WANDERING THROUGH THE FOREST AND LEARNING THE COUNTRY—I REACH KING
MOMBO’S VILLAGE—RECEIVED BY THE KING—HIS FEAR OF WITCHCRAFT—VISITS
MY DWELLING AND RECEIVES PRESENTS FROM ME.
After wandering in that part of the great forest north of the equator
and seeing many of its wild and fierce inhabitants—and hunting and
killing many strange animals and birds—I came back to the coast and
sailed along its shore southward until I came to several large rivers,
the Nazareth, the Mexias and the Fernan-Vaz,—the Nazareth forty miles,
and the Fernan-Vaz seventy miles south of the equator. These rivers pour
forth a great quantity of fresh water far out to sea. They flow through
the great forest, and their shores are inhabited by many tribes. I lived
among them a long while, and was greatly beloved by the people and their
chiefs, many of whom became my good friends. Wherever I went I was sure
of a hearty welcome. I felt perfectly safe among them. My word was law.
I was known all over the land as the Oguizi, or “Spirit.”
Often I used to go all alone in my canoe from one place to another.
Strange indeed was the life I led. I loved to roam alone and be by
myself, and often I slept in the forest without any companion. It
happened that one day I came to a village where I landed and asked the
people who had seen my canoe arrive and had come to meet me if the place
was the residence of King Mombo—for I knew that I had come to that part
of the forest where he ruled. They answered that it was and told me to
follow them. We walked together through the strange-looking street that
made up the village. The houses were small, built of the bark of trees,
each having one door but no windows.
Back of the houses and between them and the forest were numerous
plantain trees with here and there a banana tree. The leaves of these
were very large; some were over six feet in length and eighteen or
twenty inches wide. The plantain is much like a banana, only much
larger, and is cooked by the natives when green and used by them as
bread is by us at home. I was led to a large building where the people
met to discuss subjects of importance. It was simply a roof supported by
a number of pillars. A stool made of a single piece of a tree was
brought in for me and another one for King Mombo.
After I was seated, some man went to tell the king that a stranger had
come to see him. King Mombo and his people had heard of me, for my
reputation had gone far and wide, as I have said, and whoever met me
knew from the description they had heard of me that I was the good
Oguizi, with long, straight black hair hanging over his shoulders, who
did harm to nobody and was the friend of so many people.
Soon after, I heard the sound of the “kendo”—an emblem only worn by
chiefs—a rude bell of iron in one piece with a long handle of iron also
and sounding like a cow-bell. The sound grew louder and louder, until
King Mombo stood before me. He was tall and slender; on his body were
several scars from wounds he had received in wars, but he had a kind
face, and was gray-headed. Round his neck was a necklace of leopards’
teeth and round his waist a belt of leopard skin on which hung a number
of amulets or charms called by the people “mondahs.” These were to
protect him from harm.
Some of his slaves and several of his wives set before me a number of
bunches of plantains, several baskets of sweet potatoes, a goat, several
chickens, and nine eggs. These presents showed that I was welcomed.
After a short pause King Mombo said: “Oguizi, I am very glad you have
come to see me. Remain with me a long time. There is plenty of game in
the forest, and among my people and slaves are great hunters.”
Looking at his people, he said to them: “Take good care of our Oguizi.”
Then he shouted aloud: “See how far my name and my fame are known. The
Oguizi has come to see me,” and as he said these words he raised his
head proudly. The people shouted: “Great indeed is Mombo our king. Great
is the Oguizi.” The tomtoms made a great noise in honor of my arrival.
Then King Mombo called three of his wives and six of his slaves, and
said to me: “These women are yours; they will cook for you, get water
for you, and keep your house clean. These slaves are yours, and will do
what you order them to do. I and my people will all do whatever you wish
us to do.”
Then the king’s men went to fetch the things I had in my canoe. Among
them were presents for the king.
A house was given to me not far from the one where King Mombo slept. It
was divided into two rooms, and there were two beds in one of the rooms.
These beds were simply flat surfaces made of the bark of trees, upon
which were several pretty mats made by the king’s wives. In the evening
I went to see King Mombo, and said to him: “To-morrow morning I will
make your heart glad, for I have some presents for you.”
[Illustration: “_When he saw these presents his face beamed with joy_”]
“Not in the morning,” he replied, “for I do not want my people to see
what you are going to give me, for there is much witchcraft in our land,
and many are killed by it. Often relatives bewitch those from whom they
expect to inherit, and cause their death. Oh,” he added, with fierceness
in his eyes, “when we find wizards and witches we put them to death.”
After a pause, he resumed: “Kokolo, Kokolo,” (which meant “Please”) “do
not tell any one that you gave me presents.” Then he took hold of my
right foot to add force to his request. Slaves do that to their masters
when imploring for their lives, or asking not to be sold. I promised him
not to tell, and he gave a great sigh of relief at my words. And as he
left me he whispered in my ear, “Wait until it is dark, very dark,
to-morrow before you send for me to give me my presents.”
“It will be very dark when I send for you, King Mombo,” I replied, and
at my words he shook my hand gratefully.
In the middle of the night when everybody was asleep I saw in the dark
two people entering my hut, and heard in a whisper: “It is I, King
Mombo, and my faithful slave Rabolo. I come to get my presents.”
I lighted a torch. It was Mombo. He had not had the patience to wait
longer. His face and body were painted in different colors, and he was
covered with charms to protect him against witchcraft. I set at his feet
two brass kettles, a gun, a big bunch of white beads, three files, two
discs of steel with flint for making fire, a red woollen cap, and two
looking-glasses. When he saw these presents his face beamed with joy,
and after thanking me profusely he and his slave Rabolo left, carrying
with them the precious gifts. The king implored me again to tell no one
of the things I had given him.