“ Then are you not related to the Galla, Arussi
Galla, or the Borana ? ” (the latter a tribe supposed
to live in the neighbourhood of the Juba River).
“ No; we are not in any way kith or kin of those
people. Formerly we had trading relations with them ;
but for many years past we have been at war.”
“ Who are you, then ? ”
“ We are Rendile; there are no people like us.
We are’ the great Rendile tribe.”
Despite many further questions designed to ascertain
something further in connection with their history,
this was all we were ever able to elicit from
them.
The following day we received another visit from
the three chiefs. Instead of the horses, camels, arid
donkeys I had expected them to bring as gifts, they
satisfied themselves with presenting us two very large
fat-tailed sheep. In anticipation of a much larger gift,
we had laid out what was in truth a magnificent présent
for the chiefs ; and despite our disappointment,
and the meagreness and lack of generosity they had
shown, we decided to present it as originally planned.
We gave them each a red flannel blanket, several
shawls, knives, coils of wire, and many pounds of
bright-coloured beads, besides several yards of the
heaviest American drill, called on the east coast of
Africa “ marduf.” They examined it closely, and said
that many years before a band of traders from Barawa
had brought them some just like it.
After they had received their gifts, they said that
trade would begin on the morrow; but that we must
first make blood-brothers with them, and after that
they would prefer us to move our camp, as the place
was too distant for such august personages as themselves
to have to walk.
They went away, and in the afternoon returned to
make blood-brotherhood. They told us there were
two methods of performing this ceremony: one by
means of a stone, and the other necessitating
the painting of our faces many
colours. Naturally we preferred the
stone rites. The three chiefs on this
occasion were attended by about 400
warriors; so I arranged my little band
in as formidable array as possible, and
fired two volleys. The noise seemed to
have an irritating effect upon the savages
; they at once rose to their feet,
shouted, and shook their fists. We
soon calmed them, however, and proceeded
to business.
Lokomogul, on behalf of his
people, and I, on behalf of my
own, each seized in our right
hands a round stone. Upon the
_... T1 , M a h o m e t A m a n stones we liberally expectorated.
Each then passed his stone to his following, who did
likewise. We then exchanged stones; and each, holding
the stone in his right hand, with his left dug a
small hole in the soil, meanwhile uttering words of
supposed magic import. In these holes we finally
placed the stones, and covered them with sand. We
then grasped hands, and assured each other that we
were the best friends possible. After this I took
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