MARABOUTS, STORKS, AND PELICANS.
[CHAP. XXV.]
CHAPTER XXV.
VISIT OF KING QUENGUEZA—I PROMISE TO VISIT HIM—THE KINDNESS OF THE COMMI—THE DRY SEASON ON THE FERNAND-VAZ—PLENTY OF BIRDS AND FISHES—THE MARABOUTS—THE EAGLES—A BAD WOUND.
One fine day I was quietly seated in my bamboo house, and reading over, for the fiftieth time, the letters of the dear friends who had not forgotten me, and were so kind as to remember me in my wandering life in Africa. My attention was suddenly drawn away by the singing of numerous voices coming down the river. Soon afterwards there stood before me, accompanied by Ranpano, a tall venerable-looking and slender negro of noble but savage bearing; he was evidently, I thought, a chief; there was something commanding about his countenance. He was not very dark. The people who came with him showed him great respect. This tall negro was Quengueza, the great king of the Rembo, and the sovereign of the whole up-river country of the Rembo and Ovenga, the head waters of the Fernand-Vaz.
He came down in considerable state in three canoes, with three of his favourite wives, and about one hundred and thirty men.
My little black boy, Macondai, brought him a chair; and after he had seated himself I saluted him, according to the usual custom, by saying "Mbolo." After a few seconds he said "Ai." Then he paused a little while, and said "Mbolo," to which I replied "Ai." This is the usual mode of salutation in the Commi country, the host beginning first.
He looked at me and seemed very much astonished. He said he expected to see a tall and stout man. He had heard of me as a great hunter. He was now convinced, he said, that I must have a brave heart to hunt as I did.