We Suppose You Are A Mozunga, The Tribe With Which
We Have Been Fighting." As I Was Not Yet Aware
That the term Mozunga
was applied to a Portuguese, and thought they meant half-castes,
I showed them my hair
And the skin of my bosom, and asked if the Bazunga
had hair and skin like mine. As the Portuguese have the custom
of cutting the hair close, and are also somewhat darker than we are,
they answered, "No; we never saw skin so white as that;" and added,
"Ah! you must be one of that tribe that loves (literally, `has heart to')
the black men." I, of course, gladly responded in the affirmative.
They returned to the village, and we afterward heard that there had been
a long discussion between Mpende and his councilors, and that one of the men
with whom we had remained to talk the day before had been our advocate.
He was named Sindese Oalea. When we were passing his village,
after some conversation, he said to his people, "Is that the man
whom they wish to stop after he has passed so many tribes?
What can Mpende say to refusing him a passage?" It was owing to this man,
and the fact that I belonged to the "friendly white tribe",
that Mpende was persuaded to allow us to pass. When we knew
the favorable decision of the council, I sent Sekwebu to speak about
the purchase of a canoe, as one of my men had become very ill,
and I wished to relieve his companions by taking him in a canoe.
Before Sekwebu could finish his story, Mpende remarked, "That white man
is truly one of our friends.
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