the land of footprints-第31部分

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view　and　stepped　smilingly　across　the　space　that　separated　us。　And　about　eight　or　ten　seconds　after　his　emergence…again　just　the　right　dramatic　pause…the　bushes　parted　again　to　give　entrance　to　four　of　the　quaintest　little　dolls　of　wives。　These　advanced　all　abreast；　parted；　and　took　up　positions　two　either　side　the　smiling　chief。　This　youth　was　evidently　in　the　height　of　fashion；　his　hair　braided　in　a　tight　queue　bound　with　skin；　his　ears　dangling　with　ornaments；　heavy　necklaces　around　his　neck；　and　armlets　etc。；　ad　lib。　His　robe　was　of　fine　monkey　skin　embroidered　with　rosettes　of　beads；　and　his　spear　was　very　long；　bright　and　keen。　He　was　tall　and　finely　built　carried　himself　with　a　free；　lithe　swing。　As　the　quintette　came　to　halt；　the　villagers　fell　silent　and　our　shauri　began。

We　drew　up　and　dismounted。　We　all　expectorated　as　gentlemen。

〃These；〃　said　he　proudly；　〃are　my　beebees。〃

We　replied　that　they　seemed　like　excellent　beebees　and　politely　inquired　the　price　of　wives　thereabout；　and　also　the　market　for　totos。　He　gave　us　to　understand　that　such　superior　wives　as　these　brought　three　cows　and　twenty　sheep　apiece；　but　that　you　could　get　a　pretty　good　toto　for　half　a　rupee。

〃When　we　look　upon　our　women；〃　he　concluded　grandly；　〃we　find　them　good；　but　when　we　look　upon　the　white　women　they　are　as　nothing！〃　He　completely　obliterated　the　poor　little　beebees　with　a　magnificent　gesture。　They　looked　very　humble　and　abashed。　I　was；　however；　a　bit　uncertain　as　to　whether　this　was　intended　as　a　genuine　tribute　to　Billy；　or　was　meant　to　console　us　for　having　only　one　to　his　four。

Now　observe　the　stagecraft　of　all　this：　entrance　of　diplomats；　preliminary　conversation　introducing　the　idea　of　the　greatness　of　N'Zahgi　（for　that　was　his　name）；　chorus　of　villagers；　and；　as　climax；　dramatic　entrance　of　the　hero　and　heroines。　It　was　pretty　well　done。

Again　we　stopped　about　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　in　an　opening　on　the　rounded　top　of　a　hill。　While　waiting　for　the　safari　to　come　up；　Billy　wandered　away　fifty　or　sixty　yards　to　sit　under　a　big　tree。　She　did　not　stay　long。　Immediately　she　was　settled；　a　dozen　women　and　young　girls　surrounded　her。　They　were　almost　uproariously　good…natured；　but　Billy　was　probably　the　first　white　woman　they　had　ever　seen；　and　they　intended　to　make　the　most　of　her。　Every　item　of　her　clothes　and　equipment　they　examined　minutely；　handled　and　discussed。　When　she　told　them　with　great　dignity　to　go　away；　they　laughed　consumedly；　fairly　tumbling　into　each　other's　arms　with　excess　of　joy。　Billy　tried　to　gather　her　effects　for　a　masterly　retreat；　but　found　the　press　of　numbers　too　great。　At　last　she　had　to　signal　for　help。　One　of　us　wandered　over　with　a　kiboko　with　which　lightly　he　flicked　the　legs　of　such　damsels　as　he　could　reach。　They　scattered　like　quail；　laughing　hilariously。　Billy　was　escorted　back　to　safety。

Shortly　after　the　Chief　and　his　Prime　Minister　came　in。　He　was　a　little　old　gray…haired　gentleman；　as　spry　as　a　cricket；　quite　nervous；　and　very　chatty。　We　indicated　our　wants　to　him；　and　he　retired　after　enunciating　many　words。　The　safari　came　in；　made　camp。　We　had　tea　and　a　bath。　The　darkness　fell；　and　still　no　Chief；　no　milk；　no　firewood；　no　promises　fulfilled。　There　were　plenty　of　natives　around　camp；　but　when　we　suggested　that　they　get　out　and　rustle　on　our　behalf；　they　merely　laughed　good…naturedly。　We　seriously　contemplated　turning　the　whole　lot　out　of　camp。

Finally　we　gave　it　up；　and　sat　down　to　our　dinner。　It　was　now　quite　dark。　The　askaris　had　built　a　little　campfire　out　in　front。

Then；　far　in　the　distance　of　the　jungle's　depths；　we　heard　a　faint　measured　chanting　as　of　many　people　coming　nearer。　From　another　direction　this　was　repeated。　The　two　processions　approached　each　other；　their　paths　converged；　the　double　chanting　became　a　chorus　that　grew　moment　by　moment。　We　heard　beneath　the　wild　weird　minors　the　rhythmic　stamping　of　feet；　and　the　tapping　of　sticks。　The　procession　debouched　from　the　jungle's　edge　into　the　circle　of　the　firelight。　Our　old　chief　led；　accompanied　by　a　bodyguard　in　all　the　panoply　of　war：　ostrich　feather　circlets　enclosing　the　head　and　face；　shields　of　bright　heraldry；　long　glittering　spears。　These　were　followed　by　a　dozen　of　the　quaintest　solemn　dolls　of　beebees　dressed　in　all　the　white　cowry　shells；　beads　and　brass　the　royal　treasury　afforded；　very　earnest；　very　much　on　inspection；　every　little　head　uplifted；　singing　away　just　as　hard　as　ever　they　could。　Each　carried　a　gourd　of　milk；　a　bunch　of　bananas；　some　sugarcane；　yams　or　the　like。　Straight　to　the　fire　marched　the　pageant。　Then　the　warriors　dividing　right　and　left；　drew　up　facing　each　other　in　two　lines；　struck　their　spears　upright　in　the　ground；　and　stood　at　attention。　The　quaint　brown　little　women　lined　up　to　close　the　end　of　this　hollow　square；　of　which　our　group　was；　roughly　speaking；　the　fourth　side。　Then　all　came　to　attention。　The　song　now　rose　to　a　wild　and　ecstatic　minor　chanting。　The　beebees；　still　singing；　one　by　one　cast　their　burdens　between　the　files　and　at　our　feet　in　the　middle　of　the　hollow　square。　Then　they　continued　their　chant；　singing　away　at　the　tops　of　their　little　lungs；　their　eyes　and　teeth　showing；　their　pretty　bodies　held　rigidly　upright。　The　warriors；　very　erect　and　military；　stared　straight　ahead。

And　the　chief？　Was　he　the　centre　of　the　show；　the　important　leading　man；　to　the　contemplation　of　whom　all　these　glories　led？　Not　at　all！　This　particular　chief　did　not　have　the　soul　of　a　leading　man；　but　rather　the　soul　of　a　stage　manager。　Quite　forgetful　of　himself　and　his　part　in　the　spectacle；　his　brow　furrowed　with　anxiety；　he　was　flittering　from　one　to　another　of　the　performers。　He　listened　carefully　to　each　singer　in　turn；　holding　his　hand　behind　his　ear　to　catch　the　individual　note；　striking　one　on　the　shoulder　in　admonition；　nodding　approval　at　another。　He　darted　unexpectedly　across　to　scrutinize　a　warrior；　in　the　chance　of　catching　a　flicker　of　the　eyelid　even。　Nary　a　flicker！　They　did　their　stage　manager　credit；　and　stood　like　magnificent　bronzes。　He　even　ran　across　to　peer　into　our　own　faces　to　see　how　we　liked　it。

With　a　sudden　crescendo　the　music　stopped。　Involuntarily　we　broke　into　handclapping。　The　old　boy　looked　a　bit　startled　at　this；　but　we　explained　to　him；　and　he　seemed　very　pleased。　We　then　accepted　formally　the　heap　of　presents；　by　touching　them…and　in　turn　passed　over　a　blanket；　a　box　of　matches；　and　two　needles；　together　with　beads　for　the　beebees。　Then　F。；　on　an　inspiration；　produced　his　flashlight。　This　made　a　tremendous　sensation。　The　women　tittered　and　giggled　and　blinked　as　its　beams　were　thrown　directly　into　their　eyes；　the　chief's　sons　grinned　and　guffawed；　the　chief　himself　laughed　like　a　pleased　schoolboy；　and　seemed　never　to　weary　of　the　sudden　shutting　on　and　off　of　the　switch。　But　the　trusty　Spartan　warriors；　standing　still　in　their　formation　behind　their　planted　spears；　were　not　to　be　shaken。　They　glared　straight　in　front　of　them；　even　when　we　held　the　light　within　a　few　inches　of　their　eyes；　and　not　a　muscle　quivered！

〃It　is　wonderful！　wonderful！〃　the　old　man　repeated。　〃Many　Government　men　have　come　here；　but　none　have　had　anything　like　that！　The　bwanas　must　be　very　great　sultans！〃

After　the　departure　of　our　friends；　we　went　rather　grandly　to　bed。　We　always　did　after　any　one　had　called　us　sultans。

But　our　prize　chief　was　an　individual　named　M'booley。*　Our　camp　here　also　was　on　a　fine　cleared　hilltop　between　two　streams。　After　we　had　traded　for　a　while　with　very　friendly　and　prosperous　people　M'booley　came　in。　He　was　young；　tall；　straight；　with　a　beautiful　smooth　lithe　form；　and　his　face　was　hawklike　and　cleverly　intelligent。　He　carried　himself　with　the　greatest　dignity　and　simplicity；　meeting　us　on　an　easy　plane　of　familiarity。　I　do　not　know　how　I　can　better　describe　his　manner　toward　us　than　to　compare　it　to　the　manner　the　member　of　an　exclusive　golf　club　would　use　to　one　who　is　a　stranger；　but　evidently　a　guest。　He　took　our　quality　for　granted；　and　supposed　we　must　do　the　same　by　him；　neither　acting　as　though　he　considered　us　〃great　white　men；〃　nor　yet　standing　aloof　and　too　respectful。　And　as　the　distinguishing　feature　of　all；　he　was　absolutely　without　personal　ornament。

*Pronounce　each　o　separately。


Pause　for　a　moment　to　consider　what　a　real　advance　in　esthetic　taste　that　one　little　fact　stands　for。　All　M'booley's　attendants　were　the　giddiest　and　gaudiest　savages　we　had　yet　seen；　with　more　colobus　fur；　sleighbells；　polished　metal；　ostrich　plumes；　and　red　paint　than　would　have　fitted　out　any　two　other　royal　courts　of　the　jungle。　The　women　too　were　wealthy　and　opulent　without　limit。　It　takes　considerable　perception　among　our　civilized　people　to　realize　that　severe　simplicity　amid　ultra　magnificence　makes　the　most　effective　distinguishing　of　an　individual。　If　you　do　not　believe　it；　drop　in　at　the　next　ball　to　which　you　are　invited。　M'booley　had　fathomed　this；　and　what　was　more　he　had　the　strength　of　mind　to　act　on　it。　Any　savage　loves　finery　for　its　own　sake。　His　hair　was　cut　short；　and　shaved　away　at　the　edges　to　leave　what　looked　like　an　ordinary　close…fitting　skull　cap。　He　wore　one　pair　of　plain　armlets　on　his　left　upper　arm　and　small　simple　ear…rings。　His　robe　was　black。　He　had　no　trace　of　either　oil　or　paint；　nor　did　he　even　carry　a　spear。

He　greeted　us　with　good…humoured　ease；　and　inquired　conversationally　if　we　wanted　anything。　We　suggested　wood　and　milk；　whereupon　still　smiling；　he　uttered　a　few　casual　words　in　his　own　language　to　no　one　in　particular。　There　was　no　earthly　doubt　that　he　was　chief。　Three　of　the　most　gorgeous　and　haughty　warriors　ran　out　of　camp。　Shortly　long　files　of　women　came　in　bringing　loads　of　firewood；　and　others　carrying　bananas；　yams；　sugarcane　and　a　sheep。　Truly　M'booley　did　things　on　a　princely　scale。　We　thanked　him。　He　accepted　the　thanks　with　a　casual　smile；　waved　his　hand　and　went　on　to　talk　of　something　else。　In　due　order　our　M'ganga　brought　up　one　of　our　best　trade　blankets；　to　which　we　added　a　half　dozen　boxes　of　matches　and　a　razor。

Now　into　camp　filed　a　small　procession：　four　women；　four　children；　and　two　young　men。　These　advanced　to　where　M'booley　was　standing　smoking　with　great　sat