“To be sure, Father, I am going to tell the truth.”
“Are you a great chief?”
“Yes, Father.”
“And you formerly used to go to war very often?”
“Now listen, Father! I used to have a great many more men than I have now. They were vigorous, and understood war. I went through all the villages with them as far as Lindi.”
“Then you have killed many people?”
“To be sure.”
“You have carried away and eaten quite a number of women and children? Of course,” said I, immediately, in order to prevent an explosion of wrath on his part, “you do not do so any more?”
“No,” said he, very deliberately, “I do not do so at all now; but formerly we ate a number of men. We used to kill as many as we wanted at the time and take away the rest to fatten. The flesh of the women and children is the best.”
“How does it taste?” I asked of the young boy who was standing near the chief [his father].