I dismounted and waited while Anscombe, whose foot was
now quite well again, helped Heda from the cart which was led
away by the servants. Anscombe, who seemed a little oppressed,
remarked that this was a strange place.
"Yes," said Heda, "but it is magnificent. I like it."
Then her eye fell upon Zikali seated before the hut and she
turned pale.
"Oh! what a terrible-looking man," she murmured, "if he is a
man."
The maid Kaatje saw him also and uttered a little cry.
"Don't be frightened, dear," said Anscombe, "he is only an old
dwarf."
"I suppose so," she exclaimed doubtfully, "but to me he is like
the devil."
Nombe slid past us. She threw off the kaross she wore and for
the first time appeared naked except for the mucha about her
middle and her ornaments. Down she went on her hands and knees
and in this humble posture crept towards Zikali. Arriving in
front of him she touched the ground with her forehead, then
lifting her right arm, gave the salute of Makosi, to which as a
great wizard he was entitled, being supposed to be the home of
many spirits. So far as I could see he took no notice of her.
Presently she moved and squatted herself down on his right hand,
while two of his attendants appeared from behind the hut and took
their stand between him and its doorway, holding their spears
raised. About a minute later Nombe beckoned to us to approach,
and we went forward across the courtyard, I a little ahead of the
others.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194