No one else in the boat, and the figure astern not moving a muscle!
“How is it done?” said Harry to himself. “It is a mystery. Can these savages have invented electricity as a motor power?”
Nearer and nearer came the boat, but the mystery was as far from being explained as ever.
The individual who sat in the boat was a portly negro, very black, very comely and jolly-looking. He was dressed from the shoulders to the knees in a loose blue robe of cotton cloth. This appeared to be simply rolled round the loins and then carried over the shoulder. On his head he wore a skin hat with the hairy side out and a long tail hanging down behind it. Round his neck was a string of lions’ tusks, in his ears immense copper rings, in one hand a broad-bladed spear, and in the other a long shield of hide studded with copper nails.
The umbrella was a fixture behind him.
While Harry and his companions were still gazing at this singular being with a good deal of curiosity, not unmixed with apprehension, the prow of the boat touched land, and immediately the motor power was explained. This was, after all, only a big hulking negro who had been wading behind and pushing with his head. He had not come here unguarded, however. For dozens of armed canoes now made an appearance, and took up a position in two rows, one at each side of what was undoubtedly the royal barge.
The king stepped boldly on shore, and nodded and smiled to Harry in the most friendly way.
“Good morning,” said Harry, nodding and smiling in turn; “fine day, isn’t it?”
Of course the king could not reply, but leaning on his spear he walked three times round Harry and his companions, then three times round Harry alone. It was pretty evident he had never seen a white man before.
Then he touched Harry’s clothes, and felt all along them as one smoothes a dog. Then he said: