Kamrasi, However, Returned The
Books Of Birds And Animals, Requesting A Picture Of The King Of
Uganda To Be Drawn For Him, And Gave Us One Pot Of Pombe.
3d. - I sent the picture required, and an angry message to Kamrasi
for breaking his word, as he promised us we should go without a
day's delay; and go we must, for I could neither eat nor sleep
from thinking of my home.
His only reply to this was, Bana is
always in a preposterous hurry. He answered, that for our
gratification he had directed a dwarf called Kimenya to be sent
to us, and the Kamraviona should follow after. Kimenya, a little
old man, less than a yard high, called on us with a walking-stick
higher than himself, made his salaam, and sat down very
composedly. He then rose and danced, singing without invitation,
and following it up with queer antics. Lastly, he performed the
tambura, or charging-march, in imitation of Wakugnu, repeating
the same words they use, and ending by a demand for simbi, or
cowrie-shells, modestly saying, "I am a beggar, and want simbi;
if you have not 500 to spare, you must at any rate give me 400."
He then narrated his fortune in life. Born in Chopi, he was sent
for by Kamrasi, who first gave him two women, who died; then
another, who ran away; and, finally, a distorted dwarf like
himself, whom he rejected, because he thought the propagation of
his pigmy breed would not be advantageous to society. Bombay
then marched him back to the palace, with 500 simbi strung in
necklaces round his neck. When these two had gone, the
Kamraviona arrived with two spears, one load of flour, and a pot
of pombe, which he requested me to accept, adding that the spears
were given as it was observed I had accepted some from the king
of Uganda; a shield was still in reserve for me, and spears would
be sent for Grant. Then with regard to my going, Kamrasi must
beg us to have patience until he had sent messengers into Kidi,
requesting the natives there not to molest me on the way, for
they had threatened they would do so, and if they persisted, he
would send us with a force by another route via Ugungu - another
attempt to draw us off to fight against his brothers.
I stormed at this announcement as a breach of faith; said I had
given the king my only tent, my only digester, my only saw, my
only wire, my only mosquito-curtains, and my last of everything,
because he had assured me I should have to pay no more chiefs,
and he would give me the road at once. If he did not intend now
to fulfil his promise, I begged he would take back his spears,
for I would only accept them as a farewell present. The
Kamraviona finding me rather warm, with the usual pertinacious
duplicity of a negro, then said, "Well, let that subject drop,
and consider the present Kamrasi promised you when you gave him
the Uganga" (meaning the watch); "Kamrasi's horn is not ready
yet." This second prevarication completely set my dander up.
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