This Cheered
Me So Greatly, I Had My Chair Placed Under A Tree And Smoked My
First Pipe.
On seeing this, all my men struck up a dance, to the
sound of the drums, which they carried on throughout the whole
night, never ceasing until the evening of the next day.
These
protracted caperings were to be considered as their
congratulation for my improvement in health; for, until I got
into my chair, they always thought I was going to die. They then
told me, with great mirth and good mimicry, of many absurd scenes
which, owing to the inflamed state of my brain, had taken place
during my interviews with Lumeresi. Bombay at this time very
foolishly told Lumeresi, if he "really wanted a deole," he must
send to Grant for one. This set the chief raving. He knew there
was one in my box, he said, and unless I gave it, the one with
Grant must be brought; for under no circumstances would he allow
of my proceeding northwards until that was given him. Bui and
Nasib then gave me the slip, and slept that night in a
neighbouring boma without my knowledge.
7th to 9th. - As things had now gone so far, I gave Lumeresi the
deole I had stored away for Rumanika, telling him, at the same
time as he took it, that he was robbing Rumanika, and not myself;
but I hoped, now I had given it, he would beat the drums. The
scoundrel only laughed as he wrapped my beautiful silk over his
great broad shoulders, and said, "Yes, this will complete our
present of friendship; now then for the hongo - I must have
exactly double of all you have given." This Sorombo trick I
attributed to the instigation of Makaka, for these savages never
fail to take their revenge when they can.
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