Good nature is the distinguishing feature of these black
fairies. Even when they have some years to run before
they reach the limit of their teens, their forms are true to
the perfect lines of nature in comely womanhood. A few
brass anklets encircle their lithe limbs, the fetich bangles of
the buffalo hide, or the hair of the elephant’s tail, clasp
their small and shapely wrists; but no ornament, no lines
of natural beauty are so pleasant to look upon as are their
glowing faces,, when brightened by unaffected smiles,
breaking into the merry laughter of jest and gossip.
The eyes of these damsels are lustrous and beautiful,
usually of deep brown. Should you inquire how many wives
a king has, you may be told of many hundreds. But in
truth these are the grand total of his women, the majority
of whom are workers in the field. Those who belong to the
household only work in their own gardens, and some do not
work at all.
Although it was quite dark, there was still a faint glow
of light in the distant west when my friend and I made
ourselves comfortable on the great sheaves of prairie grass,
seven or eight feet long, which lay at the door of the hut.
The people are all standing in the street, and are looking
towards the west. What are they anticipating ? Numbers
of the crowd occasionally point in an excited manner as
though they see something extraordinary in the sky. A h !
at last they are satisfied. The new crescent moon has just
cut through the faint mist, and now shines as a golden band
in the starry dome. The people feel that nature is still
with them. They can discover something of good import
in its first appearance, for they shout and sing in joyous
unison.
Omens of good and evil are seen in the elements and
changes of the moon, the clouds, the thunderstorm, and so
forth. Not the slightest doubt can exist that my visit as
an apparition from the world beneath the ground was considered
very ominous of something ; the wonder is of what ?
However, above all things the innate conceit of the ruler
of these people was a sufficient safeguard against further
apprehension, when he came to the conclusion that I was
something other than a man, and when he felt confident
that my influence would depart with me, of which they
were assured by my friend.
As da Costa and myself lay stretched and drowsily surveying
the cloudless sky, we heard the resounding waves of
drumming and singing; the pombe feast having reached its
height upon the previous evening, while between the
intervals and the lessening of the chorus, and borne on the
wings of the western wind, Came dreadful sounds, which
touched the heartstrings and reminded us of the day’s
tragedy. Harsh and hideous were these sounds—the grim
laughter of the hyenas, screaming the mocking notes, as
they revelled in the gory feast given them by the dark
ruler of the land.
“ Well, Amigo,” said I to da Costa, “ I suppose that tomorrow
night I shall have to fall into the old camp life
again. I don’t object to that, for it does not cost me unnecessary
thought. But of all the different tribes I have
come across, I have the least inclination towards the
Angoni, and certainly the least confidence in them as
travelling companions.”
“ Never mind,” was the response; “ I will let you have
three Maravi of mine. One of them can talk a little
Portuguese.”
“ Well, with them I shall struggle through, I suppose; if
they only stick to me.”
I here seized the opportunity to thank da Costa for his