"
So the Kalubi rose and with a humble air set out briefly and clearly
the reason of our visit to Pongo-land as the envoys of Bausi and the
heads of the treaty that had been arranged subject to the approval of
the Motombo and Bausi. We noted that the affair did not seem to
interest the Motombo at all. Indeed, he appeared to go to sleep while
the speech was being delivered, perhaps because he was exhausted with
the invention of his outrageous falsehoods, or perhaps for other
reasons. When it was finished he opened his eyes and pointed to Komba,
saying:
"Arise, Kalubi-that-is-to-be."
So Komba rose, and in his cold, precise voice narrated his share in
the transaction, telling how he had visited Bausi, and all that had
happened in connection with the embassy. Again the Motombo appeared to
go to sleep, only opening his eyes once as Komba described how we had
been searched for firearms, whereon he nodded his great head in
approval and licked his lips with his thin red tongue. When Komba had
done, he said:
"The gods tell me that the plan is wise and good, since without new
blood the people of the Pongo will die, but of the end of the matter
the god knows alone, if even he can read the future.
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