I PROPOSE TO GO INTO THE FOREST TO HUNT—ROTEMBO PROMISES ME THREE GIFTS—ROGALA, THE FAMOUS HUNTER, THE FIRST OF THEM—DESCRIPTION OF ROGALA—ANDEKKO, THE DOG, THE SECOND GIFT—NDOVA, THE MONKEY, THE THIRD—HOW NDOVA WAS CAPTURED AND REARED—I GIVE ROTEMBO SOME OF MY HAIR.
One day after I had been in the village some time, being in the house of Rotembo, I said to him: "I have been with you quite a while, and I wish now to go far into the forest. I wish you to give me a man whom you trust, a great hunter, who is not afraid of danger and who can face with his gun the most ferocious beasts of the country. He and I will live together in the forest."
Rotembo looked at me with great astonishment, for he wondered why I wished to go and live in the forest by myself with only one man.
He remained silent for a minute or two, thinking deeply; then he said: "Oguizi, I will give you three gifts to go with you in the forest."
"What are they?" I asked.
"I will not tell you now," he replied, "but you will know when they are before you."
Then we separated, I wondering what were to be the three gifts Rotembo was to give me.
Four days passed by, and on the fifth, while I was seated by the side of Rotembo, a strange-looking man came before him, and bending very low took hold of his foot and said: "To do your bidding your faithful slave has come."
I looked at the man with great curiosity, and learned that his name was Rogala and that he was one of the most famous hunters in the country.