NATIVE BRIDGE.
A part of Satu’s land ran by the side of ground belonging to a neighbouring chief named Dimbula; and according to custom Satu sent to Dimbula asking what day would be convenient for burning that part of the bush where their properties joined each other. After much palavering the day was fixed; but when Satu and his hunters reached the spot they found none of Dimbula’s people there.
It was against the law of custom for either party to fire the grass before the arrival of the other side; consequently Satu and his men sat waiting all through the long morning, and about noon they decided to return home--vexed with having wasted a whole morning. They had not gone very far when they heard shouts, and looking round saw the bush blazing. On hurrying back to the place they had so recently left, they found Dimbula and his men there.
Satu said: “We arrived here early this morning according to agreement, and we waited until midday, but as you and your people did not come, we did not burn the grass, and were just returning home intending to make a new appointment with you. Why have you broken the custom by firing the grass in our absence?”
“You think that because you are Ngudi a nkama Katendi that you can do and say what you like,” replied Dimbula, with ill-suppressed anger and bad logic.
“No,” retorted Satu, “that is not so, or I would have lighted the bush early this morning, and not have sat here half the day waiting for you.”
“Let me tell you,” shouted Dimbula, “that my family had the title when your family was too poor to assume it, and was glad to sell the use of it.”
“Yes, that is true,” said Satu, “but that is no reason why you should burn the grass by yourself when you know my land runs by the side of yours.”
“You think that because you drove a white man out of your town and retained my runaway slave, that you can lord it over us,” said Dimbula, who by now was choking with unreasonable rage. In fact, we heard afterwards that Dimbula had planned the whole affair as an insult to Satu, of whom he was jealous, both as a rich man and as a noble of rank; and he also felt hurt because Satu had kept the “goat” that ran to him for protection.