Congo life and folklore

by John H. Weeks

The King received us very graciously and inquired about Satu and the town, about trade and the number of people. Old Plaited-Beard answered cautiously, for it was not wise to give too much information to his majesty. He then told the King that Satu wished to have conferred on him his family title of Katendi, which his uncle had bought some years previously of his majesty. Then without waiting for an answer, our leader beckoned Bakula to come forward with the present. With considerable nervousness my owner stepped into the space before the King, fell on his knees and paid homage as he had seen the others do, and, removing the covering, he presented, on his knees, the cloth piece by piece to the august personage, who counted the pieces, felt the texture and commented with satisfaction on the weight and quality of each piece.

The powder, pig and goats were next presented, and he was asked with proper expressions of humility to accept the “poor gift.” This he deigned to do, and promised that on a certain day he would send his Kapitau to install Satu officially in his title of Katendi.

We then retired backward out of the house, kneeling and paying homage at the right places, and at last found ourselves winding through the maze of fences into the town, well pleased with our reception and impressed with the greatness and dignity of the King.

Soon after our return to our quarters we received a present of some food from the King, and heard that one head man had been instructed to look after our welfare during the visit.

Just before sunset there was a great stir in the town, and Bakula, running in the direction of the noise, was in time to see the King leave his lumbu. He was about six feet four inches in height, very stout, being sixty-eight inches[^[42]] round the waist, his face badly pitted with the small-pox, and he was ungainly and awkward in his movements by reason of his obesity. He was dressed in a loin-cloth of many yards of purple velvet, a scarlet waistcoat with bright buttons adorned his capacious stomach, and a general’s coat covered his back. On his head was a cockade, and from a belt hung a large and heavy sword, which he removed and handed to one of his men to carry.

In the square before his lumbu were six of his head men, with a hammock gay with bright-coloured cloths. It was rarely now that the King left his lumbu, hence there was a large crowd to witness the unusual sight. It was with difficulty that he mounted his hammock, and it needed the combined strength of the six doms, or head men, to support him in it.

Fortunately they had not far to carry him--about 150 yards, and they landed him safely but perspiring at the door of the mission-house, to which Bakula and the crowd followed him.

The white man, who had invited the King to dine with him that evening, received his majesty at the door, and after shaking hands with him and inquiring after his health, led him to a substantial sofa that stood in the corner of the central room.

The crowd stood around the door, for the head men allowed only a few in attendance on the King to enter. To my owner’s eyes it was a large dining-room, and from the door one commanded a view of the whole of it.

There in the centre stood a large table with a white cloth spread over it. On each side a place was laid with knives and forks for one person. From the roof a lamp was suspended that threw a light over the whole room and revealed the various things on the table, such as some bread, biscuits, jugs of water, and a bottle of lime-juice.