Even with these
little things" (pointing to my revolvers) "I could kill ten men
quicker than you could count. We are stronger than the Wahha.
Mionvu has spoken the truth, yet we do not wish to fight. I could
kill Mionvu now, yet I talk to him as to a friend. I wish to be a
friend to Mionvu, and to all black people. Will Mionvu say what
I can do for him?"
As these words were translated to him - imperfectly, I suppose,
but still, intelligibly - the face of the Wahha showed how well
they appreciated them. Once or twice I thought I detected something
like fear, but my assertions that I desired peace and friendship
with them soon obliterated all such feelings.
Mionvu replied:
"The white man tells me he is friendly. Why does he not come to
our village? Why does he stop on the road? The sun is hot.
Mionvu will not speak here any more. If the white man is a friend
he will come to the village."
"We must stop now. It is noon. You have broken our march. We
will go and camp in your village," I said, at the same time rising
and pointing to the men to take up their loads.
We were compelled to camp; there was no help for it; the messengers
had not returned from Kawanga.
