Soon after bunches of plantain, two chickens, some eggs, and a dead monkey were laid at my feet, which showed that I was welcomed, and then a hut was given to me that I could occupy by myself.
CHAPTER XXII
ALARM OF MY HUNTERS AT MY ABSENCE—ROGALA SETS OUT TO SEARCH FOR ME—HIS SUPERSTITIOUS TERRORS—CONSULTS HIS OGANA, OR IDOL—FINDS MY TRACES AT LAST AND FOLLOWS ME TO THE VILLAGE
Meantime, as I did not return to our camp, my hunters became greatly alarmed. They set off in different directions in the forest in search of me. Rogala took Andekko with him, thinking that the dog might scent me, and also Ndova.
He slept in the forest that night, and at daylight he started again and kept thinking all sorts of things as he walked along. He wondered if I had left him for good, and gone back to the moon or vanished into the air. If so, what would Rotembo say when he returned without me? He dreaded his chief's wrath. Then he thought that if I was displeased with him, all would be over with him, for I would send all sorts of evil upon him. Such thoughts crowded upon his mind, one after another.
But soon he said to himself: "How can the Oguizi be angry with me? Have we not eaten together? Did he not shake hands with me before he left the camp? Did he not say, 'Take good care of Ndova and Andekko'?" These thoughts reassured him, and gave him new hopes and courage.
After this he seated himself on the ground, took his ogana out of his bag, and putting it in front of him, he spoke to her thus: "Ogana, you know how much I love you; tell me where is the Oguizi. Tell me if he is angry with me. Please, please, show me the way in the forest where I can find him. Do, ogana, do, ogana." Suddenly a smile came over his face. Ogana had said to him that he would find me. Then putting back his precious ogana in his bag, he continued to seek for me with the dog, Andekko, and Ndova, who stood on his shoulder and now and then wandered in the forest.
Fears succeeded hopes in spite of his ogana. Had the Oguizi left him, and seen all he wanted to see in the big forest, and gone back to the "Land of the Oguizis"? His superstitious mind began to brood again. He had the same belief in regard to me that all the people had, and he was seized with a great fear. Had I changed shape, and was I wandering in the forest as an elephant, antelope, leopard, or as a tiny insect? Perhaps I had taken the shape of a bird and was following him.