Up this river we journeyed many days, until at length, near its source, we came to a village of conical huts, the denizens of which viewed us with suspicion, and threatened us with their long, razor-edged spears.
When, however, I had assured the chief, who sat before his little hut, that I was not one of the Wara Sura, the soldiers of the dreaded slave-raider, Kabba Rega, who periodically visited their country, devastated their land and carried off their cattle, and we both became convinced that friendship was possible, the mystery of our presence was explained by Tiamo, that we were only travelling to discover a great rock which was reported to be in their country. Had he ever heard of such a rock?
He answered eagerly: “Meanest thou the Great Rock where dwelleth the bird-god Zu, ‘the wise one’?”
“I know not thy gods, for I am a son of Al-Islâm, and follower of the Prophet,” I replied, through the dwarf. “Tell me of thy bird-god.”
“Zu dwelleth upon the summit of a high rock,” he answered. “It was he who stole the tablets of destiny and the secrets of the sun ‘god of light,’ and brought them down to earth, but he himself was banished to the summit of the Rock of the Great Sin, where he dwelleth alone, and may not descend among us.”
“And the rock. Hast thou never seen it?”
“I have heard of it, but mine eyes have never gazed upon it. Our sacred spots are always hidden from us.”
“From whom hast thou heard mention of it?” I inquired of this chieftain of the Niam-niam.
“Some men of the Avisibba, who were taken prisoners by me in a fight long ago, made mention that one of their headmen had seen it. They knew not its direction, but thought it was beyond the Forest of Perpetual Night.”
“And the Avisibba. Who are they? Where is their country?” I demanded, eagerly.