I am bound to say he rose to the occasion very well, being by nature
and appearance a dignified old man. Swallowing his coffee in a hurry,
he took his place at a little distance from us, and stood there in a
statuesque pose. To him entered Babemba crawling on his hands and
knees, and other native gentlemen likewise crawling, also the burdened
soldiers in as obsequious an attitude as their loads would allow.
"O King Dogeetah," said Babemba, "your brother king, Bausi, returns
the guns and fire-goods of the white men, your children, and sends
certain gifts."
"Glad to hear it, General Babemba," said Brother John, "although it
would be better if he had never taken them away. Put them down and get
on to your feet. I do not like to see men wriggling on their stomachs
like monkeys."
The order was obeyed, and we checked the guns and ammunition; also our
revolvers and the other articles that had been taken away from us.
Nothing was missing or damaged; and in addition there were four fine
elephant's tusks, an offering to Stephen and myself, which, as a
business man, I promptly accepted; some karosses and Mazitu weapons,
presents to Mavovo and the hunters, a beautiful native bedstead with
ivory legs and mats of finely-woven grass, a gift to Hans in testimony
to his powers of sleep under trying circumstances (the Zulus roared
when they heard this, and Hans vanished cursing behind the huts), and
for Sammy a weird musical instrument with a request that in future he
would use it in public instead of his voice.
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