the ivory child-第26章

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great　Africa。　From　where　we　stood　the　land　sloped　steeply　for　a　matter

of　ten　or　fifteen　miles；　till　finally　the　fall　ended　in　a　vast　plain

like　to　the　bottom　of　a　gigantic　saucer；　that　I　presume　in　some　far

time　of　the　world's　history　was　once　an　enormous　lake。　A　river　ran

east　and　west　across　this　plain　and　into　it　fell　tributaries。　Far

beyond　this　river　the　contours　of　the　country　rose　again　till；　many；

many　miles　away；　there　appeared　a　solitary　hill；　tumulus…shaped；　which

seemed　to　be　covered　with　bush。



Beyond　and　surrounding　this　hill　was　more　plain　which　with　the　aid　of

my　powerful　glasses　was；　we　could　see；　bordered　at　last　by　a　range　of

great　mountains；　looking　like　a　blue　line　pencilled　across　the

northern　distance。　To　the　east　and　west　the　plain　seemed　to　be

illimitable。　Obviously　its　soil　was　of　a　most　fertile　character　and

supported　numbers　of　inhabitants；　for　everywhere　we　could　see　their

kraals　or　villages。　Much　of　it　to　the　west；　however；　was　covered　with

dense　forest　with；　to　all　appearance；　a　clearing　in　its　midst。



〃Behold　the　land　of　the　Kendah；〃　said　Har？t。　〃On　this　side　of　the

River　Tava　live　the　Black　Kendah；　on　the　farther　side；　the　White

Kendah。〃



〃And　what　is　that　hill？〃



〃That　is　the　Holy　Mount；　the　Home　of　the　Heavenly　Child；　where　no　man

may　set　foot〃here　he　looked　at　us　meaningly〃save　the　priests　of

the　Child。〃



〃What　happens　to　him　if　he　does？〃　I　asked。



〃He　dies；　my　Lord　Macumazana。〃



〃Then　it　is　guarded；　Har？t？〃



〃It　is　guarded；　not　with　mortal　weapons；　Macumazana；　but　by　the

spirits　that　watch　over　the　Child。〃



As　he　would　say　no　more　on　this　interesting　matter；　I　asked　him　as　to

the　numbers　of　the　Kendah　people；　to　which　he　replied　that　the　Black

Kendah　might　number　twenty　thousand　men　of　arm…bearing　age；　but　the

White　Kendah　not　more　than　two　thousand。



〃Then　no　wonder　you　want　spirits　to　guard　your　Heavenly　Child；〃　I

remarked；　〃since　the　Black　Kendah　are　your　foes　and　with　you　warriors

are　few。〃



At　this　moment　our　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　arrival　of　a

picket　on　a　camel；　who　reported　something　to　Har？t　which　appeared　to

disturb　him。　I　asked　him　what　was　the　matter。



〃That　is　the　matter；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　a　man　mounted　on　a　rough

pony　who　just　then　appeared　from　behind　some　bushes　about　half　a　mile

away；　galloping　down　the　slope　towards　the　plain。　〃He　is　one　of　the

scouts　of　Simba；　King　of　the　Black　Kendah；　and　he　goes　to　Simba's　town

in　yonder　forest　to　make　report　of　our　arrival。　Return　to　camp；

Macumazana；　and　eat；　for　we　must　march　with　the　rising　of　the　moon。〃



As　soon　as　the　moon　rose　we　marched　accordingly；　although　the　camels；

many　of　which　were　much　worn　with　the　long　journey；　scarcely　had　been

given　time　to　fill　themselves　and　none　to　rest。　All　night　we　marched

down　the　long　slope；　only　halting　for　half　an　hour　before　daylight　to

eat　something　and　rearrange　the　loads　on　the　baggage　beasts；　which

now；　I　noticed；　were　guarded　with　extra　care。　When　we　were　starting

again　Mar？t　came　to　us　and　remarked　with　his　usual　smile；　on　behalf　of

his　brother　Har？t；　who　was　otherwise　engaged；　that　it　might　be　well　if

we　had　our　guns　ready；　since　we　were　entering　the　land　of　the　elephant

Jana　and　〃who　knew　but　that　we　might　meet　him？〃



〃Or　his　worshippers　on　two　legs；〃　I　suggested；　to　which　his　only　reply

was　a　nod。



So　we　got　our　repeating　rifles；　some　of　the　first　that　were　ever　made；

serviceable　but　rather　complicated　weapons　that　fired　five　cartridges。

Hans；　however；　with　my　permission；　armed　himself　with　the　little

Purdey　piece　that　was　named　〃Intombi；〃　the　singe…barrelled；　muzzle…

loading　gun　which　had　done　me　so　much　service　in　earlier　days；　and

even　on　my　last　journey　to　Pongoland。　He　said　that　he　was　accustomed

to　it　and　did　not　understand　these　new…fangled　breechloaders；　also

that　it　was　〃lucky。〃　I　consented　as　I　did　not　think　that　it　made　much

difference　with　what　kind　of　rifle　Hans　was　provided。　As　a　marksman　he

had　this　peculiarity：　up　to　a　hundred　yards　or　so　he　was　an　excellent

shot；　but　beyond　that　distance　no　good　at　all。



A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　as　the　dawn　was　breaking；　we　passed

through　a　kind　of　/nek/　of　rough　stones　bordering　the　flat　land；　and

emerged　into　a　compact　body　on　to　the　edge　of　the　grassy　plain。　Here

the　word　was　given　to　halt　for　a　reason　that　became　clear　to　me　so

soon　as　I　was　out　of　the　rocks。　For　there；　marching　rapidly；　not　half

a　mile　away；　were　some　five　hundred　white…robed　men。　A　large

proportion　of　these　were　mounted；　the　best　being　foot…soldiers；　of

whom　more　were　running　up　every　minute；　appearing　out　of　bush　that

grew　upon　the　hill…side；　apparently　to　dispute　our　passage。　These

people；　who　were　black…faced　with　fuzzy　hair　upon　which　they　wore　no

head…dress；　all　seemed　to　be　armed　with　spears。



Presently　from　out　of　the　mass　of　them　two　horsemen　dashed　forward；

one　of　whom　bore　a　white　flag　in　token　that　they　came　to　parley。　Our

advance　guard　allowed　them　to　pass　and　they　galloped　on；　dodging　in

and　out　between　the　camels　with　wonderful　skill　till　at　length　they

came　to　where　we　were　with　Har？t　and　Mar？t；　and　pulling　up　their

horses　so　sharply　that　the　animals　almost　sat　down　on　their　haunches；

saluted　by　raising　their　spears。　They　were　very　fine…looking　fellows；

perfectly　black　in　colour　with　a　negroid　cast　of　countenance　and　long

frizzled　hair　which　hung　down　on　to　their　shoulders。　Their　clothing

was　light；　consisting　of　hide　riding　breeches　that　resembled　bathing

drawers；　sandals；　and　an　arrangement　of　triple　chains　which　seemed　to

be　made　of　some　silvery　metal　that　hung　from　their　necks　across　the

breast　and　back。　Their　arms　consisted　of　a　long　lance　similar　to　that

carried　by　the　White　Kendah；　and　a　straight；　cross…handled　sword

suspended　from　a　belt。　This；　as　I　ascertained　afterwards；　was　the

regulation　cavalry　equipment　among　these　people。　The　footmen　carried　a

shorter　spear；　a　round　leather　shield；　two　throwing　javelins　or

assegais；　and　a　curved　knife　with　a　horn　handle。



〃Greeting；　Prophets　of　the　Child！〃　cried　one　of　them。　〃We　are

messengers　from　the　god　Jana　who　speaks　through　the　mouth　of　Simba　the

King。〃



〃Say　on；　worshippers　of　the　devil　Jana。　What　word　has　Simba　the　King

for　us？〃　answered　Har？t。



〃The　word　of　war；　Prophet。　What　do　you　beyond　your　southern　boundary

of　the　Tava　river　in　the　territory　of　the　Black　Kendah；　that　was

sealed　to　them　by　pact　after　the　battle　of　a　hundred　years　ago？　Is　not

all　the　land　to　the　north　as　far　as　the　mountains　and　beyond　the

mountains　enough　for　you？　Simba　the　King　let　you　go　out；　hoping　that

the　desert　would　swallow　you；　but　return　you　shall　not。〃



〃That　we　shall　know　presently；〃　replied　Har？t　in　a　suave　voice。　〃It

depends　upon　whether　the　Heavenly　Child　or　the　devil　Jana　is　the　more

powerful　in　the　land。　Still；　as　we　would　avoid　bloodshed　if　we　may；　we

desire　to　explain　to　you；　messengers　of　King　Simba；　that　we　are　here

upon　a　peaceful　errand。　It　was　necessary　that　we　should　convey　the

white　lords　to　make　an　offering　to　the　Child；　and　this　was　the　only

road　by　which　we　could　lead　them　to　the　Holy　Mount；　since　they　come

from　the　south。　Through　the　forests　and　the　swamps　that　lie　to　the

east　and　west　camels　cannot　travel。〃



〃And　what　is　the　offering　that　the　white　men　would　make　to　the　Child；

Prophet？　Oh！　we　know　well；　for　like　you　we　have　our　magic。　The

offering　that　they　must　make　is　the　blood　of　Jana　our　god；　which　you

have　brought　them　here　to　kill　with　their　strange　weapons；　as　though

any　weapon　could　prevail　against　Jana　the　god。　Now；　give　to　us　these

white　men　that　we　may　offer　them　to　the　god；　and　perchance　Simba　the

King　will　let　you　go　through。〃



〃Why？〃　asked　Har？t；　〃seeing　that　you　declare　that　the　white　men　cannot

harm　Jana；　to　whom　indeed　they　wish　no　harm。　To　surrender　them　to　you

that　they　may　be　torn　to　pieces　by　the　devil　Jana　would　be　to　break

the　law　of　hospitality；　for　they　are　our　guests。　Now　return　to　Simba

the　King；　and　say　to　Simba　that　if　he　lifts　a　spear　against　us　the

threefold　curse　of　the　Child　shall　fall　upon　him　and　upon　you　his

people：　The　curse　of　Heaven　by　storm　or　by　drought。　The　curse　of

famine。　The　curse　of　war。　I　the　prophet　have　spoken。　Depart。〃



Watching；　I　could　see　that　this　ultimatum　delivered　by　Har？t　in　a　most

impressive　voice；　and　seconded　as　it　was　by　the　sudden　and

simultaneous　lifting　of　the　spears　of　all　our　escort　that　were　within

hearing；　produced　a　considerable　effect　upon　the　messengers。　Their

faces　grew　afraid　and　they　shrank　a　little。　Evidently　the　〃threefold

curse　of　the　Child〃　suggested　calamities　which　they　dreaded。　Making　no

answer；　they　wheeled　their　horses　about　and　galloped　back　to　the　force

that　was　gathering　below　as　swiftly　as　they　had　come。



〃We　must　fight；　my　Lord　Macumazana；〃　said　Har？t；　〃and　if　we　would

live；　conquer；　as　I　know　that　we　shall　do。〃



Then　he　issued　some　orders；　of　which　the　result　was　that　the　caravan

adopted　a　wedge…shaped　formation　like　to　that　of　a　great　flock　of

wildfowl　on　the　wing。　Har？t　stationed　himself　almost　at　the　apex　of

the　triangle。　I　with　Hans　and　Mar？t　were　about　the　centre　of　the　line；

while　Ragnall　and　Savage　were　placed　opposite　to　us　in　the　right　line；

the　whole　width　of　the　wedge　being　between　us。　The　baggage　camels　and

their　leaders　occupied　the　middle　space　between　the　lines　and　were

followed　by　a　small　rear…guard。



At　first　we　white　men　were　inclined　to　protest　at　this　separation；　but

when　Mar？t　explained　to　us　that　its　object　was　to　give　confidence　to

the　two　divisions　of　the　force　and　also　to　minimize　the　risk　of

destruction　or　capture　of　all　three　of　us；　of　course　we　had　nothing

more　to　say。　So　we　just　shook　hands；　and　with　as　much　assurance　as　we

could　command　wished　each　other　well　through　the　job。



Then　we　parted；　poor　Savage　looking　very　limp　indeed；　for　this　was　his

first　experience　of　war。　Ragnall；　however；　who　came　of　an　old　fighting

stock；　seemed　to　be　happy　as　a　king。　I　who　had　known　so　many　battles；

was　the　reverse　of　happy；　for　inconveniently　enough　there　flashed　into

my　mind　at　this　juncture　the　dying　words　of　the　Zulu　captain　and　seer；

Mavovo；　which　foretold　that　I　too　should　fall　far　away　in　war；　and　I

wondered　whether　this　were　the　occasion　that　had　been　present　to　his

foreseeing　mind。



Only　Hans　seemed　quite　unconcerned。　Indeed　I　noted　that　he　took　the

opportunity　of　the　halt　to　fill　and　light　his　large　corn…cob　pipe；　a

bit　of　bravado　in　the　face　of　Providence　for　which　I　could　have　kicked

him　had　he　not　been　perched　in　his　usual　monkey　fashion　on　the　top　of

a　very　tall　camel。　The　act；　however；　excited　the　admiration　of　the

Kendah；　for　I　heard　one　of　them　call　to　the　others：



〃Look！　He　is　not　a　monkey　after　all；　but　a　manmore　of　a　man　than　his

master。〃



The　arrangements　were　soon　ma