“Ah, yes, I know I am good,” replied Katalambula, “especially when I let thee have thy own way. There, go now. I am sleepy and tired.”
Kalulu left the old man, and, proceeding to the store-room, extracted the four doti he was permitted to take; one of blue cotton, one of white, one coloured barsati, and one fine sohari, which he rolled into a bundle, and covered with a goatskin, and conveyed to his hut, where he found Simba, Moto, Abdullah, and Selim.
When he had seated himself, he asked Selim:
“What book is that thou wert talking of to me yesterday?”
“It is the Küran,” replied Selim, “written by a holy man, sent by the Sky-spirit to tell men how to conduct themselves on earth, so they may enter the good place called Paradise.”
“What is the Sky-spirit like?”
“No man, since that great man, has seen him; he is a spirit, and cannot be seen,” replied Selim.
“Why do the pale-faces obey a thing that cannot be seen?”
“Because the holy man, Mohammed, who wrote his words down, has given us all we want to know. The holy man saw him, and wrote his words faithfully down.”
“Is Mommed alive now?” asked Kalulu.