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lady out of so many？〃
Then suddenly he broke into Bantu； and added： 〃A jest is a jest；
Macumazana； though often there is meaning in a jest； and you shall see
Mameena if you will。 I come here to ask you to do my people a service
for which you shall not lack reward。 We； the White Kendah； the People
of the Child； are at war with the Black Kendah； our subjects who
outnumber us。 The Black Kendah have an evil spirit for a god； which
spirit from the beginning has dwelt in the largest elephant in all the
world； a beast that none can kill； but which kills many and bewitches
more。 While that elephant； which is named Jana； lives we； the People
of the Child； go in terror； for day by day it destroys us。 We have
learnedhow it does not matterthat you alone can kill that
elephant。 If you will come and kill it； we will show you the place
where all the elephants go to die； and you shall take their ivory；
many wagon…loads； and grow rich。 Soon you are going on a journey that
has to do with a flower； and you will visit peoples named the Mazitu
and the Pongo who live on an island in a lake。 Far beyond the Pongo
and across the desert dwell my people； the Kendah； in a secret land。
When you wish to visit us； as you will do； journey to the north of
that lake where the Pongo dwell； and stay there on the edge of the
desert shooting till we come。 Now mock me if you will； but do not
forget； for these things shall befall in their season； though that
time be far。 If we meet no more for a while； still do not forget。 When
you have need of gold or of the ivory that is gold； then journey to
the north of the lake where the Pongo dwell； and call on the names of
Har？t and Mar？t。〃
〃And call on the names of Har？t and Mar？t；〃 repeated the younger man；
who hitherto appeared to take no interest in our talk。
Next； before I could answer； before I could think the thing out
indeed； for all this breath from savage and mystical Africa blowing on
me suddenly here in an Essex drawing…room； seemed to overwhelm me； the
ineffable Har？t proceeded in his English conjurer's patter：
〃Rich ladies and gentlemen want see trick by poor old wizard from
centre Africa。 Well； we show them； but please 'member no magic； all
quite simple trick。 Teach it you if you pay。 Please not look too hard；
no want you learn how it done。 What you like see？ Tree grow out of
nothing； eh？ Good！ Please lend me that platewhat you call him
china。〃
Then the performance began。 The tree grew admirably upon the china
plate under the cover of an antimacassar。 A number of bits of stick
danced together on the said plate； apparently without being touched。
At a whistle from Mar？t a second snake crawled out of the pocket of
the horrified Mr。 Savage； who stood observing these proceedings at a
respectful distance； erected itself on its tail upon the plate and
took fire till it was consumed to ashes； and so forth。
The show was very good； but to tell the truth I did not take much
notice of it； for I had seen similar things before and was engaged in
thoughts much excited by what Har？t had said to me。 At length the pair
paused amidst the clapping of the audience； and Mar？t began to pack up
the properties as though all were done。 Then Har？t observed casually：
〃The Lord Macumazana think this poor business and he right。 Very poor
business； any conjurer do better。 All common trick〃here his eye fell
upon Mr。 Savage who was wriggling uneasily in the background。 〃What
matter with that gentleman？ Brother Mar？t； go see。〃
Brother Mar？t went and freed Mr。 Savage from two more snakes which
seemed to have taken possession of various parts of his garments。
Also； amidst shouts of laughter； from a large dead rat which he
appeared to draw from his well…oiled hair。
〃Ah！〃 said Har？t； as his confederate returned with these prizes；
leaving Savage collapsed in a chair； 〃snake love that gentleman much。
He earn great money in Africa。 Well； he keep rat in hair； hungry snake
always want rat。 But as I say； this poor business。 Now you like to see
some better； eh？ Mameena； eh？〃
〃No；〃 I replied firmly； whereat everyone laughed。
〃Elephant Jana we want you kill； eh？ Just as he look this minute。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃very much indeed； only how will you show it me？〃
〃That quite easy； Macumazana。 You just smoke little Kendah 'bacco and
see many things； if you have gift； as I /think/ you got； and as I
almost /sure/ that lady got；〃 and he pointed to Miss Holmes。
〃Sometimes they things people want see； and sometimes they things
people not want see。〃
〃Dakka；〃 I said contemptuously； alluding to the Indian hemp on which
natives make themselves drunk throughout great districts of Africa。
〃Oh！ no； not dakka； that common stuff； this 'bacco much better than
dakka； only grow in Kendah…land。 You think all nonsense？ Well； you
see。 Give me match please。〃
Then while we watched he placed some tobacco； at least it looked like
tobacco； in a little wooden bowl that he also produced from his
basket。 Next he said something to his companion； Mar？t； who drew a
flute from his robe made out of a thick reed； and began to play on it
a wild and melancholy music； the sound of which seemed to affect my
backbone as standing on a great height often does。 Presently too Har？t
broke into a low song whereof I could not understand a word； that rose
and fell with the music of the flute。 Now he struck a match； which
seemed incongruous in the midst of this semi…magical ceremony； and
taking a pinch of the tobacco； lit it and dropped it among the rest。 A
pale； blue smoke arose from the bowl and with it a very sweet odour
not unlike that of the tuberoses gardeners grow in hot…houses； but
more searching。
〃Now you breath smoke； Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃and tell us what you
see。 Oh！ no fear； that not hurt you。 Just like cigarette。 Look；〃 and
he inhaled some of the vapour and blew it out through his nostrils；
after which his face seemed to change to me； though what the change
was I could not define。
I hesitated till Scroope said：
〃Come； Allan； don't shirk this Central African adventure。 I'll try if
you like。〃
〃No；〃 said Har？t brusquely； 〃/you/ no good。〃
Then curiosity and perhaps the fear of being laughed at overcame me。 I
took the bowl and held it under my nose； while Har？t threw over my
head the antimacassar which he had used in the mango trick； to keep in
the fumes I suppose。
At first these fumes were unpleasant； but just as I was about to drop
the bowl they seemed to become agreeable and to penetrate to the
inmost recesses of my being。 The general affect of them was not unlike
that of the laughing gas which dentists give； with this difference；
that whereas the gas produces insensibility； these fumes seemed to set
the mind on fire and to burn away all limitations of time and
distance。 Things shifted before me。 It was as though I were no longer
in that room but travelling with inconceivable rapidity。
Su