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Updated: August 8, 2024
But Notiki had built a new hut as he said especially for his guest, and Mr. Blowter, no doubt, honoured by the attention which was shown to him, broke the restricting rule that Sanders had laid down, quitted the comfortable cabin which had been his home on the river journey, and slept in the novel surroundings of a native hut.
"Noble chiefs of the Ochori," began Bosambo, and Notiki nudged his neighbour with a sharp elbow, for Notiki was an old man of forty-three, and thin. "Our lord desires us to give him something," he said. He was a bitter man this Notiki, a relative of former chiefs of the Ochori, and now no more than over-head of four villages. "Wa!" said his neighbour, with his shining face turned to Bosambo.
Notiki grunted but said no more. "I have assembled you here," said Bosambo, "because I love to see you, and because it is good that I should meet those who are in authority under me to administer the laws which the King my master has set for your guidance." Word for word it was a paraphrase of an address which Sanders himself had delivered three months ago.
Yet then, as Notiki said under his breath, or openly, or by innuendo as the sentiment of his company demanded, four and twenty canoes laden with the fruits of taxation had come to the Ochori city, and five only of those partly filled had paddled down to headquarters to carry the Ochori tribute to the overlord of the land.
And to this end he shall take every man of his kingdom and set them to labour, and as they work they shall sing a song which goes: "We are doing Notiki's work, The work Notiki set us to do, Rather than send to the lord his King The presents which Bosambo demanded. "The palaver is finished."
His audience may have forgotten the fact, but Notiki at least recognized the plagiarism and said "Oh, ho!" under his breath and made a scornful noise. "Now I must go from you," said Bosambo. There was a little chorus of dismay, but Notiki's voice did not swell the volume.
I suppose he ought to have secured your permission to leave his territory?" "He has given his people work to keep them busy," Sanders said a little gravely. "I have had a passionate protest from Notiki, one of his chiefs in the north. Bosambo has set him to build a road through the forest, and Notiki objects."
They had learnt their strength, incidentally they had learnt their rights. The father of the girl went hot-foot to his over-chief, Notiki, and covered himself with ashes at the door of the chief's hut.
All these matters might be told in great detail with no particular credit to the subject of the monograph. In course of time he came to the Ochori land and was welcomed by Notiki, who had taken upon himself, on the strength of his rout, the position of chieftainship. This he did with one eye on the river, ready to bolt the moment Bosambo's canoe came sweeping round the bend.
His accusing eyes fixed Notiki, and the thin man wriggled uncomfortably. "This man is a devil," he muttered under his breath, "he hears and sees all things." For who of us is so wise that he can look into the heart and understand the sorrow-call which goes from brother to brother and from blood to blood.
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