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if they are so much the more numerous？〃
〃Because of fear； Macumazana。 They fear our wisdom and the decrees of
the Heavenly Child spoken through the mouth of its oracle； which； if
it is offended； can bring a curse upon them。 Still； if they find us
outside our borders they may kill us； if they can； as we may kill them
if we find them within our borders。〃
〃Indeed； Har？t。 Then it looks to me as though there were a war
breeding between you。〃
〃A war is breeding； Macumazana； the last great war in which either the
White Kendah or the Black Kendah must perish。 Or perhaps both will die
together。 Maybe that is the real reason why we have asked you to be
our guest； Macumazana；〃 and with their usual courteous bows； both of
them rose and departed before I could reply。
〃You see how it stands；〃 I said to Ragnall。 〃We have been brought here
to fight for our friends； Har？t； Mar？t and Co。； against their
rebellious subjects； or rather the king who reigns jointly with them。〃
〃It looks like it；〃 he replied quietly； 〃but doubtless we shall find
out the truth in time and meanwhile speculation is no good。 Do you go
to bed； Quatermain； I will watch till midnight and then wake you。〃
That night passed in safety。 Next day we marched before the dawn；
passing through country that grew continually better watered and more
fertile； though it was still open plain but sloping upwards ever more
steeply。 On this plain I saw herds of antelopes and what in the
distance looked like cattle； but no human being。 Before evening we
camped where there was good water and plenty of food for the camels。
While the camp was being set Har？t came and invited us to follow him
to the outposts； whence he said we should see a view。 We walked with
him； a matter of not more than a quarter of a mile to the head of that
rise up which we had been travelling all day； and thence perceived one
of the most glorious prospects on which my eyes have fallen in all
great Africa。 From where we stood the land sloped steeply for a matter
of ten or fifteen miles； till finally the fall ended in a vast plain
like to the bottom of a gigantic saucer； that I presume in some far
time of the world's history was once an enormous lake。 A river ran
east and west across this plain and into it fell tributaries。 Far
beyond this river the contours of the country rose again till； many；
many miles away； there appeared a solitary hill； tumulus…shaped； which
seemed to be covered with bush。
Beyond and surrounding this hill was more plain which with the aid of
my powerful glasses was； we could see； bordered at last by a range of
great mountains； looking like a blue line pencilled across the
northern distance。 To the east and west the plain seemed to be
illimitable。 Obviously its soil was of a most fertile character and
supported numbers of inhabitants； for everywhere we could see their
kraals or villages。 Much of it to the west； however； was covered with
dense forest with； to all appearance； a clearing in its midst。
〃Behold the land of the Kendah；〃 said Har？t。 〃On this side of the
River Tava live the Black Kendah； on the farther side； the White
Kendah。〃
〃And what is that hill？〃
〃That is the Holy Mount； the Home of the Heavenly Child； where no man
may set foot〃here he looked at us meaningly〃save the priests of
the Child。〃
〃What happens to him if he does？〃 I asked。
〃He dies； my Lord Macumazana。〃
〃Then it is guarded； Har？t？〃
〃It is guarded； not with mortal weapons； Macumazana； but by the
spirits that watch over the Child。〃
As he would say no more on this interesting matter； I asked him as to
the numbers of the Kendah people； to which he replied that the Black
Kendah might number twenty thousand men of arm…bearing age； but the
White Kendah not more than two thousand。
〃Then no wonder you want spirits to guard your Heavenly Child；〃 I
remarked； 〃since the Black Kendah are your foes and with you warriors
are few。〃
At this moment our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a
picket on a camel； who reported something to Har？t which appeared to
disturb him。 I asked him what was the matter。
〃That is the matter；〃 he said； pointing to a man mounted on a rough
pony who just then appeared from behind some bushes about half a mile
away； galloping down the slope towards the plain。 〃He is one of the
scouts of Simba； King of the Black Kendah； and he goes to Simba's town
in yonder forest to make report of our arrival。 Return to camp；
Macumazana； and eat； for we must march with the rising of the moon。〃
As soon as the moon rose we marched accordingly； although the camels；
many of which were much worn with the long journey； scarcely had been
given time to fill themselves and none to rest。 All night we marched
down the long slope； only halting for half an hour before daylight to
eat something and rearrange the loads on the baggage beasts； which
now； I noticed； were guarded with extra care。 When we were starting
again Mar？t came to us and remarked with his usual smile； on behalf of
his brother Har？t； who was otherwise engaged； that it might be well if
we had our guns ready； since we were entering the land of the elephant
Jana and 〃who knew but that we might meet him？〃
〃Or his worshippers on two legs；〃 I suggested； to which his only reply
was a nod。
So we got our repeating rifles； some of the first that were ever made；
serviceable but rather complicated weapons that fired five cartridges。
Hans； however； with my permission； armed himself with the little
Purdey piece that was named 〃Intombi；〃 the singe…barrelled； muzzle…
loading gun which had done me so much service in earlier days； and
even on my last journey to Pongoland。 He said that he was accustomed
to it and did not understand these new…fangled breechloaders； also
that it was 〃lucky。〃 I consented as I did not think that it made much
difference with what kind of rifle Hans was provided。 As a marksman he
had this peculiarity： up to a hundred yards or so he was an excellent
shot； but beyond that distance no good at all。
A quarter of an hour later； as the dawn was breaking； we passed
through a kind of /nek/ of rough stones bordering the flat land； and
emerged into a compact body on to the edge of the grassy plain。 Here
the word was given to halt for a reason that became clear to me so
soon as I was out of the rocks。 For there； marching rapidly； not half
a mile away； were some five hundred white…robed men。 A large
proportion of these were mounted； the best being foot…soldiers； of
whom more were running up every minute； appearing out of bush that
grew upon the hill…side； apparently to dispute our passage。 These
people； who were black…faced with fuzzy hair upon which they wore no
head…dress； all seemed to be armed with spears。
Presently from out of the mass of them two horsemen dashed forward；
one of whom bore a white flag in token that they came to parley。 Our
advance guard al