He called all his father’s family, and asked, “Why is it that you have tried to kill me today with this Spear! For this, I will this day kill all of you.” He summoned all the people to come together. When they had come, he had his mother bring out that tumor bundle, and said, “This is the thing of long ago with which that woman (pointing to the one who in childhood had given him the evil disease) tried to injure me. And, for the same reason, she threw the Spear today; thus trying a second time to kill me. None of you have rebuked her. So, I shall kill you all as her associates.”

Though they were of his father’s family, he attacked and killed them all. The whole town died that day, excepting himself, his wife, his mother, and his sister. These four, not liking to remain at that evil place, went off and took passage on the ship.

So, he journeyed, and came to the country of the white people at Manga-Manĕne; and never returned to Africa. But, he kept up a trade in Ivory with his native country. But for him, that trade would not have been begun. For, besides his having brought the first elephant to the sea coast, he told the people of Manga-Manĕne beyond the Great Sea, about the tribes of people, and about the elephants that were so abundant, in Africa. And that is all.

TALE 24

Origin of the Ivory Trade (2nd Version)

Persons

King Njambu, and His Four Wives Ngwe-Konde (Mother-of-Queens) Ngwĕ-Legĕ (Mother-of-Poverty) Ivenga (Watching); Ngwe-Sape (Mother of a Lock) Njambu’s Son, Savulaka (Gluttony) The Spirit of an Uncle; Mekuku (Spirits of the Dead) A Magic Spear; A Great Elephant (A Metamorphosed Man) Birds, and Other Beasts