MORNING IN THE AFRICAN FOREST--BUFFALO--THE SUCCESSFUL STALKING--PLENTY
OF BEEF--LITTLE NIANI'S STORY--THE END OF NIONI'S STORY--SIMBA ADOPTS
NIANI AS HIS SON--THE TORMENTS OF A JUNGLE--JUNGLE AND PLAIN--THE
JOURNEY AND ITS FATIGUES--THE LION--THE LION DESPOILED OF HIS MANE--A
CORNFIELD--A CHANCE OF ESCAPE.
As the sky began to flush and brighten, and to be suffused with colour
as it heralded the uprising sun, our party of travellers, cosily asleep
in their camp, began to yawn and to stretch their limbs until they were
finally awake, and sat up.
There were no tents to pack, there were no loads to prepare for the
journey; there was nothing for them to do but to shake off the grass and
soft earth on which they had slept from their bodies, leave the camp,
and march. This they did.
Nothing is so delightful as an African forest at break of day, where
there is no high grass dripping with dew, no cane with its sword leaves
to slash you wet with a showering rain as you pass under, nothing but
the soft brown leaf-mould on the ground into which the feet sink as into
a thick Persian carpet, thus giving you ample opportunities to observe
the beauty of a forest at early morn, without inconvenience or anxiety
on the score of your health. The forest, with its countless trees, each
loaded with its wealth of leaves and twigs, seems in the first grey
opaque light before sunrise to have been planted, full-grown, and decked
with light green leaves during the chaos of night, as they stand in
their several positions row upon row in numbers untold, all wonderfully
silent and still, awaiting the issue of the morning. And while they
stand thus apparently labouring under excitement, though outwardly still
as death, in the grey light and opacity through which the trees were
first seen, there suddenly dart myriads of bright sheets of brilliant
whiteness, which soon alternate with some of the hue of pale
gold-and-yellow, and unconsciously the brilliant sheets of colour of
glory have become indistinguishable in the general light of day which
has at last come. Then, in harmony with the advent of the glorious day,
the trees seem to recover from their astonishment, and their leaves
begin to rustle and whisper to each other their gentle comments on the
great change which the sun has wrought; and from afar, borne by the
breath of the wind to the human ears bent on listening, comes the low
murmur of wakened life, the songs of birds, the fish-eagle's and
paroquet's discordant cries, the hum of busy termites at work, the
murmur of lady-birds, the whir of gadflies and tsetse, the startling
"crick" of crickets; and away, almost at your feet, rushes the
frightened landrail uttering a piercing cry, and above your head flies
the guinea-hens which, unknown to you, had roosted on the tree-bough
just above, with an assumed terror, which provokes your smile; and
presently the hyaena is heard uttering his last farewell howl as he hies
to his den to shun the honest sunlight, and the lion sends his last
farewell roar, filling the forest with its awful sound, and the young
fawns and horned antelope are seen browsing on the sweet fresh grass,
which is decked with many a minute head, and the elands and the kudu,
the sable buck and hartebeest, blue-buck and zebra, are beheld munching
and chewing in the glades with might and main, as if they had a task to
fulfil before the end of some set time, which we may take as a warning
that we have also our appointed work, and must be up and doing.
This beautiful transformation from the gloam of the morning to the full
burst of day was seen and enjoyed by the most poetical of our
travellers, as they marched as rapidly as their waning strength would
permit them after the tireless forms of Simba and Moto.
They had marched an hour, and the whole forest, which to them was a
world, was all aglow with insect life, when Simba suddenly halted, with
his finger pointing towards an open country bounded by hills in the far
distance, and said in a whisper, "Mbogo" (buffalo).
The excitement became general, and the question which first came to each
lip was, "Where are they?" but following the direction towards which
Simba's finger pointed, they were able to discern with difficulty three
or four black specks in a portion of the open country which apparently
was the same Ututa plain which had bounded the forest to the right all
the time. Simba, Moto, Selim, Abdullah, and Kalulu, at once and
instinctively struck for the open plain, followed by Niani, who, with
his single spear, looked as important as one could well be, and who
seemed to think that all the buffaloes would eventually fall beneath his
hand.
Arriving on the edge of the forest, Simba, in order to make sure of one
of them, separated his forces, each about forty yards from the other,
with instructions to crawl towards the animals and surround them on all
but the windward side; to make no noise, and to wait for a low whistle
to rise up and fire. After each of them had promised faithfully for the
commonweal to obey such injunctions, which were also impressed on their
minds emphatically by the hunter Moto, the laborious task of working
their way towards the animals began.
Fortunately the wind was from the westward, so they were not compelled
to make any detour to avoid tainting the air, and between the buffaloes
and themselves rose several low hummocks, ancient ant-hills deserted
long ago, and now covered with dense tall yellow grass. The plain was
also covered with the same tall grass, but at their base grew the young
herbage--signs of the coming spring and rainy season now fast
advancing--which probably was that upon which the buffaloes fed.
To our people it was a serious matter to fail, as their hungering
stomachs could not sustain their bodies much longer in their march,
without replenishment soon; besides, the excitement of the escape from
cruel bondage had vanished, so that it became a vital necessity to
obtain food. This strong, urgent necessity probably compelled their
caution, and taught each person the art of stalking much sooner than
they had any idea could be learnt before.
Steadily they advanced, crouching close beneath the grass-heads, hiding
behind the numberless hummocks which rose in their front at intervals,
behind the tall mysterious palms whose fan-like leaves kept up an
unceasing rustle, and waving as the breeze swayed them up and down, and
blew them with a startling noise against the tall trunks.
Nearer, step by step, they crawled with bated breath, and crowds of
anxious thoughts running through their heads, lest the slightest error
or alarm might be made by some awkward companion, every now and then
lifting their heads up to note the progress they made, or the position
of the massive and fierce brutes whom they intended to attack.
Kalulu, more experienced than any other, had found his task much lighter
than either Simba or Moto, least of all the Arab boys, his lithe, sinewy
form had penetrated through the grass with the ease of the young
antelope, from which he derived his name, and had found it no difficulty
whatever to stalk the buffaloes; so that, long before his companions had
gained their several positions, he had ventured as near a buffalo bull
as prudence would suggest, and one of his arrows was already resting on
the string which his practised hand would surely send home into the
animal's flanks on the first sound of the signal.
In a few minutes, Simba having kindly waited for his friends, Kalulu
heard the whistle, and as he stood up he took a second's survey of the
field. Moto was far to the right of Simba, Simba was next to Kalulu,
Abdullah was a few yards behind him, on his left, with his gun pointed
at the same animal he had chosen. Selim was the furthest on the left,
about thirty or forty yards from a young bull buffalo. This was taken
in at one glance, and probably Simba and Moto had taken the same
precaution. The next second Kalulu's bow twanged. Selim's rifle and
the muskets of Simba and Moto were heard together, and there was
confusion and momentary dismay among the animals, as they heard the
startling reports of the fire-arms. The lord of the little herd, in
whose side Kalulu's arrow was buried up to the feathers, had already
lowered his head, and was preparing for a charge, when Abdullah's gun
rang out sharp and loud, close behind, it seemed to Kalulu, who
instinctively bent his head, and the formidable bull reeled under the
stroke of the bullet, which was flattened in the centre of his head but
only for a moment; for, after uttering a frightful bellow, he lowered
his head again, and came down, tearing the earth, towards the active
young chief.
Pooh! the brute might as well have charged upon smoke, as upon the young
Mtuta; for a single bound took him to one side, clear out of danger, and
as the buffalo passed by, exposing his flanks, Kalulu drew his bow until
it was almost double, and sent a barbed arrow clean through his heart,
which rolled him over and over in the agonies of death. Thus Kalulu won
the first prize.
Simba and Moto had been engaged with the same animal, which two bullets
well aimed soon settled for ever. Selim, on the other hand, had broken
a leg, just at the shoulder, of the buffalo to which he was opposed, and
with his second barrel had sent a shot through the body, which so
sickened the young bull, that he could do no more than roar painfully,
and vomit blood, sure signs of his fast-approaching doom. Before he
could reload his gun, the buffalo staggered, fell on his knees, and
rolled over, still and dead.
Little Niani had in the meantime been skulking behind a tree, watching
with a critical eye the battle, and now as he saw it terminated he
advanced from his place of security, and gave a shout of triumph, and
made as much noise, as though he, single-handed, had laid the three
buffaloes low; but, for the good deed that he had so lately done, nobody
cared to dispute his assumption, and all laughed merrily as they saw him
dance on the body of Kalulu's bull. Not for long, however, for human
stomachs were calling for food, and spear-blade, and knife were
therefore set industriously to work to carve out the finest pieces of
beef. Simba and Moto each carved out a hind-leg of rosy, juicy beef, at
the sight of which the saliva ran out of their mouths like water, and
Niani, as he saw the rich chunks which Kalulu, with the aid of Abdullah,
extracted from his game, almost drowned himself with swallowing his
saliva.
When each was loaded down with beef, the party returned to the forest
again, straight towards the east, for its gloomiest recesses, where they
might remain in security, while they cooked and ate, should any enemies
have heard the reports of their guns.
In about an hour they reached a secure place, a similar clump of jungle
almost to that wherein they had slept so cosily the night before. A
fire was soon made with the aid of their muskets, by Simba and Moto,
while the boys, under the direction and example of Kalulu, employed
themselves in preparing slender rods, pointed, with which they pierced
small pieces of beef, to plant around the fire for a speedy broil. In
their great hurry to allay their gnawing hunger, too, they threw several
thin slices into the hottest part of the fire, which no sooner were
warmed than they were extracted again and eaten with a relish and
satisfaction which the poor stomachs alone could have properly described
had they the same power of speech as they had of digestion.
While they were thus eating, a glance at the fire showed a regular
palisade of slender sticks, on which numberless pieces of meat were
impaled, and Simba and Moto having thus satisfactorily arranged the
cooking of the rations, began to make other preparations for the same
purpose on a more extensive scale, while Abdullah and Niani were
detailed to procure wood, and keep up a regular scorching fire, as the
march was to be resumed after noon. The men selected four sticks with
prongs, which they planted at each corner and outside the
beefy-palisade, and laying two slender poles lengthwise, with their ends
resting in the forks of the upright sticks, and over these poles they
laid shorter sticks crosswise, and apart from each other, which
structure, when completed, had somewhat the appearance of a gridiron.
On this platform were laid long strings of meat, and the object of their
preparations was soon explained to Selim, who in this knowledge
perceived where he had been at fault, when he escaped from Ferodia on
the march to Katalambula's village.
It was really wonderful how much these heroes of ours managed to eat.
The palisade on which the kabobs were roasting, and hissing, and
spluttering, was rapidly disappearing before the voracious attacks of
the gourmands. Some hand was constantly stretched out to take and
uproot the defences round the fire, and fingers were incessantly
employed in extracting from the sticks the juicy and luscious pieces,
and one mouth or another was continually opened to receive, while the
jaws of all were perpetually grinding meat with their lips emitting a
chorus of "auch," "auch," "tlap," "tlap." Though there has been an
omission to mention that, over the body of each buffalo, before its
throat was cut, the blessing of God was invoked, it must not be taken
for granted that such pious sons of Islam as Selim and Abdullah were,
could have done such a deed without going through the grateful ceremony
which the Kuran has enjoined on all true believers. And in the feeling
of plenitude which was at last felt, they found their reward. My young
readers who have never experienced the pangs of hunger and thirst will
have perhaps some difficulty in comprehending the fierceness of appetite
and voracity which these children of nature exhibited.
About two o'clock in the afternoon, the meat was taken from the
platform, "done brown," and was bound into a light bale of provisions
for each person, with bark rope, and with a perfectly satisfied feeling,
the party sallied out, and continued the journey south.
At sunset they encamped near a pool of water, and after surrounding
themselves with a stout brush fence, they set to work upon some more
meat, with an enjoyment and gusto few can realise outside of those who
have gone through similar experiences. Jokes were freely made; Simba
uttered his dry, crisp remarks, which set them all laughing. Then, when
the supper was over, and Moto had taken out from some extraordinary
recess of his loin-cloth a leaf of tobacco, and some lime, and handing a
bit to Simba, who received it with joyful gratitude, and placed it in
his mouth, with a pleasure which lit his face up. Moto called out to
Niani for a story. Little Niani was taken aback by this, and blushed as
much as he could blush, for his face seemed to burn, and tingle, as he
felt the high honour conferred on him. He answered, he did not know how
to tell a story. But Moto having explained to him that he only wished
to know what had become of him after he left Katalambula's village,
Niani said:
"Oh, it is soon told. Tifum the Wicked, after we came to Katalambula's,
took me to his own hut, and made me wait on him, fetch water, and light
his pipe for him, and when Ferodia left Katalambula's that night, when
he was angry because Simba and Kalulu would not let him take Master
Selim with him, I was marched off by Tifum. On the road, Tifum beat me
several times, and once threatened to cut my head off, if I did not
hurry my steps. I was sorry, and I felt as if I did not care much what
he would do to me, since I was parted from Master Selim, who was always
so good to me. One of the Arab slaves was caught as he was trying to
run away, and Ferodia ordered him to be killed. He was thrown on the
ground by six men, and while one man drew his head back by the hair,
another with a knife that was not sharp, began to cut his head off. The
blood of that poor man spouting up in the faces of the cruel men, while
his body was shaking, and moving about as he tried to breathe, I shall
never forget; and if only for that savage work of Tifum, who stood by
laughing, I think Tifum the Wicked has been served right. Nothing else
happened on the road, except that every day some poor slave was badly
used, and beaten until he died. I think that more than twenty people
died on the road. We got at last to Ferodia's village, which is not
near so big as Katalambula's was, though he has plenty of cows, and
sheep, and goats. Tifum had four wives, all ugly and cruel, and when
Tifum told them to make use of me, those bad women treated me worse than
he had done; they pulled my hair, pinched my ears and face, slapped me
on the back, made me run after water, to tend their goats, and bring
them back at night. Indeed, they nearly killed me, while Tifum laughed
as if he enjoyed it. I then thought it better to be very good, and do
my work quick, which, when Tifum saw, he took me away from them, and
made me work for him only; but he was all the time saying he would cut
my throat some day, and eat me--and he used to open his mouth so wide!
I think I could have jumped down into it, if I tried hard. I heard him
say often, too, how sorry he was he did not have one of the white
slaves--meaning Master Selim and Master Abdullah--the Pagan dog! for he
thought he could have been much more thought of by his people if he had
one of them. Then we heard, one day, that Katalambula was dead, and
Kalulu was king, which made Ferodia fearfully angry, and say how he
would chop up into little bits everybody who helped him; and the next
day, after plenty of talk, he took a great number of people with him,
and came towards Katalambula's. Tifum took me with him, and made me
carry his spears, and bag of rice, and a gourdful of water. I was
thinking all the time I would tell Simba and Moto what Ferodia was going
to do, if I could only get in; but at the village of the tribe of
Meroeni, Tifum left me behind, by orders of Ferodia, and I knew I could
not help you. The night it was all to take place I tried again, but I
could not; and in the morning we all left for Katalambula's, only to
find the warriors of Ferodia masters of the village. You know the rest.
I saw you all slaves, and I came very near crying when I saw it; but I
stopped it, for fear of Tifum. But all the time I was thinking, and
thinking how I could help you all, but I was afraid. Then that night in
the forest, after Soltali was burnt, I heard Tifum swear that in the
morning he would cut Kalulu's head off, and, whether Ferodia liked it or
not, he would then cut off Master Selim's head. I became angry then.
Yes, you may laugh; but my heart was black, and once or twice I looked
at Tifum's knife hungrily, and I thought how I should like to bury it in
his black neck; but no; I waited until after Tifum had eaten his supper,
and I heard him groan in pain, and I thought he would never stop; but he
did at last, and went asleep. Then I got up, with Tifum's knife in my
hand, and came to you, Master Selim. And now you know all that Niani
knows."
"_Ngema toto, Toto nwema sana_," (Good child, very good child), cried
Moto; but Simba stretched out his long, strong arm, and laid hold of
Niani and lifted him up, and hugged the little mite--until he was almost
hidden by the great, strong arms--close to his mighty breast, and poured
into his ear such endearing terms that poor little Niani had never heard
before, that made his eyes water after a singular manner, which he could
not very well have explained but that he felt a great big lump in his
throat, which seemed as if it would choke him.
Selim, his son, dear young master, who was so very superior to him, and
all whom he had ever seen, his Master Selim, who had such a beautiful
mamma at Zanzibar--his Master Selim, whom he had seen dressed in gold
and silver raiment, in the beautifullest clothes of blue and red silk,
and whitest linen, Niani saw looking at him with eyes full of kindness,
and a smile on his face,--for which he would have gone through the
hottest fire,--with a look which went straight into him, and kindled
within him a feeling akin to idolatry, and heard the sweetest words
which were ever uttered in his hearing from him. "Come to me, come near
Selim, Niani;" and the little black waif, who hitherto had been
neglected and allowed to grow wild unnoticed by a single kind human eye,
was clasped by his young master and kissed!
"My own mamma shall thank thee, Niani," said Selim, resting his hand,
upon his head. "Thou dost remember her, dost thou not, Niani?"
"Ah, when shall I forget her, master, or you?" said Niani; while from
under the half-closed eyes and bowed head rolled the tears in streams
down his cheeks.
"Nay, Niani, thou shalt not say `you' to me more; say `thou,' because
thou art no longer my slave--thou shalt be more; thou shalt be my
friend. Selim has no slaves around this fire. Neither Simba nor Moto
are my slaves; they are my friends, and now thou art also one."
"Yes, but Master Selim, Simba and Moto are big, and I am little and bad,
and some day, perhaps, I shall do something wrong, and you will be no
longer my friend."
"And when that day comes," responded Selim, "I shall remember a little
boy who crept through a camp of wicked people in the dead of night,
while all others were afraid of Soltali's ghost, and came and delivered
his master Selim from the sharp knife of Tifum, and the memory of that
deed shall be sure to make me say, `Forgive Niani, for the sake of that
he did to thee. Forgive him for the life he gave back to thee.'"
"Niani will always try to be good, because he loves his Master Selim,"
the little fellow said.
"So be it," answered his master.
"And I," said Abdullah, "want to be Niani's friend; and he must say
`thou' to me, and when we reach Zanzibar, Niani will find how grateful
an Arab boy can be."
Simba said: "Niani must look upon me as his father from this evening,
because he has neither father nor mother of his own. Master Selim,
Abdullah, and Moto are his friends; and when Niani is big like me,
Master Selim will give him a wife and garden, and a home, and he will
grow up with plenty of little Nianis around him."
This set them all laughing, and the idea of little Niani having plenty
of other little Nianis, lasted as a good joke until it was time to
sleep.
The fire was allowed to die out; but through the gloom of night in the
dark forest, with the broad, shadowy boughs swaying softly over the
sleepers, the everlasting stars, the southern cross, glittering Orion,
and bright, shining Canopus, searched them out, but they never looked
down from their exalted heights on a camp in Central Africa, where were
purer fellowship, or greater human kindness than that which those
sleeping forms contain within them towards one another.
The march of our party was continued the next day and for six days more
toward the south without having once emerged from the forest. They saw
plenty of game, and almost every day bagged something for the larder;
but they always kept a surplus of dried meat by as a provision for
exigencies.
On the seventh day after the scenes just detailed above, Kalulu thought
they might now turn west, and after going in that direction for three
days, might slowly point their faces toward the north-west, or alter
their direction towards Lake Liemba, as circumstances permitted. [See
note at end of this chapter.]
The genial shade and tranquillity of the primeval forest was soon
exchanged after they turned their faces west for the intolerable heat
and vexation of a low, thorny jungle. Their nostrils became offended
with the fetid rank exhalations of the cactaceous and aloetic plants,
and black gummy bushes, armed with many a horrid thorn, which struggled
with each other for place and air with the wanton luxuriance and
spontaneous growth which belongs to tropical plants. These loaded the
air with a pungent, acrimonious odour, which set them all coughing, and
when they impatiently rubbed the tormented organs of respiration, they
but added to their discomfort, for their hands had unconsciously rubbed
against some leaves as they passed through, and communicated a burning
sensation to their noses and lips like that which cayenne pepper
provokes. Long creepers, armed upon all sides with ridges of thorn,
evoked many an impatient word, as at an unlucky moment they stumbled
against these, and were held fast to the great and severe wounding of
the epidermis, and pendulous arms, overhanging the road which they
traversed, caught them fast often with their crooked and sharp thorns by
the skin of the throat, causing severe and painful wounds. These pains
and penalties, which the jungles of that region impose upon the unlucky
travellers who are compelled to travel through them, were but a few of
the inconveniences and discomforts which our friends suffered. The
whole ground seemed strewn with the opened kernel of a seed thorn, which
is armed outside with as many straight, sharp thorns as there are quills
in a porcupine's back. Fancy men with naked feet walking over a ground
strewn with miniature porcupines, and you will agree with me that the
pain and torment would be as great almost as walking over hot embers.
At least such were the opinions of our friends, as they were compelled,
while their faces were wrinkled with pain, to stop every other minute to
extract the vile thorn kernels which had wounded their feet.
Apart from these miseries of the jungle were those which the heated and
cracked earth furnished. The red, drouthy ground was full of wide and
unsightly seams, rugged rents, which gaped open to receive the
incautious foot, and many a stumble and cry was elicited from the unwary
Arab boys, who, instead of watching against these mischances, permitted
their eyes to rove over the inhospitable scene.
And over all these shone the sun with a true tropic fervour, where,
untempered by the slightest breeze, with no friendly tree intervening
with its thick foliage between their heads and the full power of the
sun, their nude bodies seemed destined to be baked while they yet had
the power of locomotion. These several things, the heat of the sun, the
hot vapour from the earth surging upward like steam, the prickly bush
and the frequent stumblings, engendered a violent thirst which they all
began to feel, while the perspiration streaming from their bodies added
more and more to its intensity.
Ah! they may well think with regret of the grateful shade which the
luxuriant forest afforded; they may well say that they wished that the
forest had lasted for ever, for it furnished many a pool of clear water,
the freshness of which the pale yellow lotus flowers, languidly resting
on its surface, seemed to enhance. They may well think of the joyous
chorus which the gorgeously-feathered birds gave out incessantly from
morn until evening; they may well think with regret of all the pleasures
which the primeval woods furnished, which they have now exchanged for
the steamy plain and acrid jungle. But the road to home and comfort
lies through many a jungle yet, and these inconveniences ye have to
suffer, my friends, if ye ever think to embrace the friends who await ye
at Zanzibar!
At sunset they came to a shallow pool, whose consistence was that of
liquid mud of a chalky colour. The vicinity showed that it was a
frequent resort for such animals as were benighted in the inhospitable
plain on their way to more northern pasture-grounds, and that its colour
and unsavoury taste had been caused by the thirsty beasts plunging into
its middle in their hurry to assuage the thirst which consumed their
vitals. But little recked our thirsty heroes for the colour or the
unsavoury taste of the water so long as it relieved in the slightest
degree the pangs which tormented them.
Continuing their journey towards the west the next day, one of the
annoyances which troubled them the day before abated. The jungle had
disappeared, and in its place stretched a treeless plain before them,
which was covered with tall and bleached grass of the last summer's
growth. This plain, when they had travelled many hours towards its
centre, and took a survey around, they found to be an oval depression,
as the jungle which they had left in the morning appeared to be on much
higher ground than that on which they now stood, and Kalulu expressed
his opinion that they had begun to descend towards the lake-land of
southern Liemba, in which opinion Simba and Moto concurred.
As they advanced still further to the west, the country began to heave
upward on the horizon, though they seemed to descend into a yet lower
level. Presently walking became a task of difficulty. The firm close
ground over which they had travelled, and the dense pasture-grass
changed into a tall sedge which formed tussocks, separated and isolated
from each other, which they had to span with long strides, and which
shook beneath their weight, as they sprang from one tussock to another.
After two hours of this fatiguing work they came to a black spongy ooze,
which appeared firm enough on the surface, but as soon as it felt their
weight it admitted them up to their waists into the depths of the putrid
composition of wet grass and sedgy mould, over the surface of which
trickled many a miniature stream of oily slime. The sword leaves of the
pubescent reed and sedge slashed and cut their bodies as though razors
had been lightly drawn across them, and the blood streamed down their
chests and limbs. They presented a miserable spectacle as they finally
emerged from the swampy fen, and felt the firm ground under their feet
once more, for they were spattered all over with clots of black mud,
which, under the sun's heat, were rapidly baked, and formed a filthy
grey encrustation.
But heedless of all this they urged their steps until they had reached
the ridgy horizon, which, ever since morning, had loomed greyishly blue
before them. As it was night when they had reached this elevation, they
rested here, completely worn out with the dire march of the day, and so
great was their fatigue that they did not pay much heed to the thirst
they otherwise would have suffered from.
Long before day on the third morning they were on the way again, looking
with dismay at the extensive plain which waved and heaved before them
like a sea, and throughout all its prospect promised no amelioration of
the fatigue and pain they had endured the day before. Away, as far as
the vision could command, the land rose in successive ridges, of a
whitish hue, which they knew to be the result of the dry and parched
grass which clothed them. It was through such an inhospitable country
the march of the third day westward took them.
On the fourth morning Kalulu chose a broad ridge which ran
north-westerly, and led the way along its spine, whence they obtained
views of all around. Now and then the travellers dipped into hollows,
but regained rising ground as oft as they could, and towards night they
were gratified by observing dark mountainous masses in the distance,
which they were told would be reached in about twelve hours' march the
next day.
The night of the fifth day verified the prediction of Kalulu, for they
found themselves at the base of a conical hill, near a stream of pure
water, close by a bamboo jungle, whose vivid green leaves afforded a
grateful contrast to the bleached grass, through which daily grew into
greater importance the noisy but clear rivulet, which brawled over
pebbles and gravel bottom to the impetuous stream thundering down rocky
slopes, past granite and basaltic pinnacles, in foamy sheets and curved
round bends, with moan and wail, until it gained the level lea, where it
flowed tranquilly on towards its eternity. They plunged through leafy
woods, where the sycamore was in its glory and towered aloft in an
enormous globe, acknowledged king of trees; through bamboo jungles,
through park-lands of unusual beauty, by conical hills, and along the
base of ridges of grey rock, defiling through deep ravines, until they
finally came to a verdant champaign dotted here and there with noble
trees, where the swards were as soft as velvet. And all these days they
had been descending slowly but surely towards the lake they were in
search of, and the vigorous young grass which now gladdened their eyes
informed them that they were not far from it. They formed their camp,
warmed their last morsel of dried meat, and comforted each other, that
in such a land they need not be long looking for game.
About midnight they were roused from their slumbers by the roar of a
lion, apparently very near them, and Moto said, as soon as he could
collect his faculties:
"What did I tell ye? I knew such a country as this must be full of
game, and the roar of that beast confirms it, for a lion is never found
except where there is food for him, but, Selim, thou must be ready with
thy rifle, for if the fellow is very hungry he will try to take one of
us."
"I see him," whispered Kalulu. "There! look at him; do ye not see that
dark form slowly moving past that big tree now? There! he stops and
looks towards us!"
"Hush!" whispered Simba, "he is coming. Be ready and sure with thy gun,
young master!"
"Shall I fire now?" asked Selim in a low tone.
"No, no, no," replied Moto. "Wait until I give the word. Pooh, young
master, thou must drive thy hall through and through his head. It will
never do to wound him."
The sound of the pulsations in their bodies might almost have been
heard, as still as the tree stem under whose leafage they were
crouching, they waited the ferocious and powerful thief and prowler who
ranges at will, seeking whom he may devour, throughout the long night in
the game lands of Africa. Fortunate was it for some of them that he
signalled his presence in the forest with that first loud roar, for had
he but crept to them, unwarning, as he was now doing, what a terrible
confusion he had thrown the panic-stricken people into! Not a sound was
heard as he neared them. It was only by the approaching bulk and dark
loom of him they knew he was advancing; but presently he again stopped,
and they heard the soft brushing of the grass, probably made with his
tail, as he twirled and tossed it about wantonly, and through the gloom
they saw two specks of luminous light, shine like miniature lanterns, by
which Selim was able to take aim. The hand of Moto lightly resting on
the Arab boy's shoulders, warned him and restrained him from firing.
For a moment the lion stood surveying the creatures he knew to be
crouched under the tree. He then was seen to move to the left, as if he
were about to make a circuit round them, but at every step he took Selim
turned his gun, resting on his knee, at him, completely covering him.
Suddenly he halted and confronted them, and a loud appalling roar broke
on their startled ears, terrible enough in its volume and sound to
unnerve the stoutest, and which caused little Niani and Abdullah to
shrink behind Simba and Moto, who in the meantime had prepared their
guns lest Selim's nerve might fail him at the critical and trying
moment. The form of the lion, now fearfully plain, came to the earth
with an almost imperceptible downward movement, and each second as it
passed, while he waited for the command, was freighted with keenest
anxiety to Selim.
Kalulu warned Moto that the beast was preparing for a spring. Then Moto
bade all be ready, and the word "Piga" (fire) was heard, sharp and
peremptory, and the three guns simultaneously belched flame and fire,
lit up the form of the then uprising lion, and a savage cry and dull
heavy thud upon the earth announced to these anxious souls that the
lion's spring was cut short, and that he was either dying or was dead.
They hastily raked the hot embers together, and throwing straw on it,
soon blew it into a bright blaze which threw a light over the late scene
of terror, and showed the lion's form stretched on its right side, with
its left fore-paw, vainly beating the air, and the opened jaws, the
gleaming white teeth, and protruding tongue, and the head almost split
asunder, where two bullets had entered home to the brain, and robbed him
of the cruel life which only endured to rend and devour prey.
"Ah ha, lion! thou greedy beast," cried Niani, hopping about as light as
a young springbok. "Thou didst think to eat Niani, thou cruel one.
Father Simba, rightly called `lion,' and Master Selim, and friend Moto
have given thee as good as thou didst intend to have given me. He will
roar no more, will he, chief?" he suddenly asked Kalulu.
"No, little one," responded that more decorous and dignified youth; "he
will haunt the forest no more, nor startle the antelopes with his roar
during the gloom of night. Thou mayst sleep in peace now, Niani."
"Ay," added Selim, "and dream of the sweet and sugared hulwa
(sweetmeats) and dates of Muscat, and of the pretty jackets with silver
lace on them, he is going to get from me at Zanzibar."
"Yes, and the red fez with the gold tassel which his friend Abdullah
will give him," said that Arab youth.
"And he must not forget the little wife and lots of Nianis he is going
to get by-and-by," added Simba, as he walked forward closer to the dead
Simba, after whom he was named.
"He will do there until morning," said Moto. "Let us continue our
sleep, or do ye all go to sleep while I watch, because this carrion may
bring others in search of him," which good advice was soon adopted, and
after some little time had passed all, except Moto, had resumed their
slumber.
As the horizon was greying in the east Moto awoke his companions, who
set at once to work to make a fire to warm themselves after the chilly
night-dew. Kalulu cut off the claws of the lion, which he gave to
Simba, Moto, and Selim, while the fourth paw's claws he offered to
Abdullah, and when refused by him he reserved for himself.
Simba also stripped the splendid furry mane from the lion's neck and cut
it into six equal strips, which he divided amongst his companions, and
then suggested that the journey be continued, and that each should keep
a bright look-out for game.
Within an hour Simba saw a kudu, and leaving his companions alone, he
proceeded after it, and in a few moments the crack of his gun was heard,
and his friends, with infinite satisfaction, said that his shot was
effective, and, running up to him, were just in time to hear him utter
his "Bismillah" (in the name of God), and to see him draw his knife to
sever the throat of the fine animal.
Moto, while the juicy steaks were broiling over red coals, and the jaws
of his companions were already hard at work, proposed that after the
long march they should rest that day and strengthen themselves with
meat; but Simba and Kalulu were for prosecuting the journey until they
should get a sight of the Lake Liemba, and after hearing Kalulu's
reasons Selim concurred in the proposition, though Abdullah and Niani
sided with Moto, pleading their fatigue.
They rested until noon, however, and by this time Niani and Abdullah
felt so strengthened with the meat they had eaten and digested, that
they declared themselves strong enough to march a month longer, which
statement was received with pleasure by all.
The same champaign spread out on either side of them as they continued
their journey, as beautiful as when it first was revealed to them, and
in the far distance they saw herds upon herds of buffalo, giraffe, and
antelope feasting on the rich grass.
Here and there, to vary the monotony, rose a clump of mimosa, or a tall
tamarind, or a silk-cotton tree, or a group of stately palmyra, adding
grace and beauty to the picture, and now and then they passed a low
thicket of brush and thorn.
Above, over their heads, soared the kite and the bustard, the vulture
and the hawk, searching with keen eyes for prey, while the smaller birds
made the groves and the thickets and the lordly trees merry with their
chirping song.
There was such repose and tranquillity, and a feeling of perfect
security in the scene, that the Arab boys wished it would last until it
was replaced by the happier scenes of Zanzibar. Poor youths! well they
might wish it, after the disagreeabilities of travel they had
encountered in all shapes during their short stay in Africa. But to
make even this pleasant view one of horror, to transform its peaceful
aspect into one ominous and fatal to them, it needed but fifty warriors
of Ferodia to make their appearance before them, and how quickly were it
all changed, and to make even the jungle and treeless plain a paradise
compared to it!
Kalulu ventured a remark that evening, as they were comfortably
collected around the camp-fire, that he did not think such a beautiful
and rich country could be without inhabitants somewhere in the
neighbourhood. At least, said he, he had always found it so, and he
thought that on the morrow, or the next day, they must see signs of
cultivation and population, as they must be rapidly nearing the lake.
The next morning, after they had journeyed a few hours, Simba, who was
in advance, cried out that he saw a cornfield, which sent a momentary
feeling of terror into the minds of his younger companions; but,
habituating themselves to the sight of it, they became reassured, as
they remembered that Ferodia must be far away, and that possibly the
people had never heard of a man who had made himself a bugbear to them
by his ferocious disposition and cruel character.
In an hour or so, after skirting the cornfield, they came to a river,
brown and deep, and about twenty yards wide, flowing towards the north,
and while they were hugging the thick tall spear-grass which grew along
the bank, Niani uttered a low cry, and pointed with his finger towards
something that was hidden near the bank. Kalulu retraced his steps
quickly to observe what had escaped his eyes, and he saw a canoe with
four paddles in it!
He was not long in imparting the tidings, and the party drew together
for a whispered consultation; but Moto advised strongly that they should
not expose themselves, but that they should retreat at once into the
first thicket, a piece of prudent counsel which was acted upon as soon
as intimated.
They found, about two hundred yards away from the object of their
surprise and concern, a suitable place in a dense bush, wherein they
crouched down, after they had posted Niani to observe narrowly from the
entrance for any suspicious object, for a discussion about their future
movements.
"Who do you think these people are, Kalulu?" asked Simba.
The young chief answered that he thought the tribe was that of the
Wa-liemba, and that the canoe belonged to a party of hunters from the
village, who were out looking for game.
Moto then suggested that they should wait until near midnight and get
into the canoe and float down the river. Simba and Kalulu concurred,
and thought it would be a good thing, and an easy way of reaching the
lake; but Selim and Abdullah strongly demurred to the proposition, as
the act would be one of hostility against a tribe that so far had done
nothing to them, besides being dishonest. Simba and Moto, however,
aided by Kalulu, brought such powerful arguments to bear against the two
Arab boys that they were silenced. They were, said they, escaping from
a land where every man's hand was raised against them; where a small
party like their own only invited attack from those who felt themselves
strongest, against whom, however skilful they managed their movements,
they could not expect to be always able to cope successfully. Prudence
and safety suggested to them this means to avoid trouble and recapture,
and if they did not avail themselves of this happy opportunity, they
might, perhaps, in a few hours, be cursing their squeamishness and
irresolution, while lamenting their fate in bonds more cruel than any
they had undergone while in Ferodia's power. Before such considerations
Selim and Abdullah submitted to the superior judgment and craft of Moto
and Simba, and said no more, though to each other they regretted that
such a step had to be taken.
Night came, without anything alarming having occurred, and Niani was
called from his watch, and whatever they said among themselves until the
hour of departure was said so low that no one could have heard their
voices even had some straggler by accident been outside the bush.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes. The real direction in which our people journeyed may be found by
any reader curious enough to wish to know if he will examine the map of
Central Africa as published in the book `How I Found Livingstone,' when
the reader will be able to locate easily the scenes laid here. He will
find that the countries are laid down with a fidelity which generally
belongs to standard geographical works, that no liberties are taken with
the habits, the customs, or the true ethnology of the great country of
Ututa, or with the geography of Central Africa, neither with the
probabilities of a life in that far region. The chain of circumstances,
as here portrayed, alone belong to the romantic and the fictitious, and
this fact the author would fain impress upon the minds of his readers.