Then Regundo recounted in a loud voice, so that everybody could hear, how I arrived at the plantation, how I showed him King Mombo’s stick and all that had happened during the time I was with them. The King congratulated Oshoria, Ogoola, Ngola, and Quabi on their success in hunting elephants. Turning to Regundo, he said: “You, my old and faithful slave, I love you and I trust you. I am glad you came with the Oguizi. In your days you were a great elephant hunter also. You and I have grown old together.”
Oshoria next arose and told of our hunting, and how one day I disappeared in the forest and they did not see me for three days, during which they all believed I had changed my form. In the evening there was a great war dance, for which the men put on their war paint. Several times they formed a ring round me, dancing and bending low their bodies and singing: “You are a great Oguizi! You are a good Oguizi! You are the friend of King Mombo. King Mombo is a great king above all other kings.”
Two days after my reception found me again under the big roof seated by the side of King Mombo with a great crowd of people round us.
I rose from my seat and said: “King Mombo, soon I am going to leave your country. I return to you ‘Omemba.’ It has been of great service to me. I thank you for it. King, you have been good and kind to me. I love you. You have given me food when I was hungry, water when I was thirsty, a house to rest and sleep in. All your people have been kind and good to me.”
Then I called Regundo, Oshoria, Ngola, Ogoola, and Quabi, and bade them stand by my side. I bade the other slaves that had come with me come near me.
A deep silence followed, and in a loud voice, so that all the people could hear, I said: “King Mombo, the Oguizi wants you to make him a solemn promise, and to call on the spirits of your forefathers whom you venerate and worship, to be witnesses of your promise. Promise me, King Mombo, that no matter what happens, you will never sell Regundo, Oshoria, Ogoola, Ngola, Quabi, or their wives, or any of the other slaves living on the plantations where I have been. Promise me that you will let them die where they have their home. These men and women were born free as you were and were sold into slavery, by their parents, relations, or by the people of their tribe for one reason or another.”
Then I stopped. The tomtoms began to beat furiously, the drummers singing war-songs at the same time. Then came a great silence, in the midst of which King Mombo rose, and spoke in a loud voice as follows: “Oguizi, I promise that I will never sell Regundo, Oshoria, Ogoola, Ngola, or Quabi, or their wives,—that I will never sell the slaves that are your friends and are living to-day on the plantations where you have been.”
After these words he paused, then he called upon the spirits of his ancestors to witness the promise he had just made to me. He called first on the spirit of Olenda, then on that of Ratenoo, then upon the spirit of Ronpano twice, of Sholomba three times, of Adooma four times. These had been great men and had accomplished valiant deeds in their day, which had been repeated to the people generation after generation. The spirits upon which he called several times had died long ago, and Adooma, upon whom he had called four times, was the father of the clan and had died long, long ago. In the great forest each tribe is divided into a number of clans, each clan having its chief.
After King Mombo had sat down a great shout arose, and Regundo, and my hunters, Oshoria, Ogoola, Ngola, and Quabi fell at my feet and clasped them, and looked me in the face without saying a word. But their eyes spoke and told me of their gratitude. Then they prostrated themselves before King Mombo, and said to him: “Master, we love you, and we are your faithful slaves,” and took hold of his feet.
I thanked King Mombo for his promise, and when I embraced him a great shout rose among his people. Then the tomtoms beat violently and we all separated.