Masapo also contemplated me, then made some remark to one of his
attendants, that I did not catch, which caused the fellow to laugh.
"He has heard that you are an ipisi" (a great hunter), broke in Umbezi,
who evidently felt that the situation was growing strained, and that it
was necessary to say something.
"Has he?" I answered. "Then he is more fortunate than I am, for I have
never heard of him or what he is." This, I am sorry to say, was a fib,
for it will be remembered that Mameena had mentioned him in the hut as
one of her suitors, but among natives one must keep up one's dignity
somehow. "Friend Umbezi," I went on, "I have come to bid you farewell,
as I am about to trek for Durban."
At this juncture Masapo stretched out his great hand to me, but without
rising, and said: "Siyakubona [that is, good-day], White Man."
"Siyakubona, Black Man," I answered, just touching his fingers, while
Mameena, who had come up again with her beer, and was facing me, made a
little grimace and tittered.
Now I turned on my heel to go, whereon Masapo said in a coarse, growling
voice: "O Macumazana, before you leave us I wish to speak with you on a certain
matter. Will it please you to sit aside with me for a while?"
"Certainly, O Masapo." And I walked away a few yards out of hearing,
whither he followed me.
"Macumazahn," he said (I give the gist of his remarks, for he did not
come to the point at once), "I need guns, and I am told that you can
provide them, being a trader."
"Yes, Masapo, I dare say that I can, at a price, though it is a risky
business smuggling guns into Zululand. But might I ask what you need
them for? is it to shoot elephants?"
"Yes, to shoot elephants," he replied, rolling his big eyes round him.
"Macumazahn, I am told that you are discreet, that you do not shout
from the top of a hut what you hear within it. Now, hearken to me. Our
country is disturbed; we do not all of us love the seed of Senzangakona,
of whom the present king, Panda, is one. For instance, you may know that
we Quabies--for my tribe, the Amansomi, are of that race--suffered at
the spear of Chaka. Well, we think that a time may come when we who live
on shrubs like goats may again browse on tree-tops like giraffes, for
Panda is no strong king, and he has sons who hate each other, one of
whom may need our spears. Do you understand?"
"I understand that you want guns, O Masapo," I answered dryly. "Now, as
to the price and place of delivery."