"
"Am I a Pongo that I should wish to kill messengers and eat them?"
asked Bausi, with sarcasm, a speech at which I noticed the Pongo
envoys winced a little.
"King, you are mistaken. The Pongo only eat those whom the White God
has chosen. It is a religious rite. Why should they who have cattle in
plenty desire to devour men?"
"I don't know," grunted Bausi, "but there is one here who can tell a
different story," and he looked at Babemba, who wriggled
uncomfortably.
Komba also looked at him with his fierce eyes.
"It is not conceivable," he said, "that anybody should wish to eat one
so old and bony, but let that pass. I thank you, King, for your
promise of safety. I have come here to ask that you should send envoys
to confer with the Kalubi and the Motombo, that a lasting peace may be
arranged between our peoples."
"Why do not the Kalubi and the Motombo come here to confer?" asked
Bausi.
"Because it is not lawful that they should leave their land, O King.
Therefore they have sent me who am the Kalubi-to-come.
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