These toilet operations being completed, bundles were untied and a miscellaneous assortment of garments and gaudy coloured cloths were brought to light, and were donned with all seriousness.
The eight bandsmen were adorned in two old pairs of trousers, three waistcoats, one pair of boots--down at the heels and out at the toes, two jackets with patches of different colours on the sleeves, and two peaked hats that, like their other articles of attire, had seen better days in other climes. The intervals in their dress were filled with diverse pieces of gaily coloured cloth. Satu followed, invested in a bright red blanket round his loins, two waistcoats, old and ill-fitting, across his chest, a heavy brown coat on his back, and a large brass fireman’s helmet on his head. Behind him came his wives, the foremost of whom carried a red, black and green parasol over her husband’s head. The sun blazed, and poor Satu perspired in the costume that had cost him a heavy tusk of ivory.
The other head men were arrayed in soldiers’ coats of diverse ranks and regiments--in their selection they had not been captivated by the stripes on the arms, but by the colours. Hence you saw a colonel of one regiment hob-nobbing with the corporal of another. Bakula wore a cloth of gorgeous colours round his waist, a brewer’s cap on his head, one stocking (he owned a pair, but had lent the other to his particular friend) on one leg, a boot on the other, and a beaming self-satisfied smile on his face.
Fortunately we had not far to go. Up a slight hill, across a plateau, and there stood the town we had come to honour with our presence.
Chapter X
Our Reception and Entertainment
The welcome of Tonzeka and his people--A case judged--We find the white man in Tonzeka’s town--Tonzeka defends the white man--He complains of the effect of the white man’s preaching--A drunken bout.
The whole town turned out to welcome us with shouts, gun-firing, clapping of hands, trillings, and the slapping of their open mouths with the palms of their hands. The folk lined the paths leading to their chief’s house, and saluted and chaffed us good-humouredly as we threaded our way to it preceded by our admired band. Satu’s brass helmet excited much envy and many remarks. It was the first time such a head-gear had been seen in those parts, and naturally called for various comments on its size, brightness and value.
Chief Tonzeka received us heartily, and having exchanged greetings with us, showed Satu and his followers the quarters they were to occupy during their visit, and deputed a large number of women to fetch firewood and water, and also cook for us. The women had to supply all the vegetable foods for our meals, and Tonzeka sent them the necessary meat and fish. Tonzeka proved the genuineness of his hospitality by killing a large pig, thus supplying Satu and his people with the meat that all Congos love so well.
We incidentally heard there was a white man--one of those Mundele wa N zambi (white men of God) visiting the town, but we did not see him until the next evening.
While the women were busy preparing the evening meal, Satu and his folk foregathered in the chief’s courtyard (lumbu) to exchange news, to talk about trade, about politics, and about the different cases that had been brought to them for settlement as chiefs and head men.