Salt Road." "It is impossible. There is fighting in the hills, for the Karaboro and the Dagari are at war." "And what matters, pray, since they are both our allies?" Omar asked.
The Adoo, the Anno, and the Jimini kings have long ago made blood-brotherhood with our chiefs, therefore we are enabled to pass in peace by this route alone." Before darkness fell we disembarked at a small village on the left bank, the name of which I learnt was Tomboura, and after our evening meal were given a hut in which to spend the night.
I have secretly questioned most of them as to Kouaga's motive, and all I can glean is that the fetish-man at Tomboura gathered them together and, after performing some of the usual rites and sacrificing to our Crocodile-god Zomara, told them if a word were spoken to us regarding our route or destination the dread god will meet us in the forest path and devour all of us. Not one shall survive."
If we offend him death or torture is inevitably our punishment." "Do you think you've offended him?" I inquired. "I know not," he sighed with a serious look. "If I have, then nothing can save me; the fetish-man of Tomboura has worked evil against me."
After I had described the stranger he said: "I know not who he may be. It is evident, however, we are travelling in the opposite direction to Mo, therefore we will go no further. I will command Kouaga to return to Tomboura, cross the river, and press forward over the hills of Dabagakha to the Black Volta." "And if he refuses?" "Then we will go alone."
I have thrice traversed the path from Tomboura to the Great Salt Road, and can follow it without a guide." Then, calling down the curse of Zomara, the dreaded, upon them all, he turned on his heel and walked down the narrow path we had traversed on the previous night, while, with a final glance of triumph at the irate negro, I followed.
"Well," I said, "this is my first experience of Africa, but it strikes me very forcibly that these fetish-men of yours will do anything they are paid to do. What was there to prevent Kouaga paying that hideous old demon at Tomboura to utter his horrible incantations and so frighten our carriers into silence?" "Zomara is a terrible god.
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