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Updated: May 17, 2025
"Where did he get you, Umbezi?" I asked, for I could not see his wounds because of the smoke. "Behind, Macumazahn, behind!" he groaned, "for I had turned to fly, but, alas! too late." "On the contrary," I replied, "for one so heavy you flew very well; like a bird, Umbezi, like a bird." "Look and see what the evil beast has done to me, Macumazahn. It will be easy, for my moocha has gone."
Saduko," he went on, shaking his fat finger at him, "are you mad, man, that you think a girl like that is for you? Give me a hundred cattle, not one less, and I will begin to think of it. Why, you have not ten, and Mameena is my eldest daughter, and must marry a rich man." "She loves me, O Umbezi," answered Saduko, looking down, "and that is more than cattle."
"Well, Umbezi, let us be thankful that we have come out with our lives that is, if I am going to live," I added. "Oh, Macumazahn, you will live without doubt, and be none the worse. Two of our doctors very clever men have looked at you and said so. One of them tied you up in all those skins, and I promised him a heifer for the business, if he cured you, and gave him a goat on account.
Within the fence of the kraal, seated in its shadow, I found Umbezi and some of his headmen, and with them a great, brawny "ringed" native, who wore a tiger-skin moocha as a mark of rank, and some of his headmen. Also Mameena was standing near the gate, dressed in her best beads and holding a gourd of Kafir beer which, evidently, she had just been handing to the guests.
"I answered that I understood and would try my best, whereon he became more gentle, for Umbezi has a kindly heart. "'My son, he said, 'I like you well, and since I saw you save Macumazahn, my friend, from that mad wild beast of a buffalo I like you better than before. Yet you know my case. I have an old name and am called the chief of a tribe, and many live on me.
So she departed, and I went on to meet old Umbezi, who came gambolling towards me like an obese goat, reflecting that, whatever might be the truth or otherwise of her story, her advancement in the world did not seem to have brought Mameena greater happiness and contentment. Umbezi, who greeted me warmly, was in high spirits and full of importance.
"Because some people don't do that kind of thing, Umbezi." "No, no, I forgot. Oh! why can I not remember that you are quite mad and therefore that it must not be expected of you to act as though you were sane. Well, at least you are that tiger Saduko's friend, which again shows that you must be very mad, for most people would sooner try to milk a cow buffalo than walk hand in hand with him.
And to Mameena say that soon I will come to take her with spears and not with cattle. Do you understand? Oh! I see that you do, since already you weep with fear like a woman. Then farewell to you till that day when I return with the sticks, O Umbezi the cheat and the liar, Umbezi, 'Eater-up-of-Elephants," and turning, Saduko stalked away.
Also he was by nature terribly jealous, even in little things, as the readers of his history, if any, will learn. We trudged on for several hours in silence, broken at length by my companion. "Do you still mean to go on a shooting expedition with Umbezi, Inkoosi?" he asked, "or are you afraid?" "Of what should I be afraid?" I answered tartly.
There, thank you for your water, Macumazahn, and good night. Doubtless we shall meet again ere long, and I forgot; the Little Wise One said he would like to have a talk with you. Good night, Macumazahn, good night. I trust that you did a profitable trade with Umbezi my father and Masapo my husband. I wonder why such men as these should have been chosen to be my father and my husband.
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