It was held on Ochori territory, for the forbidden strip was by this time so thickly planted with young trees that there was no place for a man to sit.
"Lord," said Bosambo, "if you will return me the land which you have stolen, so that I may pass unhindered from one part of my territory to the other, I will give you many islands on the river."
"That is a foolish palaver," said B'limisaka; "for you have no islands to give."
"Now I tell you, B'limisaka," said Bosambo, "my young men are crying out against you, for, as you know, you have planted your trees on the high ground, and my people, taking to their canoes, must climb down to the water's edge a long way, so that it wearies their legs, soon, I fear, I shall not hold them, for they are very fierce and full of arrogance."
"Lord," said B'limisaka, significantly, "my young men are also fierce."
The palaver was dispersing, and the last of the Lombobo councillors were disappearing in the forest, when the Diggers of the Well came through the forbidden territory to the place where Bosambo sat.
"We are they of whom you have heard, O my Lord," said the old man, who led them, "also we carry a book for you."
He unwound the cloth about his thin middle, and with many fumblings produced a paper which Bosambo read.
"From M'ilitani, by Ogibo's village in the Akasava.
"To Bosambo—may God preserve him!