按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He waved his spear and danced about in front of us； till the silver
chains clanked upon his breast。 He vituperated the Child and its
worshippers； who； he declared； had worked evil on the Black Kendah for
generations。 He appealed to his god Jana to avenge these evils； 〃to
pierce the Child with his tusks； to tear it with his trunk； and to
trample it with his feet；〃 all of which the wounded diviner ably
seconded through his horrid mask。
There we stood before him； I leaning against the wall of the house
with an air of studied nonchalance mingled with mild interest； at
least that is what I meant to do； and Mar？t smiling sweetly and
staring at the heavens。 Whilst I was wondering what exact portion of
my frame was destined to become acquainted with that spear； of a
sudden Simba gave it up。 Turning to his followers； he bade them dig a
hole in the corner of our little enclosure and set the dead man in it；
〃with his head out so that he may breathe；〃 an order which they
promptly executed。
Then he issued a command that we should be well fed and tended； and
remarking that if the departed was not alive and healthy on the third
morning from that day； we should hear from him again； he and his
company stalked off； except those men who were occupied with the
interment。
Soon this was finished also。 There sat the deceased buried to the neck
with his face looking towards the house； a most disagreeable sight。
Presently； however； matters were improved in this respect by one of
the sextons fetching a large earthenware pot and several smaller pots
full of food and water。 The latter they set round the head； I suppose
for the sustenance of the body beneath； and then placed the big vessel
inverted over all； 〃to keep the sun off our sleeping brother；〃 as I
heard one say to the other。
This pot looked innocent enough when all was done； like one of those
that gardeners in England put over forced rhubarb； no more。 And yet；
such is the strength of the imagination； I think that on the whole I
should have preferred the object underneath naked and unadorned。 For
instance； I have forgotten to say that the heads of those of the White
Kendah who had fallen in the fight had been set up on poles in front
of Simba's house。 They were unpleasant to contemplate； but to my mind
not so unpleasant as that pot。
As a matter of fact； this precaution against injury from the sun to
the late diviner proved unnecessary； since by some strange chance from
that moment the sun ceased to shine。 Quite suddenly clouds arose which
gradually covered the whole sky and the weather began to turn very
cold； unprecedentedly so； Mar？t informed me； for the time of year；
which； it will be remembered； in this country was the season just
before harvest。 Obviously the Black Kendah thought so also； since from
our seats on the roof； whither we had retreated to be as far as
possible from the pot； we saw them gathered in the market…place；
staring at the sky and talking to each other。
The day passed without any further event； except the arrival of our
meals； for which we had no great appetite。 The night came； earlier
than usual because of the clouds； and we fell asleep； or rather into a
series of dozes。 Once I thought that I heard someone stirring in the
huts behind us； but as it was followed by silence I took no more
notice。 At length the light broke very slowly； for now the clouds were
denser than ever。 Shivering with the cold； Mar？t and I made a visit to
the camel…drivers； who were not allowed to enter our house。 On going
into their hut we saw to our horror that only two of them remained；
seated stonily upon the floor。 We asked where the third was。 They
replied they did not know。 In the middle of the night； they said； men
had crept in； who seized； bound and gagged him； then dragged him away。
As there was nothing to be said or done； we returned to breakfast
filled with horrid fears。
Nothing happened that day except that some priests arrived； lifted the
earthenware pot； examined their departed colleague； who by now had
become an unencouraging spectacle； removed old dishes of food；
arranged more about him； and went off。 Also the clouds grew thicker
and thicker； and the air more and more chilly； till； had we been in
any northern latitude； I should have said that snow was pending。 From
our perch on the roof…top I observed the population of Simba Town
discussing the weather with ever…increasing eagerness； also that the
people who were going out to work in the fields wore mats over their
shoulders。
Once more darkness came； and this night； notwithstanding the cold； we
spent wrapped in rugs； on the roof of the house。 It had occurred to us
that kidnapping would be less easy there； as we could make some sort
of a fight at the head of the stairway； or； if the worst came to the
worst； dive from the parapet and break our necks。 We kept watch turn
and turn about。 During my watch about midnight I heard a noise going
on in the hut behind us； scuffling and a stifled cry which turned my
blood cold。 About an hour later a fire was lighted in the centre of
the market…place where the sheep had been sacrificed； and by the flare
of it I could see people moving。 But what they did I could not see；
which was perhaps as well。
Next morning only one of the camelmen was left。 This remaining man was
now almost crazy with fear； and could give no clear account of what
had happened to his companion。
The poor fellow implored us to take him away to our house； as he
feared to be left alone with 〃the black devils。〃 We tried to do so；
but armed guards appeared mysteriously and thrust him back into his
own hut。
This day was an exact repetition of the others。 The same inspection of
the deceased and renewal of his food； the same cold； clouded sky； the
same agitated conferences in the market…place。
For the third time darkness fell upon us in that horrible place。 Once
more we took refuge on the roof； but this night neither of us slept。
We were too cold； too physically miserable； and too filled with mental
apprehensions。 All nature seemed to be big with impending disaster。
The sky appeared to be sinking down upon the earth。 The moon was
hidden； yet a faint and lurid light shone now in one quarter of the
horizon； now in another。 There was no wind； but the air moaned
audibly。 It was as though the end of the world were near as； I
reflected； probably might be the case so far as we were concerned。
Never； perhaps； have I felt so spiritually terrified as I was during
the dreadful inaction of that night。 Even if I had known that I was
going to be executed at dawn； I think that by comparison I should have
been light…hearted。 But the worst part of the business was that I knew
nothing。 I was like a man forced to walk through dense darkness among
precipices； quite unable to guess when my journey would end in space；
but enduring all the agonies of death at every step。
About midnight again we hea