Harper's Round Table, November 3, 1896

by Various

Not far from the idol was a big veranda, under which my men put down their loads and, leaving me alone, went toward the crowd. Soon after, three bunches of plantains, a goat, two fowls, and six eggs were put at my feet.

The King sent word that he could not see me that day. The next day he came and asked me why I came to his country. I replied: "King, I heard your village was filled with great hunters. I want to go into the forest with them, for I wish to kill all the wild beasts I can and stuff them. I want to kill all the birds I can and stuff them. Then I want to catch all the butterflies and insects I can and keep them." The King looked at me with wonder, and spoke to Mienjai, saying, "Does the spirit mean what he says?" After a little while he said, "Yes, I will give to the Moguizi the best hunters of our tribe."

"HE WILL BE ONE OF YOUR HUNTERS," SAID THE KING.

The following morning he called his people and said, "We must provide hunters for the Moguizi who has come to live among us." Then he shouted: "Men who are brave and who are not afraid of wild beasts, come forward. Where is Okili?" shouted the King. Okili then came forward. A fine fellow Okili, I thought, as I surveyed him from head to foot. He was tall and slender. His limbs were strong, he had a keen eye, his body was tattooed all over. Then the King shouted, "Where is Mbango?" Then Mbango came forward. He was quite the opposite of Okili, short of stature and stout. I looked at him and saw that his eyes were full of daring, and that he appeared to be gifted with great determination. He was just the right kind of man I would choose to go with me. "He will be one of your hunters," shouted the King. Then Mbango went by the side of Okili.

"Macondai, where are you?" cried the King. Macondai came forward. His body was covered with scars. He was a great warrior who had seen many fights and had many times been wounded. After I took a look at him he went to where Mbango and Okili were. Then I heard the King call for Niamkala. Niamkala was a gray-headed warrior who had seen many fights. He was a great elephant-hunter, and wore a belt upon which were hung the tails of twenty-three elephants which he had killed. He was a grim-looking warrior and hunter who did not seem to be afraid of anything. After I had eyed him he went to where the other hunters who had preceded him stood. "I do not see Fasiko," said the King. "Where is he?" "Here he comes," shouted the people. Fasiko came forward. He was covered with fetiches and charms. He was a man celebrated for leopard-hunting. He wore a necklace of the teeth of the leopards he had killed. I liked his looks. I said to myself this fellow is cool-headed. After I looked at him he joined the other hunters. "Ogoola!" shouted the King. "Why do you keep in the background? Come forward; be not bashful." Ogoola looked every inch a hunter. He wore a belt adorned with trophies of the wild animals he had killed. "I do not see Obindji," said the King, inquiringly, to his people. They answered: "He will arrive this evening. He was not at the plantation when you sent word." Then suddenly they all shouted, "Here he comes!" Obindji was a favorite slave of the King, a mighty hunter, and he looked like it. His front teeth were filed sharp to a point. Obindji was somewhat lame, for he had been badly wounded years before by a leopard he had shot, but which had strength enough to spring upon him, fortunately falling dead as its claws fastened in his legs.

"Where is Makooga?" shouted the King. "Here I am," responded a small man in the crowd. After pushing his way through, he stood before the King. He was very short, not over five feet three inches in height. "Moguizi," said the King to me, "never mind his size; his heart knows no fear; he is a good shot; he is daring, and one of the best hunters we have. No one can come nearer game than he does. He is like a snake." Makooga went where the other hunters were.

"A fine set of fellows they are," I said to myself as I looked at them all. Then the King said, "Okili must always be by the side of the Moguizi."

Then I said to them: "Men with brave hearts, be not afraid of me. I am your friend. We are going to live in the forest and hunt wild beasts together. You are men; I can see it by your faces. Come to my house. I have something for you—beads for your wives and brass rods for you, and powder also." They all shouted! "You are a good Moguizi. We will go with you wherever you say, and we will kill big game. You will see if we are men or not."

Then the King said: "These men will follow you wherever you go, Moguizi. They know every tree, every path of the forest. They know where the game is to be found." Then, addressing them, he said: "Go make your guns ready; see that their flints are right so that they do not miss fire, and cook food enough for three or four days. Be here in two days." They followed me to my house, and I gave to each what I promised. At night I called the King, gave him a brand-new flint-gun, two brass kettles, ten brass rods, and several bunches of beads. He was delighted, and took hold of my foot as a token of submission, which meant that he would obey me.