They held a meeting in
Gimoro's village.
On the following day both Gimoro and Shooli arrived at my public divan
looking rather dejected.
They informed me that the women, having held a meeting, had arrived at
the conclusion, "that the Pacha must not be allowed to go out hunting,
as he might possibly be killed by a lion or a buffalo." "What would
happen to us?" continued the women, "if any accident should befall our
father? Would not the slave-hunters immediately return to the country
and destroy us, simply because he had protected us? Do we not now sleep
in peace? and were we not always awake at night before he came among
us?"
The women decided that I was to be kept in the camp as a cojoor or
talisman, and that the natives were not to lead me into danger of wild
animals.
This declaration of the ladies of Fatiko could hardly be called
PETTICOAT government, as their total independence of attire precluded
any reference to such a garment; but it was a distinct assertion of
women's right to protect the person who had protected them. They were
excellent people, and were always well cared for and kindly treated by
the men.
