"Follow you? Where to, in the name of fortune?"
"To the residence of the royal dames."
"Their houses are burning, it is a pretty sight still."
"I am not speaking of that defunct village, now turned into one vast furnace. We are hot enough already without going near the fire. I was alluding to this new shed, beneath which all these ladies await our coming."
"Are they not asleep by this time?"
"They dare not sleep," replied Delange, gravely. "I led them to expect a visit from us."
De Morin had finished his pipe by this time, and, always resigned and true to his word, he followed Delange. I followed suit, for I foresaw some amusement in assisting at a game of cards, which, considering where it was to take place, promised to be peculiar.
The Monbuttoo ladies, as the doctor had told us, were not asleep, and, as we drew near the shed, we heard a confused, continuous hum of many voices, as if they were complaining of the conduct of their royal spouse, whom they reproached with having treated them without due consideration.
"And we are actually slave-owners!" exclaimed de Morin, as we drew near.
"Delange is, my dear fellow," I replied. "The doctor has become a most inveterate trader, a regular nigger-driver. We shall have to give him up to the Egyptian authorities when we get back."
"You do not mean to drag all these women southwards with us?" asked de Morin.
"I really do not know," replied the doctor, "and you had better give me the benefit of your advice on that point. It would be rather a bore to be followed by such a flock of women, but, at the same time Munza might accuse us of despising his gift."
"The King," I observed, "is persuaded that after a short trip towards the south, he will bring us back to his own territory. He will therefore deem it very natural that we should leave these ladies here in our encampment. They will be supposed to be managing our household affairs during our absence."We had by this time reached the shed, whence puffs of hot air, and lightning glances from innumerable eyes greeted us. Nevertheless, in spite of their number, these small beacons were powerless to illumine a moonless night.
"How are we going to get inside this human ant-hill?" asked de Morin. "We shall run the risk of being engulfed in it, and, as for playing, that is out of the question. We shall never be able to see our cards."
"Make your mind easy on that score," replied the doctor. "I never forget anything. You shall have plenty of light."
And as he said this he appeared to be feeling for something in his coat pocket.
"Do you mean to say that you have any matches left?" I exclaimed, "I thought we gave our last box to Madame de Guéran yesterday?"
"I have something better than matches," said Delange.
He found what he was looking for, left us for a moment, and, stooping down at a little distance from us, he set light to some small fireworks, which we had packed up amongst our cartridges, in accordance with the suggestions of our predecessors in travel, and as an additional means of amusing the negroes. The fireworks chosen by the doctor were Bengal lights, which, instead of blinding us at first and then going out themselves, were manufactured to burn for some time and spread around them a many-coloured radiance.
Notwithstanding the softness of this illumination, the women, with a vivid recollection of the conflagration of which they had been the victims, imagined that their new residence was about to be burnt, and they began to tremble in every limb. To fear, however, wonder soon succeeded; the blue and green flames, which, placed in front of them, lit them up in so novel and picturesque a fashion, made them wild with delight. Instead of shrinking away, as they had done at first, they came nearer and nearer, and were soon deeply interested in watching the effect of the various colours on their dark skins.
The organizer of thisfêteplaced three stools in the middle of the shed; the first for de Morin, the second for himself, and the third to serve as a card-table. These preparations completed, he motioned his adversary to a seat, and throwing three packs of cards down on the table, he intimated that, exercising his right of choice, he intended to play ordinary bezique, fifteen hundred up.
The game commenced. The women were, at first, completely absorbed in contemplating the Bengal lights, but by degrees their whole attention became concentrated on the cards and the players, it being difficult to say which excited the greater admiration. De Morin, though naturally interested in the game, could not keep his eyes from wandering over the strange figures around him, rendered still more strange by the novel manner in which they were lit up.
"You have arranged this scene admirably," said de Morin to Delange, as he shuffled the cards.
"Have I not? For that very reason you are bound to lose."
"I think I am. But why do you say, 'for that very reason?' Does your tableau count in the game?"
"Not in the game, but in your mode of playing it. The spectacle I have set before you distracts your attention, and you are sure to make a few mistakes, of which I shall take all due advantage."
"Indeed!" replied de Morin, laughing, "and you, I presume, are superior to all these distractions?"
"Quite so, for the simple reason that I had a rehearsal before you appeared, and, therefore, know exactly what to expect."
"All right. I must be on my guard, and you, I think, will find that you have exposed your hand too soon."
De Morin soon recovered his wonted coolness, and devoted himself to the game, but he had not reckoned on the intense natural curiosity of these ladies. Every moment saw them drawing nearer and nearer to the gamblers, pushing. Jostling, elbowing each other, and some of them went so far as to climb the tree-stems which supported the roof of the shed, and from those coigns of vantage surveyed the eccentric game.
At length a few of the women, emboldened by the impunity with which their first advances had been made, stretched out their hands and laid hold of the cards, and they were proceeding to pay a similar compliment,more Africano, to de Morin's beard and hair.
"Hands off, ladies, if you please," he exclaimed, but remonstrance would have been of but little avail, had not Delange just at that moment scored the requisite fifteen hundred points, thereby putting an end to the game.
"The next thing," said I, "is to get out, but how is it to be done? Look at these creatures, they could smother us if they wished. We are only three against their eighty, to say nothing of their being armed with stools."
"That is true," replied Delange, "but it so happens that the fireworks are not over, I have a bouquet in reserve."
So saying, this Doctor, by a vigorous push, cleared a small space in front of him, and, taking out of his pocket a Roman candle, he stuck it in the ground and lighted it.
At the noise and glare of this fresh wonder there was a hurried retreat, which resulted in one tumbling over the other in inextricable confusion, whilst those on the tree stems dropped to the ground like over-ripe fruit.
The way out was now clear, and we were rude enough to take advantage of that circumstance without waiting even to shake hands with the ladies. Nevertheless, they had nothing much to grumble at; a bad beginning of the day had, in their case, made an unexpectedly good ending, and instead of having been beheaded at sunset, as they had been led to expect, they had enjoyed the three-fold pleasure of witnessing the fireworks, seeing us, and learning bezique.
There is no longer any room for doubt, for, although the King has neither said anything to us, nor sent for us, nor paid us a visit, his subjects are in a state of great excitement—the Monbuttoos are preparing for a long campaign. The market, through which we have just strolled, is even more than usually bustling. Munza's lieutenants lay violent hands on all eatables, which are placed without delay on the shoulders of a whole army of slaves, who incontinently carry them off to the palace. Indeed, we gave way to a momentary fear that we should be left unprovided for, but, as soon as ever the officers saw us, they made way for us with the utmost respect. It is quite clear that we have risen considerably in their opinion. Strangers on whom the King bestows his eighty favourite wives are evidently personages worthy of all consideration, and to use a homely expression, not to be sneezed at. We manage, therefore, to become purchasers on a large scale, a very necessary proceeding, in case we should quarrel with Munza on the way, or his army, as will probably be the case, should squander its supplies. It is not prudent to rely too much on the forethought of people who, if provisions in the ordinary style fail them, have always a delicacy in the shape of human flesh to fall back upon.
When we reached our encampment again, we commenced to make our preparations as if we were destined to set out on the following day. In Africa a war intended is a war begun; there are no such things as consulting one's neighbours, forming alliances, issuing manifestoes, or summoning all the diplomatists of the continent to a formal conference; there is no flourish of trumpets to start with, or, rather, there are any number of flourishes of any number of trumpets; they fight, pillage, burn, kill, and eat—voila tout. In a few weeks the war is over; it is true that it breaks out afresh, but that happens in Europe also, as has been seen often enough and may be seen again any day.
The next thing we did was to take stock of our provisions, merchandise, and ammunition. Alas! The number of articles for exchange was sadly diminished; the rolls of iron wire, which our bearers had so laboriously struggled under in days gone by, were trifles now, a source of rejoicing to them, at any rate. Our cotton goods, once sufficient to clothe a whole tribe, would now scarcely serve to cover Munza's ex-wives, even if they were to take it into their heads to observe a little decency, an extravagance for which we are not likely to give them credit. We had gold and silver, indeed, but in a country where gold is held in small esteem, a sovereign would not buy a fowl. As for our drafts and bank notes, I think I can picture to myself the dismay of a negro, asked to part with a banana for a fifty pound note. But in spite of the state of poverty to which we are reduced, we shall manage, if we are not robbed of our last resources, to get to the end of our journey without begging by the road side.
Our ammunition is, thank goodness, plentiful. The Nubians have not wasted over-much powder in saluting the various villages we have passed through, and the shooting matches, necessary for the training of the men, and our expeditions after elephants, antelopes, and other game, do not appear to have made any excessive inroad on the number of our cartridges.
After having thus taken stock of things, we turned our attention to persons. Our escort is, as I have already said, far from being complete, but we can thoroughly rely on the men who are left. Our relative positions have changed, for, thanks to the King, we could, in case of need, do without their services altogether, whilst they, on the other hand, would never be able, without our help, to make their way back to their own country. In dread, therefore, of being left to themselves in the heart of the Monbuttoo country, they are obedient to a degree.
The servants and bearers share the feelings of the soldiers, and punishments are now unknown amongst us. If any one shows a sign of disobedience, he is threatened with expulsion from the camp, and on this hint he becomes amiable at once, and, in the matter of politeness, could give points to the most polished of Europeans. All the Monbuttoos, moreover, are fully cognizant of the fact that we are the friends of a very powerful monarch, and that a word from us would bring their heads off. When we left Khartoum we were simple travellers, to be abandoned, perhaps, as others have been; now we are looked upon as great chiefs, sultans, monarchs on leave in central Africa.
All things considered, we have no cause for complaint, and we may, without being accused of excessive rashness, take our flight to regions as yet unexplored.
Whilst masters and servants were striking the balance of the caravan, Joseph, who has his moments of inspiration, managed to discover a last remaining bottle of Jules Mumm, hidden away under the straw in a case thought to be empty.
We lost no time in drinking success to our future enterprise in the sparkling beverage of our beloved France.
About two o'clock in the afternoon, the King sent to request the attendance of de Morin, Delange, and myself, a wish we responded to without delay.
When we reached the environs of the palace, and before going to see Munza, we turned to look at the scene of the great fire of the previous evening.
Where once had stood the dwellings of the royal wives, the harem of Munza, now ashes alone were to be seen. All the huts had vanished without leaving a trace behind, and the splendid trees which lately overshadowed them were reduced to powder. A few gigantic trunks only, spared, though scorched, by the flames, stretched out their sturdy, leafless branches to the sky.
The red clay was overspread by a thick carpet of white cinders, like a clearing covered with snow.
The clouds of smoke, which the wind had not been strong enough to disperse, wreathed themselves in every direction and spread like a mist over the landscape, looking more desolate still by contrast with the surrounding country, resplendent with verdure and light.
Was the mad passion of the African king for Madame de Guéran destined to lead to further destruction? Had Munza, through fear of being ridiculous, sworn to be an object of terror?
We found the King in his armoury, distributing arms to a number of soldiers drawn up in the gardens, and giving orders to his officers. He came towards us as soon as he saw us, and charged Nassar to unfold to us his plans. He intended to march, at the full of the moon, in the direction of the district governed by his brother, Degberra, in order to gain information about the white man, who, subsequently to Schweinfurth, had passed through the country, and on this information would depend his future movements.
He also asked us whether the plan was in accordance with our wishes, to which we replied that it was an excellent one, and that we could wish for no better. At the same time, we could not help admiring the determined character of the man, the energy he displayed when any necessity for it arose, and the promptness with which he laid his plans—all rare qualities in a negro.
In fact, the more we study the Monbuttoo people, the more they seem to differ from the negro race. They are a tribe apart, thrown away in Central Africa, and we can well understand the regret expressed by Schweinfurth at not having been able to push his explorations farther into this region.
In the territory comprised between two degrees of latitude we are sure to meet with strange customs and curious phenomena on the part of the Monbuttoos. Their country is, in some sort, the border-land of eccentricity.
In reply to Munza's enquiry as to what assistance we could render him in case he should have to fight against powerful tribes, de Morin thought it prudent to say, for all of us, that we should take up arms only if we were attacked personally.
"It is a question," he continued, "of a journey and a peaceful expedition rather than of a war, and you will be pleasing our sister if you fall in with our ideas."
"I would willingly do so," replied Munza, "if I could. But I have frequently waged war against my neighbours, and as soon as they see me advancing with my army, the weak will take to flight after burning their crops, so as to starve me, and the strong will attack me—I must defend myself, and you must help me."
"If you are attacked," said de Morin, "without provocation, we shall consider ourselves as attacked also, and we shall have no hesitation in joining our forces to yours."
"You have in your possession," said the King, "plenty of arms like those you have shown me, those pieces of wood and iron which make thunder, have you not?"
"Yes," answered de Morin, "all my soldiers are so armed."
"You have some to spare, also. Will you lend them to my troops and teach them how to use them? We should be invincible then."
"No," said our friend, boldly; "I will not do that."
"Why?" asked the King, quickly.
"I believe in your good faith; I am sure of you, but I have not the same confidence in your warriors. If you were to die I should find myself at their mercy, and, as they are far more numerous than we are, I wish to retain over them the advantage which my arms give me. Would you like the Sultana—when you were no longer at hand to protect her—to be at the mercy of your troops."
This last argument touched Munza, who appeared to be lost in thought, and said not a word. But de Morin, who, by his firm, frank manner, his judicious concessions and adroit flattery, was beginning to have as much influence over the King as he had over our escort, thought it wise to add—
"To show you that I do not put you in the same category with your officers, nor with your soldiers, and that I have thorough confidence in you, I concede to you what I have thought it right to refuse to others. I will give you the best rifle I have, and, meanwhile, allow me to present you with a weapon equally formidable. I have no need to be armed whilst in your palace, and under your protection."
So saying, he drew his revolver from his belt and handed it to theKing.
Munza could not conceal his delight. He seized the pistol, turned it over and over again; his hands trembled, his eyes glistened, and the powerful African monarch was a child again; the negro reappeared and asserted his rights.
De Morin took advantage of this unguarded moment to broach, in a very summary manner, a delicate subject. He told the King that the Monbuttoos were reported in the north to eat the enemies they killed in battle, and he added that he wished to spare his sister a sight so odious and repugnant to all white people.
Munza, feeling, perhaps, that he himself was personally guilty of this charge, replied, with some confusion, that it was difficult to expect a sudden transformation in the customs of his subjects, but that he would take good care that the Sultana should be spared any shock to her feelings.
Driven into a corner by de Morin, he confessed that a Monbuttoo soldier did not think himself invulnerable until he had eaten the flesh of one of his foes.
This confession did not surprise us in the least, for Baker states that the soldiers of his personal escort, the Forty Thieves, as he calls them, tried soldiers, brave and semi-civilized, practised the same custom as the Monbuttoos. We could, therefore, neither be astonished nor complain, if in these regions, more barbarous than those bordering on the Nile, we should be called upon to witness scenes of a similar description.
On the contrary, we ought to congratulate ourselves on the precautions taken by Munza to avoid our prejudices being shocked. His soldiers will continue to eat their enemies—that gratification cannot be withheld from them—but they will eat them with closed doors, like discreet and delicate-minded people, who respect the opinions of their neighbours.
Travellers, as a rule, have not been so fortunate. General Baker, whom I have just mentioned, says that he attempted one day to make a negro chief understand the immorality of the slave trade, and that, just as he fondly hoped that he had convinced him, the chief said, abruptly—
"Have you any children?"
"Alas! no," replied Baker. "I have lost them all."
"Well," said the chief, "I have a son, my only child; he is very small and very thin, but with you he will grow fat if you only look at him. You will be able to feed him up to any extent. He is always hungry, eating day and night without ever being satisfied. You can do anything you like with him, provided you fill his stomach. You cannot think what a dear good child he is. Well! I will sell him to you for a molote" (a kind of African shovel).
As regards cannibalism, we have been far more successful. Munza is not convinced, but he does not appear as insensible to our arguments as was the negro chief to those of Baker.
After some further conversation, the King proposed to hold a review of a part of his army. We gladly fell in with the idea, as much from a motive of curiosity, as to ascertain how far we could rely on his troops; and, more important still, to find out whether we could fight them with any chance of success, when the time should come for Munza to express a wish to bring us back to his dominions.
About two thousand men were drawn up on a large parade ground adjoining the palace. The rokko tunics, which I have already described, were their only uniform, their legs, arms, and breasts, daubed with red, black and blue war-paint, being uncovered. The officers were distinguished from the soldiers merely by the plumes of various colours which ornamented their cylindrical head-dresses. They were armed to the teeth; in their girdles were swords with bent blades, axes, knives, and daggers with small grooves to allow the blood to run off; in their right hands a lance or a bow and arrows, and in their left a primitive shield made of wood, about four feet long, and carried by means of a copper handle. This body went though a series of manoeuvres, and surprised us by their strict discipline and the precision of their movements.
"We should have to keep these men at a distance with our rifles," said de Morin to me, in an undertone. "Their swords, axes and daggers are formidable weapons, and would be very dangerous at close quarters. But their arrows, though, as you see, they carry for about three hundred paces, are so light and describe so extensive a curve, that they would only hit the mark by accident."
The review was brought to a close by a charge of the whole line; all the soldiers, after having withdrawn for about a hundred yards, came on towards us, some brandishing their axes, others with lance in rest, whilst the remainder drew their bows to their full stretch and aimed their arrows at us. The whole force yelled horribly, put on their fiercest expression, ground their teeth, and appeared both ready and willing to eat us. Without any feeling of cowardice, or being over-timid, we might very easily have believed that these men were bent on our destruction. However, none of us quailed, for, even if we had not known that the whole affair was merely a review, our European pride would have prevented our showing, in the sight of these savages, the slightest symptom of fear.
The King had stationed himself at some distance from us, with the undoubted object of increasing our fears and letting us think that he had let his army loose upon us. He scanned us closely, and must have been quite satisfied with our bearing. If his idea was to put us to the test, he could now rest assured that his new allies were not easily to be frightened.
Just as the warriors were close upon us, he threw himself in front of us, and at once every bow, arrow and lance was lowered; the troops halted as if they were so many automatons, saluted the King, and, wheeling about, retired to their original position.
July 6, 1873.—The army is at this moment moving off. The people have collected from all quarters to see it pass, and applaud. The women are crying, the drums and trumpets are dinning away in their most ear-splitting fashion, and the soldiers of our escort are firing afeu de joie. We get on our horses, and give the word to our caravan to follow the army.
We are at last fairly bound for the unknown!