Meanwhile the good Msimu, though greatly embarrassed by being set up as a godhead, put out her little hand at Stasch’s request and greeted the negroes. The black warriors, their eyes shining with pleasure, followed every movement of this little hand, believing that it possessed a powerful charm, which would protect them against many misfortunes. Some, whilst striking their cheeks and hips, said: “Oh, mother! Now everything will go well with us—with us and with our cows!” M’Rua, who had already become quite familiar, approached the elephant, prostrated himself, striking the ground with his forehead, before the good Msimu, and whilst kneeling said to Stasch:
“Would the Great Man, who leads the white godhead on the elephant, like to eat a piece of M’Rua and would he agree to let M’Rua eat a piece of him, so that we shall be brothers, between whom there is no deceit or treason?”
Kali immediately interpreted these words, but as he saw by Stasch’s face that the latter had no inclination to taste a “piece” of M’Rua, he turned to the negro and said:
“Oh, M’Rua! Do you really think that the white man, who is so powerful that the elephant fears him, who has the thunder within his grasp, who kills lions, before whom wobo wags his tail, who commands fiery snakes to rise up into the sky, and who shatters rocks—do you think that he can pledge blood brotherhood with any king he may happen to meet? But rather think whether the Great Spirit will not punish you for being so presumptuous and whether it will not be honor enough for you to eat a piece of Kali, the son of Fumba, the ruler of the Wa-hima, and Kali, son of Fumba, to eat a piece of you.”
“Are you his slave?” asked M’Rua.
“The Great Man neither stole nor bought Kali, but only saved his life; that is why Kali leads the good Msimu and the man into the land of the Wa-hima, so that the Wa-hima and Fumba can show them respect and bring them many presents.”
“Let it be as you say, and M’Rua shall eat a piece of Kali, and Kali a piece of M’Rua!”
“So let it be!” repeated the warriors.
“Where is the sorcerer?” asked the king.
“Where is the sorcerer? Where is the sorcerer? Where is Kamba?” at once cried many voices.