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other round the middle to prevent their being swept away。 Thereupon
our silly Zulus seized their spears and formed up upon the bank。 I
slid down the steep side of the 〃Great Doctor〃 and ran forward；
calling out that these were friends who came。
〃Friends or foes；〃 answered their captain sullenly； 〃it is a pity that
we should walk so far and not have a fight with those Mazitu dogs。〃
Well； I drove them off to a distance； not knowing what might happen if
the two peoples met； and then went down to the bank。 By now the Mazitu
were near； and to my delight at the head of them I perceived no other
than my old friend； their chief general； Babemba； a one…eyed man with
whom Hans and I had shared many adventures。 Through the water he
plunged with great bounds and reaching the shore； greeted me literally
with rapture。
〃O Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃little did I hope that ever again I should
look upon your face。 Welcome to you； a thousand welcomes； and to you
too； Light…in…Darkness； Lord…of…the…Fire； Cunning…one whose wit saved
us in the battle of the Gate。 But where is Dogeetah； where is Wazeela；
and where are the Mother and the Child of the Flower？〃
〃Far away across the Black Water； Babemba；〃 I answered。 〃But here are
two others in place of them；〃 and I introduced him to Ragnall and
Savage by their native names of Igeza and Bena。
He contemplated them for a moment； then said：
〃This；〃 pointing to Ragnall； 〃is a great lord； but this；〃 pointing to
Savage； who was much the better dressed of the two； 〃is a cock of the
ashpit arrayed in an eagle's feathers；〃 a remark I did not translate；
but one which caused Hans to snigger vacuously。
While we breakfasted on food prepared by the 〃Cock of the Ashpit；〃 who
amongst many other merits had that of being an excellent cook； I heard
all the news。 Bausi the king was dead but had been succeeded by one of
his sons； also named Bausi； whom I remembered。 Beza…Town had been
rebuilt after the great fire that destroyed the slavers； and much more
strongly fortified than before。 Of the slavers themselves nothing more
had been seen； or of the Pongo either； though the Mazitu declared that
their ghosts； or those of their victims； still haunted the island in
the lake。 That was all； except the ill tidings as to two of our
messengers which the third； who had returned with the Mazitu； reported
to us。
After breakfast I addressed and sent away our Zulus； each with a
handsome present from the trade goods； giving into their charge the
remaining wagon and our servants； none of whom； somewhat to my relief；
wished to accompany us farther。 They sang their song of good…bye；
saluted and departed over the rise； still looking hungrily behind them
at the Mazitu； and we were very pleased to see the last of them
without bloodshed or trouble。
When we had watched the white tilt of the wagon vanish； we set to work
to get ourselves and our goods across the river。 This we accomplished
safely； for the Mazitu worked for us like friends and not as do hired
men。 On the farther bank； however； it took us two full days so to
divide up the loads that the bearers could carry them without being
overladen。
At length all was arranged and we started。 Of the month's trek that
followed there is nothing to tell； except that we completed it without
notable accidents and at last reached the new Beza…Town； which much
resembled the old； where we were accorded a great public reception。
Bausi II himself headed the procession which met us outside the south
gate on that very mound which we had occupied in the great fight；
where the bones of the gallant Mavovo and my other hunters lay buried。
Almost did it seem to me as though I could hear their deep voices
joining in the shouts of welcome。
That night； while the Mazitu feasted in our honour； we held an
/indaba/ in the big new guest house with Bausi II； a pleasant…faced
young man； and old Babemba。 The king asked us how long we meant to
stay at Beza…Town； intimating his hope that the visit would be
prolonged。 I replied； but a few days； as we were travelling far to the
north to find a people called the Kendah whom we wished to see； and
hoped that he would give us bearers to carry our goods as far as the
confines of their country。 At the name of Kendah a look of
astonishment appeared upon their faces and Babemba said：
〃Has madness seized you； Macumazana； that you would attempt this
thing？ Oh surely you must be mad。〃
〃You thought us mad； Babemba； when we crossed the lake to Rica Town；
yet we came back safely。〃
〃True； Macumazana； but compared to the Kendah the Pongo were but as
the smallest star before the face of the sun。〃
〃What do you know of them then？〃 I asked。 〃But staybefore you
answer； I will speak what I know；〃 and I repeated what I had learned
from Hans； who confirmed my words； and from Har？t and Mar？t； leaving
out； however； any mention of their dealings with Lady Ragnall。
〃It is all true；〃 said Babemba when I had finished； 〃for that old
woman of whom Light…in…the…Darkness speaks； was one of the wives of my
uncle and I knew her well。 Hearken！ These Kendah are a terrible nation
and countless in number and of all the people the fiercest。 Their king
is called Simba； which means Lion。 He who rules is always called
Simba； and has been so called for hundreds of years。 He is of the
Black Kendah whose god is the elephant Jana； but as Light…in…Darkness
has said； there are also the White Kendah who are Arab men； the
priests and traders of the people。 The Kendah will allow no stranger
within their doors； if one comes they kill him by torment； or blind
him and turn him out into the desert which surrounds their country；
there to die。 These things the old woman who married my uncle told me；
as she told them to Light…in…Darkness； also I have heard them from
others； and what she did not tell me； that the White Kendah are great
breeders of the beasts called camels which they sell to the Arabs of
the north。 Go not near them； for if you pass the desert the Black
Kendah will kill you； and if you escape these； then their king； Simba；
will kill you； and if you escape him； then their god Jana will kill
you； and if you escape him； then their white priests will kill you
with their magic。 Oh！ long before you look upon the faces of those
priests you will be dead many times over。〃
〃Then why did they ask me to visit them； Babemba？〃
〃I know not； Macumazana； but perhaps because they wished to make an
offering of you to the god Jana； whom no spear can harm； no； nor even
your bullets that pierce a tree。〃
〃I am willing to make trial of that matter；〃 I answered confidently；
〃and any way we must go to see these things for ourselves。〃
〃Yes；〃 echoed Ragnall； 〃we must certainly go；〃 while even Savage； for
I had been translating to them all this while； nodded his head
although he looked as though he would much rather stay behind。
〃Ask him if there are any snak