After he had stopped several weeks he said to her, "My wife, I must now
return home. I will stop one year, and then I will return to you."
So she said, "May your journey be prosperous, my husband, and may you
return in safety."
So he set sail for Kilwa, and she set sail after him. In the midst of
the ocean she passed him again, and when he asked who it was, she
replied, "It is I, Kitangatanga of the sea."
When she arrived in Kilwa she moored her vessel and went up to her
house. She entered by her underground doorway and sat down. After a
while her husband arrived and climbed in by his window. She said,
"Welcome, my husband."
Then she cooked food for him, and when he had eaten she asked him, "What
is the news of there where you have been?"
He replied, "I made a good voyage to Zanzibar, and there I met a woman
just like you. I married her for one hundred reals, and stayed with her
for two weeks. Then I went on to Maskat, and there I met a woman exactly
like you and like that woman I married in Zanzibar. I married her, too,
for a hundred reals, and stopped with her six months.
"Then I returned to Zanzibar and stayed with my wife there a few weeks,
then set out for home, and here I am. Now what is the news here of this
place whilst I have been away?"
That wife replied, "The news is this, my husband. I was angered because
you put me in a hut without a door, so I made this underground door
which you see there.
"Then, when you set sail, I set sail after you, and I passed you in the
sea; and when you asked who I was, I replied, 'Kitangatanga of the sea!'
"I came first to Zanzibar, and it was I whom you married there for a
hundred reals.
"When you left for Maskat, I set sail behind you, and arrived there
first. It was I also whom you married in Maskat for one hundred reals.
That is my news, my husband."
When her husband heard that, he said, "Indeed, this is true. Now I will
build you a very fine hut with a door in it, so that you may go out when
you please."
So he built her a splendid hut with a door and put her into it, and
there they lived happily.
[Illustration: AFRICAN "PIANO" WITH GOURD RESONATOR]
[Illustration: AFRICAN LIZARD-SKIN DRUM]
[Illustration: PLAYING THE "PIANO"]
[Illustration: BEATING THE TOM-TOM]
[Illustration: SMALL BOY SINGING]
[Illustration: "BANJO" N.E. CENTRAL AFRICA]