THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSIT OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES IN MEMORY OF MRS. VIRGINIA B. SPOREI AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA BY RICHMOND HAIGH NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, igig BY HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY TO BEATRICE AND H. E. H. 2041673 AUTHOR'S NOTE THE following Saga does not profess to be his- toric in the literal sense, as what Saga does? Nevertheless the persons and incidents contained in it are so nearly, or were so nearly, true to life that many South Africans will easily be reminded of the originals. I have made numerous attempts to discover an Ethiopian artist to illustrate this story of his own people, but so far without suc- cess. Perhaps upon another occasion such an artist will discover himself to me. The native sayings and proverbs scattered throughout the text have been collected from many sources; but chiefly I am indebted for them to the Rev. J. A. Winter of Sekukuniland, to whom I here offer my thanks. Lastly I have to thank the Editor of the New Age for his permission to republish here such parts of this story as were first pub- lished in that journal. R. H. PORT ELIZABETH. vii CONTENTS AUTHOR'S NOTE v CHAPTER PAGE I. "TWO ARMADILLOS DO NOT LIVE IN ONE HOLE " 3 II. " WHAT THE DAWN WILL BRING IS NOT KNOWN " 7 in. "THE BUCK HAS JUMPED OUT OF THE POT" 12 IV. " THE LION'S LAIR IS BURNED DOWN J RATS ARE IN THE OPEN; VULTURES ARE LOOKING OUT FOR MEAT " . . IQ V. "ONE LINK ONLY SOUNDS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER " 25 VI. " HE WILL NOT EAT OUT OF HIS CHIL- DREN'S DISHES" 30 vn. "WATCHER OF THE MOON, BEWARE OF THE DARKNESS " .... 32 UlI. "IF YOU DESPISE THE DOCTOR, DESPISE THE SICKNESS ALSO " ... 36 IX. " A GREAT ONE MUST HAVE A LONG HEART " 43 X: " TO KEEP HIS OWN SECRETS HE TALKS OF OTHERS" 48 vii CONTENTS CHAPTEl XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. "BE SILENT, TREE; DON'T LISTEN TO THE NOISE OF HATCHETS " 50 " WE ARE WANDERING IN THE BELLY OF A BULLOCK " .... 54 " THE DOG THAT ALWAYS LOOKS DOWN STEALS FAT FROM THE POTS " . 57 " THE FIG-TREE DOES NOT CALL THE BIRDS " ... . . . . 62 " NO NEED TO TEACH A MONKEY HOW TO CLIMB " ..... 63 "THE DRIFT is NEVER GOOD ON ALL SIDES" . . ... 70 " WHO FOLLOWS A WOMAN FALLS DOWN A KRANZ " .... 7! " THE LITTLE FOUNTAIN AHEAD MAKES ONE VERY THIRSTY "... 74 " THE CHILDREN OF ONE MOTHER SHARE THE HEAD OF A LOCUST BETWEEN THEM " . . . -77 " THE POINT OF THE NEEDLE MUST PASS FIRST" . ... . . 82 " HE WHO IS PIERCED WITH A THORN MUST LIMP OFF TO HIM WHO HAS A KNIFE" . . . , . 89 " STOLEN HORNS DO NOT STICK ON THE HEAP " .... 94 " HUNGER BRINGS THE CROCODILE OUT OF THE WATER " . . . 98 CONTENTS IX CHAPTER PAGE XXIV. " WHEN THE JACKAL CROSSES A MEADOW HE CURLS HIS TAIL DOWN " 101 XXV. " CAUTION COMES AFTER RECEIVING A WOUND " 105 XXVI. " THE MOUTH IS THE SISTER OF THE ROAD" 109 XXVII. "THE FINEST TREES ARE FAR AWAY IN THE KLOOFS " . 123 XXVIII. " THE COW LICKS THE ONE THAT LICKS HER " 126 XXIX. "THE CHILD THAT DOES NOT CRY DIES ON ITS MOTHER'S BACK " 130 XXX. "ONE CANNOT EAT BOTH KIDNEYS OF THE ELEPHANT AT ONE TIME " 136 XXXI. "THE FIG-TREE DOES NOT GET RIPE BY SEEING A BABOON " . I4O XXXII. " THE HASTY ONE EATS A HARE ; THE STEADY ONE EATS A CALF " . J 47 XXXIII. " THE TIGER-CAT IS BECOMING ON HIS NATURAL GROUND " 152 XXXIV. " HE WHO ALREADY KNOWS A MAT- TER WILL CONFUSE THE LIAR " . 158 XXXV. " WITH THE MOUTH ONE CAN CROSS THE FULLEST RIVER " . 162 XXXVI. "THE CALF OF THE DOCTOR DIES FULL OF THE SMELL OF MEDI- CINE" 166 CONTENTS CHAPTER XXXVII. XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. XLII. XLIII. XLIV. XLV. "THE WALLS HAVE COME INTO COLLISION " 171 " SCOFFING AND DESTRUCTION GO HAND-IN-HAND" . . . 174 " DUIKER, COME OUT OF THE BEANS, YOU WILL BE TRAPPED" . . 176 "THE WATER MAY LOOK SHALLOW, BUT ONE MAY BE DROWNED " . l8o " YOU HAVE HELD A BUFFALO BY THE HORN FOR ME " . . . 189 "THE MOUTH WHICH ATE DIRT SHALL EAT FAT, AND THE MOUTH THAT ATE FAT SHALL EAT DIRT " 192 " HE IS NOT PITIED WHO BRINGS THE EVIL UPON HIMSELF " . IQS " THE LITTLE DUIKER OF POINTED HAIR ..." 199 " THE LYNX SAYS, ' I AM FLEET OF FOOT,' BUT THE PLAINS SAY, ' WE ARE WIDE ' " 2O2 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA CHAPTER I "TWO ARMADILLOS DO NOT LIFE IN ONE HOLE " AT Koloani's head kraal there was some little commotion, for Jamba, son of Bama the War- rior, had come from Kundu's with disquieting news. Now Kundu was the hereditary head chief of all the Pabedi, but, because of the great num- ber of his people, the White Strangers, who now ruled the land, had, with cunning, induced Kolo- ani, his half-brother, to rebel and to take arms against him, and then, for the Peace of the Land, the White Men had come between them and said that the tribe must be divided : Koloani and all those who had followed him, with their families, should live in one district with the Moali for their river; Kundu with his people should remain at Nilisetsi which was, and had 4 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA always been, the King's Kraal and possess that district; the Rugged Hills should be between them for a border on each side. And so the tribe was divided. " The bitter berry may have a shining outside." But Kundu and his head men and councillors were angered at tLis doing. Nevertheless they found it wise to dissemble, for the face of the White Men was with Koloani to protect him. And, in a little while, the men and maidens of the tribe went back and forth from one part to the other. Now a time had come when the White Stran- gers in the land, having grown rich, became dull in council because of their fatness, and, from much talking and slandering, were now moving in camps against each other, and had fought many battles. And on a day this side would win, and on another day that side. But now it appeared that those White Men who came from over the Water, and who were in numbers as the locusts which darken the Sun, would be the victors. When this was under- AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 5 stood the councillors of Kundu met together, and the Chief was with them. And Mokani, the First Councillor, stood forth and said, " Hearken, O Chief! Son of Manduku and Father of Thou- sands ! and ye, Men of Council, hear my words. " Make the pot while the clay is good." " The White Men fight together, and they who are beaten and sore pressed are the friends of Koloani, but our enemies. Now, therefore, the time for which we have waited has come. We have trod on our hearts for many moons. The Snake has been in our midst, but because of the rocks which protected him we could do noth- ing. Now the Storm has shattered the rocks, and before fresh cover can be found the Snake must be destroyed. Koloani and his House must be cut off; but the people with him, are they not thy people, O Kundu? And if the goats stray because of a bad leader it is not necessary to kill the whole flock. Now, therefore, my words are these: Give command, Kundu of the Lion breed, to thy general, Bokalobi, that he take an hundred men of his best to-night, and that, at 6 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA the falling of darkness, they set forth swiftly and in silence against Koloani. Before the turn of the night they will be upon him, and he and his whole house, man, woman, and child, should be destroyed. Then, as the day breaks, let it be proclaimed from every point of Tabandini that the people are to be at Peace and not to fear, since your will is not evil towards them, but good." When Mokani had finished speaking in this wise, the Chief turned to the other councillors and they spoke amongst themselves and with Mokani. And their hearts were with him in this matter, and Kundu sent for his general, Bokalobi. CHAPTER II "WHAT THE DAWN WILL BRING IS NOT KNOWN" " In the darkness, the cow which lows gets milked." Now it had happened that Jamba was return- ing from a visit to the house of Mafefu, whose kraal was at a distance, and being tired had stopped to rest near Nilisetsi, Kundu's kraal. And while he lay in the grass close to the river two young women came with their pots for water, speaking loudly, as is their way, and Jamba heard from one that the father of her house had been at the Place of Council since noon, and that Kundu, the Chief, had sent her brother to call Bokalobi, the General, and that now she was to prepare an early meal for her brother, who had told her that there was man's work to do which concerned not woman to know. At these words Jamba gave great heed to hear more, but the girls, drawing their water, turned back quickly to the kraal. 7 8 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA Now Jamba, although scarce yet a man, was wise; so he gathered up his blanket, and, taking the shortest paths, he hastened and tarried not until he came to Moali, to his kraal, when he related to his father, Bama the Warrior what he had heard. And he said, " My Father, I fear Kundu is of mind to come against us." Then Bama took his son Jamba to the Place of Coun- cil ; and when he had repeated these things which he had heard, the old men spoke together upon them. And Manok, long of tooth and wise, said, " Go now, Jamba. Thou hast done well to bring us this word so speedily." "As one goes so one returns." When the young man had gone out Manok said, " Hear, Koloani of the Blood of Kings, and ye, my brothers, hear my words. The mes- sage which Jamba has brought is as the cry of the bird, the Quaraquara, which is a warning to the deer that the hunter approaches; and though the bird may have become disturbed from slight cause, it is yet well for the game to take the alarm. How stand we now? Our runners AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA g bring word that these White Men upon whom we have counted for assistance can with diffi- culty keep themselves together, and are being driven like cattle before those who fight against them. They can be of no use to us now, and Kundu will know this as well as we. The sore upon his head has not healed with time; rather does the running of it continually irritate him more. And now, surely, that we have lost our Right Arm, he will seek to be avenged upon us. What think you, Bama, my brother, Chief of Warriors! what may we expect? " "A good chief lights the fire for his people." And Bama, Victor of many Fights, said, " My words, O Koloani and brothers, are few; hear them! Bokalobi is a wise man and of much learning in war. He will know our strength even as we know theirs. Putting weight upon the word we have heard it would seem that now, even this night, Kundu has sent summons to his villages to Malopani, to N'quobi, aye, even to Sandabo, Son of Daasha, who can bring a thou- sand spears. Three days must pass ere they can 10 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA be gathered together against us. Two days will it take thee, Koloani, Chief of thy Line, to bring thy spears together at this place. But Kundu will think to surprise us and gain a day, perhaps two. If my words seem right, then, at the rising of the Sun let thy messengers go forth and call in thy people from Sankili, the dry spring, even to Vamoling, bordering the land of Kamalubi, Chief of Rasalamoom; that we may be not as foolish game, which, having heard the Quaraquara, is yet taken by surprise. Should it be that we have not read the word aright, and the mind of Kundu is not against us at this time, even then, Koloani, of a Long Arm! the clashing of spears is a good sound and pleasant in the warrior's ear. A Great Day of dancing will be of comfort and cheer to thy people. These are my words." Then, after these sayings had been considered by the Council, arose Koloani, the Chief. Now, Koloani was not a man who delighted in war. Rather was he a dreamer, and loved those who sang songs. Nevertheless, in war was the Chief of great bravery. And Koloani said, " I have heard, my Fathers! and every word has been of AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 11 weight. But even as I have listened my eyes have seen a dark and swift rising of the Waters, as of the furious wave which comes from the sharp and crashing Thunderstorm. True, the wave passes in a moment ; but it has swept the stream, and he who follows in his boat need have no fear. What, my Fathers, if Kundu wait not for Malopani, nor for N'quobi, nor for others at a distance, but that he bring Nilisetsi against Moali, his village against mine? for there are none who dwell between us. Consider this thing also ; even this night might they set forth against us, and, unprepared, we could not stand before them." Now these were wise words of Koloani the Chief, but fighting in this way had not taken place in those parts before. So the weight of the Council was against alarming the people that night. It being late already, the Council dis- persed, having decided to act as Bama the War- rior had said ; to be astir at break of day to attend to these things. CHAPTER III "THE BUCK HAS JUMPED OUT OF THE POT" " The sun never sets without fresh news." AT this time, the falling of darkness, Bokalobi, the General, gave order, and he and his hundred men and ten, chosen of the mightiest and best, gave greeting to the Chief, Kundu, and turning their faces towards Moali held their spears aloft and shook them. Then Bokalobi sprang forward with a great leap, and his men followed, and were at once out of sight; but not a sound was heard. And Kundu returned to his house with a smile upon his face, for he expected great things. And his heart yearned to be avenged upon Koloani. Across the river and over the sand; through the thorn bush and into the corn lands went Bokalobi and his men. And here, only, did they walk because of the thick dry leaves which cov- ered the ground after the plucking of the corn. Then on again, springing forward, landing ever 19 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 13 lightly on the toes; and so from dusk to mid- night. Then Bokalobi raised his spear and stood, and each man, as he saw, raised his spear and stood, that those behind might also see and stand. Then they gathered about Bokalobi to hear his word. And Bokalobi called the Ten Men together whom he had appointed as leaders and heard them re- peat the orders which he had given them. To each Leader with ten warriors was it given to deal with a certain Sabolo, that is, the huts of one family in a Korral: to slay every man and boy, and to deal with the women and girls ac- cording as they behaved ; also, to cut down every Man of the Enemy who came in their way. When they had finished with their Sabolo they should make their way again to Bokalobi, who would await them at the house of Koloani the Chief, with which he himself would deal. And now, again, they moved forward silently on the great entrance to the village Moali, and each Leader of Ten drew away with his men in the direction of his Sabolo. Presently there was barking of dogs in the 14 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA village, and then a shout, and another, and scream- ing of women. And the people, terrified, came rushing out of their huts, and none knew what had happened. But here and there, and at the Sabolo of the Chief, and where Bama the War- rior lived there rose the sound of fighting and the angry shouts of men; and this died away, and there was silence again. The people trem- bled and looked at each other, and asked what this thing meant. Then, as they stood yet amazed before their huts, the people saw Warriors pass, with springing step and shaking spears, before them and out of the village. But they knew not who they were in the darkness, for Bokalobi had ordered silence amongst his men. Then Bokalobi led his Warriors into the Taban- dini, the Rugged Hills, to await the coming of Kundu and all those with him. For he had sent off Koromati, swift of foot, with tidings to the Chief. "Do not follow a snake to its bed." Now the General called together the Leaders of Ten and asked, "What of Koloani?" And the Leaders were astonished and asked, " Was AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 15 he not at his house ? " Then Bokalobi was sore at heart and said, " I found him not at his Sabolo, and the women of his House whom I questioned knew only that he had been there, and they pointed to his bed which had been lain upon. And they spoke truth, for the first who said she knew not was struck down before the others, but they could say only this. And I thought, He will have visited Monokang or Bama, or some other, and will surely fall before one of my men. And we could not tarry for already the alarm had been given, and it was useless then to search for any man in the darkness, in his own place." And Bokalobi bowed his head and was much troubled. " When you speak of a rhinoceros look for a tree." Then he who had been leader against Bama the Warrior and his House, Pondabi, maker of spear-heads, an honourable man, stood forth and said, "O Bokalobi, Lion and Wolf! be yet of cheer and hear my words, for it may be that it is with He-who-troubled even as you thought, and that the purpose of our coming is accom- plished. Behold, in the Sabolo of Bama, Man 16 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA of Might, we counted to meet twelve men; for Bama had seven sons, and the men who dwelt with him to serve him were four. And it was known that the four unmarried sons slept in one hut and the three married sons each in his own hut, and the four men who were servants in one hut. Bama slept alone. So I divided my men accordingly against the five huts, and I myself went swiftly towards the sleeping-place of Bama. The door of his hut was open, and, examining closely, I found no one there, and so I hurried to the hut of the eldest son, Touga, giving the call of the guinea-fowl, that my men should know me. Porodak, who followed in my House, had chosen Touga for his spear and he pushed aside the door of Touga's hut and called him, saying he must speak with him. And Touga, true son of his father, had seized his sticks and spear and sprung forth, and had fallen to the spear of Porodak as I came up with them. But Bama was not there. And now three other of my men came towards us; and their step was light for their spears were red. And even while I asked them of Bama, lo! a shout, and from the dark- AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 17 ness of the wall two men sprang upon us. Two lions, verily, were they; two against five; and he, the taller of the two, was Bama the Warrior, but the other I could not see because of the rush, and that my eyes were for Bama only. And Bama had in his right hand his war club, and in his left hand his spear. The club fell upon the head of Porodak, he who followed in my House, and crushed it like a melon. The spear pierced the throat of him to whom I had been speak- ing and I heard Bama grunt deeply with the joy of it. Then the Warrior drew back his spear and raised his war club, of great weight, against me, and we both struck and parried together; he with his spear drove down mine so that it only pierced his thigh; while his club such was the strength of his arm bore down my guard and struck my shoulder, so that my arm refuses even yet to raise itself. The fight was to Bama, for though sorely hurt in the thigh he could yet stand and strike and guard against my one arm. But now, seeing his friend, whose spear had broken off in the ribs of Sekobo, son of Mokani, being 1 overcome by Talipi, of the bow legs, Bama hurled 18 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA his spear which took Talipi under his right arm and drove deeply in; but Talipi's club had in the same action crashed upon the face of his enemy. Now Bama, Lion of Heart! had lain himself open to me, and my spear entered his chest, and the point came out between his shoulders. The Mighty One turned his face to me and stood like a stricken elephant; then he sank to the earth. The other men, each kissing his bloody spear, had now come up, O Bokalobi, and we hurried to meet you, bringing with us our dead. And now, Bokalobi, the man whose face I saw not, was of the height and build of Koloani, and he was a Man of Valour. More I cannot say, for I know not ; but my heart, O General ! says, ' Be comforted, for our enemy is dead.' " And Bokalobi, the General, was fain to be- lieve that it was even as the heart of Pondabi, the Smith, had told him. CHAPTER IV "THE LION'S LAIR IS BURNED DOWN; RATS ARE IN THE OPEN; VULTURES ARE LOOK- ING OUT FOR MEAT" AND now the sound of great wailing and lamen- tation was in the air, and, as the day broke, Bokalobi and those who were with him saw from Tabandini, the Rugged Hills, that there was a great commotion at Moali, the place of Koloani. Men ran to and fro beating the breast, and ever a great sound of wailing arose as the people came together. And soon messengers were seen to leave the village and run swiftly in many direc- tions. But Bokalobi moved not from the hills. And now, just after the rising of the Sun, came Kun- du, with all the men who could be with him; for the Chief had not waited for the messenger sent by Bokalobi, but had met him on the way. And Mokani, the First Councillor, whose son, Sekobo, had been slain in the fight, was with 19 20 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA the Chief, and they all entered quickly into the hill and came to Bokalobi, the General. Boka- lobi told at once to the Chief and to Mokani what had been done ; and also the word about Koloani, at which hearing Kundu was ill-pleased, but hoped that it was even as Pondabi, the Smith, had said. And now Mokani stood forth, and Bokalobi with him, and moved towards Moali. And Boka- lobi blew upon his horn loudly three times. Then of a sudden the wailing ceased, and the eyes of the people in the village were turned towards the hills, and they saw Mokani advancing towards them with his hands held high in sign of peace, and Bokalobi coming on with him, behind. And these two came to a Rock which stood out not far from the village, and Mokani called out with a loud voice that the men of the village should come nearer and hear his words, which were words of peace and good cheer. In a little while many men came forth out of the village, and when they were below him, not far from the rock, Mokani the First Councillor, spoke and said: AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 21 " A sharp spear needs no polish." " Hear now, O Men of Moali, the word of Kundu, Son of Dukani, Son of Parolong, Son of Bonoa, the only true and rightful Chief of this land and of all the Peoples here. Well does Kundu, your Lord, know that your Hearts were never against him, but that you were led away by Koloani and his young and evil councillors. Kundu bears towards you no ill-will; his face is kind towards you. Koloani and those with him have received the death they deserved ; and those White Strangers who placed their feet upon our necks will soon be slaves to another nation. Now, therefore, the word of Kundu is this : His peo- ple must sharpen their spears for strangers, not against each other. Tabandini is to be no longer a Border between them. He promises pardon to all men; and he now, here in the Rugged Hills, awaits and expects that you will without delay send in your due submission to him. And, Broth- ers, hear me; Kundu, your Lord and Chief, has not come alone; his army is with him. If his brow was black towards you he could in a mo- 22 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA ment pile your village in a heap and burn it so that not a stick remained. Weigh now the word I have brought well and quickly, and I will re- turn with your answer to Kundu, Chief of all this land and people." "In the dark men catch hold of one another's clothes." Then the men of Moali went back to the vil- lage to consider the word which Mokani had given them ; but they were as sheep which had no leader, for there was no man of great standing left amongst them. As for Koloani, their Chief, his body had not been found amongst the dead ; and the women had spoken of the doing of Bokalobi, and that he had not found the Chief in his hut to kill him. But Koloani was not in the village. And now Mokani, the Councillor of Kundu, had told them he was slain with the others, so that there were many who thought it must be so, and that his body had been carried away by Bokalobi with his own dead. For they had found in the Sabolo of Bama the Warrior the signs of a great fight. AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 23 Yet many were for fighting and defending themselves until assistance came, for messengers had been sent to all the other villages to call the people together. But others were for accepting Kundu again as their Chief for the hearts of the people had never been black against him. And so, when Bokalobi again blew on his horn, and Mokani had made known that he would not wait longer for their answer, the people in the village, seeing that they would not stand together to resist Kundu, went out again to Mokani, the Councillor, and Bokalobi, the General, and threw down their arms before them. And ten of the first men who were left amongst them went up with Mokani and with Bokalobi to cast them- selves down before the Chief, Kundu, and declare the submission of the chief village, Moali. When Kundu saw this thing his heart was glad, and he spoke to the ten men and told them to rise; then he gave orders that all those who were with him should follow him down to the village and camp outside around the place where the spears had been cast down. But Bokalobi and his chosen men were to go 24 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA with the Chief to the Great Ring in the centre of the village where Council would be held. And Kundu told the ten men to go before him and to hold their hands high so that those in the village should know that it was Peace. CHAPTER V "ONE LINK ONLY SOUNDS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER" Now it had happened with Koloani, Chief of Moali, in this wise: When the speaking was finished and the Council at an end, Koloani had gone straight to his own house, and had lain down upon his bed. And the Chief considered again with himself all that which had been spoken at the Council. And behold! again before him a vision appeared of a sudden and violent rising of waters which rushed towards him, so that he started up from his bed. And Koloani was rest- less and ill at ease, and paced in his house back and forth. And he sent one to call Jamba, son of Bama the Warrior, and Jamba came quickly to the Chief. Then Koloani said, " Speak, Son of the Fighting Blood, and say didst thou observe nought else of stir or prepartion at the village of Nilisetsi, which thou hadst perchance forgot- ten?" 26 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA " Wisdom is not in the eye but in the head." And Jamba said, " O Chief ! Nought else did I see or hear save that only which I have spoken to the Council. This only, Great One, that the girls dallied not at the drawing of water as is their way, but rather hastened as if one had said to them ' lose no time. ' ' Now at this word, even at this small saying of the young man, Koloani, the Chief, began again to pace in the hut quickly back and forth. Then Koloani said, " Return now, Jamba, to thy bed and sleep, and let nought disturb thee." But Jamba said, " May I not sleep across the entrance to thy house, my Father? For in my hut I feel restless and confined, and the air is heavy to me as the brooding before a storm." And this saying, again, of the young man fell heavily upon the ears of the Chief. And Koloani said, " Nay, Jamba, but tarry here while I go to Bama, thy father, for I would speak with the Warrior and return again." The Chief went out, and Jamba laid himself upon the floor of the house to rest him. When Koloani the Chief came to the Sabolo AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 27 of Bama it was deep into the night, and the vil- lage slept. Koloani went to the door of Bama's hut and touched it, and immediately one sprang up inside and grasped his spears and called, say- ing, " Who is there ? " And the Chief said, " It is I, thou ever-wakeful one Koloani and I must speak with thee again, even if thou sayest that ants are in my brain, for I cannot rest." And Bama the Warrior came out into the court before his hut and said, " Nay, my Lord ! for art thou not of the Blood of Chiefs and a Leader of Men? See" and Bama, Hero of many Fights, pointed with his spear before him and around " thy people sleep in Peace, for they know that Koloani is as an Eagle watching from a height, and is not one to be deceived." And Bama had his spear and his club with him. And the Chief said, " May it be so, Bama ! And even as the eagle, when the hunters are about, is restless on his rock, looking ever to this side and that, and seeing nothing is yet the more alarmed, for that he knows not from which side, nor how soon, the attack will come, so it is with 28 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA me this night. Jamba, thy son, is in my house, for I sent for him, and have spoken with him again on the word which he brought us this day. And I bade him wait in my hut until I had seen thee and returned; for the youth, also, is ill at ease in that he rested this day at Nilisetsi, the Place of Kundu, and the Evil Spirit of that place disturbs him so that he cannot sleep. Now Bama, Man of Might and Wisdom, hear me. A rest- less bed is for a sick man only ! Late though the hour, it is in my mind to visit my uncle, Chuaani, and to talk with him upon these things which concern us. The night will soon turn, and be- fore the break of day, going quickly, as is my humour, we will be at his village Tlapakun. It is my purpose to take the youth, thy son, with me ; it will be a delight to him, and for me, com- pany. Do thou and Manok in the morning even as the Council decided, and I will return again at noon. Now remain thou in peace, for I go." And Bama the Warrior said, " I have heard, Koloani, Father of the People. Chuaani, the Hairy One, will be pleased at thy coming and will put greater will into these things we must do. AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 29 And the boy, Jamba, is sprightly and of good courage, and may be of use to attend thee on the way. Let me go with thee to without the village, and I will return, and to-morrow it will be done even as we have said." CHAPTER VI "HE WILL NOT EAT OUT OF HIS CHILDREN'S DISHES" KOLOANI, the Chief, returned to his house with Bama the Warrior, and they found there Jamba and with him Gutambi the Hunter, who was not a man of Moali, but a visitor who slept at the Sabolo of the Chief. And Gutambi, the Hunter, and Bama the Warrior were as brothers, and they loved each other. Now Jamba felt happy and proud when he heard what was in the mind of the Chief to do. And they set forth imme- diately. And Gutambi the Hunter, also, taking his spear, accompanied them without the village. When Bama and Gutambi had gone with the Chief a little way upon the road they bade him farewell and returned to the village; and Bama asked Gutambi to go with him and sleep in his hut. Now Bokalobi, the General of Kundu, with his chosen men had passed in before them on the main entrance to the village, and Bama and Gutambi 80 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 31 knew it not; yet before they came to his Sabolo, Bama the Warrior felt a strangeness, and grasped his club and spear, and spoke to Gutambi. And then there was a movement about the place, and the dogs barked. Then a woman shrieked. And Bama ran, and when he came to his Sabolo he moved along in the greater dark- ness of the wall, and Gutambi followed closely upon him. And when Bama came to the hut of Touga, his firstborn, lo! there stood five be- fore the hut, and one, whose voice was strange, spake, saying, " Touga lies here; what of Bama? " And at these words Bama the Warrior, Man of Mighty Heart, sprang forward, and Gutambi the Hunter sprang forward with him, against the five. And it has been told what happened at that Bloody Fight. But Koloani knew none of these things. CHAPTER VII "WATCHER OF THE MOON, BEWARE OF THE DARKNESS" So Koloani, the Chief, and Jamba, son of Bama, went on their way quickly; and before the day broke they came into Tlapakun, the Place of the Black Rock, which was the village of Chuaani, the uncle of Koloani. And the Chief and Jamba entered by the main gate into the Sabolo of Chuaani, the Hairy One. And Jamba called one forth and said, " Make known to Chuaani, the Head of the Village, that Koloani the Chief is here to visit him." And it was done so. In a moment Chuaani, the Hairy One, came out of his hut and greeted the Chief Koloani. He was greatly surprised at this sudden visit, and that the Chief had come all unattended save only by Jamba, the son of Bama, yet a very young man. And Chuaani entreated the Chief that he would enter into his hut and rest. Chuaani, though of an age with Koloani, yet was the brother of Koloani 's mother; and he was 32 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 33 a hairy man, and therefore called Chuaani, which in that language means baboon, and he had, in the eye of the stranger, such an appearance. And Koloani said, " I am tired and will rest, even as thou sayest, my good uncle. There is that of importance on which I must talk with thee, but now the night air presses on my eyelids and I will sleep for a little while. At the rising of the sun call, I pray thee, thy Old Men and Councillors together at the Place of Meeting, and when all is ready let not thought for my rest hinder thee, but call me straightway. And thou, Jamba, good youth, art tired also, for thou hast travelled far this day and night. Take now thy blanket until I send for thee again." Then Kolo- ani, the Chief, entered into the hut of Chuaani, his uncle, and slept. " The doctor does not doctor himself." So at the rising of the sun Chuaani, the Hairy One, made round of the sabolos of his Old Men and Councillors and spoke with each, saying, " The Chief is here and has that to say which is of great concern, and would hold council with 34 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA us now; come then, brother, to the Khothla (the Place of Council) when thou art ready." And Chuaani went quickly about. Now when those who had been called had all come, Chuaani went again to his hut and entered, and spoke to Koloani, and awoke him, and said, " Be not displeased, for it is as thou commandedst me, O Chief. And now the Old Men are come to the Khothla to hear thy word." And the Chief arose and said, " It is well, Man of Our House! and though my sinews yet are strung, sleep has cooled my brain. Have water brought, I pray thee, for the dews of night are still upon mine eyelids." And Chuaani brought water in a bowl with his own hands. And Kolo- ani came out into the courtyard before the hut, and when he had washed he raised himself up and looked upon the face of the Sun and drew a deep breath. Then he turned and looked to- wards his own village of Moali. And when he had stood for a moment thus he beckoned to Chuaani, the Hairy One, and they passed out to the Place of Council. Now the day was fair and beautiful, and peace AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 35 was in the song of the birds upon the trees and in the lowing of the cattle, and in the voice of the women and the children as they came forth from their huts. And the Chief thought upon the simple words of Jamba, son of Bama, which he had brought to them. And he thought : Surely a hare has rustled the grass, and we are prepar- ing for a lion. And the Chief considered with himself what he should say to the Council. But for Koloani, the Chief, this day was to be the day of his greatest grief, and his head would be bowed in the sorrow of a broken heart because of that which had happened; but the Chief knew not yet of this happening. CHAPTER VIII "IF YOU DESPISE THE DOCTOR, DESPISE THE SICKNESS ALSO" KOLOANI, when he had come to the Place of Coun- cil with Chuaani, and had received their greeting and greeted them again, spake unto the Old Men and Councillors, and told them of those things which had been spoken at his own village at Moali. And Koloani said, " The Spirits of our Fathers which have gone before us are troubled, and their warnings are in our ears. Even as it is with the wild game which, while yet the storm is afar and cannot be seen, is warned of its approach and takes heed for itself how it shall meet it. The coming together of the Warriors and the Young Men at Moali will be a sign to those who would come against us that we have read the feeling of their hearts towards us, and are not unmindful of these things." Now it happened that Chuaani and those with him were not amazed at these sayings of the AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 37 Chief Koloani, nor were they surprised. But they looked at each other, and there were noddings of the head. And Chuaani, the Hairy One, spoke to the Chief, and said, "Thy words, Koloani, Born in Wisdom, are as seed fallen on broken ground, for even yesterday were we met together to discuss this thing, and it came about in this wise : Ma- kalokolo, as thou knowest, Chief, has fame throughout the land as a man of deep learning and wisdom, to whom the Spirits of our Fathers speak as amongst themselves; so that when, in passing on a journey two days since, he ap- peared in our midst, we made haste to welcome him, and so entreated him that he stayed with us the night to sleep. Now, while in the eve- ning we sat together talking of many things, it chanced that Makalokolo looked towards Taban- dini, the Rugged Hills, and lo! the Horns of the Young Moon, whose sign is in trouble, ap- peared to clasp the point of the highest rock above Moali, thy House, O Chief! And when the Learned Man looked earnestly, we all looked and saw this Sign, but could not read it. Then Ma- 38 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA kalokolo brought forth his pouch, of the skin of the bush-buck, and opened it, and threw out upon the ground before him his Charms and Letters the chosen knuckles and bones of animals ; strange stones; teeth, shells, and rare pieces of wood, to which the power has been given, and of deep meaning to the learned. And Makalokolo said not a word, but looked long upon his Charms upon the way they had fallen at his first throw- ing out. Then took he two of the Charms from the others and placed them, as they had fallen, apart ; and the one was a large, flat knuckle-bone as of an animal of strength, and the other was a smooth-pointed stone of two colours. " And Makalokolo gathered up the other Charms and Letters, every one of them, into his two hands. His eyes were open, but he looked not upon us, neither saw he us, but That he saw was in his mind. And he spoke rapidly many words, and chanted ; but the meaning of his words we knew not, for many were in a strange tongue. And when he had finished he threw up his hands, and the charms and cunning bones fell before him again. AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA 39 " And now, as before, the Man of Wisdom looked long and closely upon the manner in which they had fallen and the placing of them. Then he took the two which he had put apart and stood them again in their places as they had fallen at the first throwing, that he might read the mes- sage which had been sent to him. " And now Makalokolo moved his hands over the Charms, and some he touched and some he put away as having no meaning. And he took two shells which were from the Great Salt Water, one in each hand, and held them tightly for a while before he put them back, and then he moved a piece of hard black wood, and under- neath it lay the tooth of a serpent. And when he had sat for awhile the face of Makalokolo grew dark and he was troubled, and he spoke, but his eyes moved not from the ground before him. And these are the words he said: ' ' Chuaani ! We have eaten from one bowl and drunk from one cup, and thy people have been kind to me, so that my heart is with thee and thy House, Now, therefore, hearken, and 40 AN ETHIOPIAN SAGA treat not ray words lightly. The heavens are full of signs to him whose eyes are open, and from the Moon learn we many things. And the Great Spirits of our Fathers watch over the Peo- ple, to guard them from the Pit and from the Serpent. But to few is it given to read the Signs aright. If a snake cross your path ye will turn back; and if a bee fly on before ye take it as happy omen for your journey. But such as these are as language which cometh to the babe un- sought ; by study and deep thought is little known to the people. And ye, Old Men and Wise in Council, what read ye in the Y