The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-04

given with regular tine of this move, nor.
formance had q queer and fascinat;ng
sound not unpleasing to the oar and
shouts. II was their method Of Showing
both respect for the speaker and approvol
Of the speech, and was a curious incentive
by which they worked their FEELINGS nm 10
the proper pitch OF rhetorical EXPRESSION.
to which it was the prelude. The gist OF
her speech was her general approval OF the
mundeli's proposno,R and her consent TO
them, subject 70 sundry conditions. In.
terruptions and Suggestions came from
time to time rom her subjects, who were
permitted to intcrboato remarks I'm.
checked. ~"
The only objection to the scheme came
from Nganqua, who attempted to work on
the supeBtitious fears OF the people by
urging that the sojoum OF the white men
among them might be fatal to their pros.
perity, and might forebode the presence of
many an evil fetish. lie was, however.
overrulod by Yicla. She seemed to feel a
growing interest In tine white stranger and
an inclination 10 see more of him, which
she was strongly disposed TO satisfy. Hers
was complex nature, u character Of high,
though unframed, mental capacity, capa-
BILE OF much feeling, though the unin-
structed and unregulatCd mind of the UNI
tutored savage did not afford her the
means OF expressing it, A nature without
moral restraint, and one that in following
blindly its own dictates might be doomed
omuch suffering incxplicable To the SUI.
fcrer. In defiance OF better Judgment,
she had yielded 10 strong impulse,
though she had felt Nganqua's fears were
justified when she had contcmptuously NJ
jecicd them.
The paaver ended by the presentation
on both sides Of friendly gifts, consisting
OF cloth aud beads from the mundeli and
u goat from The princess, | then returned
to the boat TO enjoy my midday sicsta-a
rest had wcl earned after the ialgucs of
the palayer.
In the afternoon Nganqua paid me a
second visit. Nganqua was typo of man
not altogether unknown to civilized life,
and merits few words OF description.
He was tho fetish man Oi the tribe--thc
man who possessed the power of eXowis-
ing evil spirits and OF discovering the bc-
witcher in cases OF wilchcmit. 10 is
needless, therefore, 10 say he was dreaded
by the commonnlly, and even inferior
chiefs stood in awe vi him. His position
gave him wide reaching grasp over
human lile--a grasp that was never ro-
liked; and il was always dangerous To
offend him, for no man knew who might
be the next victim singled out 10 nay with
his liio the penalty shat invariably follows
the accusation OF bcwiiching chieilain.
Needless also il il 10 say that lac was a
AL l.
trading upon the supursliliOus instincts Of
his counrymen. His knayvry WIS, in a
different degree, the knaycry OF NIL those
prctendes 10 divine right in the world
history, whom only the prevailing re-
ligious creed has the faculty of producing.
Naturally, therefore, he WIS bold and un.
scrupulous. In his own narrow AMI
hanpered condition lac was man
OF strong imagination, and even orgi-
inality, duick Ia result opposition, and in
capable OF tame submission 10 superior
power unable TO ndapt himself TO new
order OF things; naturally suspicious Of
change, aud jealous OF oncroachmrnls
upon his own strong position. Hence, on
the appearance of the white man he found
indispulablc evidences Of q power superior
To all that lac had conceived possible. and
he consequently scented the danger Il
might be 30 him his position. The
situation admitted vi but one remedy,
which was TO dsiyc the stranger away.
But 10 this rchplnc therc wis nm insur-
mounlablc obstacle in Viola: and lac UNI
dcysiool her well enough TO know that
the sudden interest she had taken la the
mandoli would nol,bc easily cradics,ied
lie knew her posvr was great. but he
knew also that the command his Office
gave him over the shifting and slayish
minds OF the people Misgreatcr II he bidcd
his time and boldly sUiscd bis opportunity.
None, Too, knew better than he the scope
Of the rude unienpefcd juslicc 81 his rice
tho justice thai spared the red-handed
murderer aud slew The petty thief.
Such was Nganqua; and ho had como
partly with tho object Of gratifying his
sense Of greed 10y obtaining for himself am
other present OF cloth aud trinkcts, and
partly with the dcairc common 20 mon OF
his stamp 10 spy ont the nakcdness Of the
land-ii nakcdncss thcm were. | enter
tanned him by puzxlinr him with the exit
bitiOn Of few conjuring tricks, such
rs one can buy nj London toy shop
Tor lew pence. These were 20 him cvi
dcnces OF magic power, and. rouaing with
ia him n consuming FRO OF envy, made
him more morosc AMI respondent than be-
fore, and lie ultimately retired In an ex-
trcmcly unamiablc mood. Had lac been n
weaker man, ani one OF more slender i'm
aginaiiye capacity, lac would have died OF
sheer chagrin.
a. the evening advanced followed him
10 the shore, in order to be spectator Of
the native dances which form the conclu.
ion 10 the ceremonies 81 the morning pa
laycr. | had been often struck, rs mo-
traveller can fail 10 be, with the little differ
encc that radically exists between members
OF the human family. civilized and unciyil-
lied; and was not therefore surprised 10
find unmisiakablc signs Of jolliiicaiion as |
ncarcd the yillage; for the savage black re
quircs M little induccmcnt toward indul.
genes IN his civilized brother, and any &C.
cnsion that can be made an excuse Tor q
"big drink" is hailed with delight
The din OF the SONG and shouts, mingled
with the mon0ionous boom Of numerous
tom toms, had reached me when on my
way 10 land and M mpidly proceeded "a
the center OF the village found myself In
| the midst OF boistcrous parties OF blacks
more or less intoxicated Huge calabashcs
and clay pots, two aud three icct In hight,
some flied with malaiu, the zap from the
palm tree; Others iro,hing over with
pombc, nauscous native beer, stood about
the open SPACE; and II was clear, from the
animated gestures and lively antics Of the
natives, that their contents had been In
obliged In without stint Worked into
frenzy by excitement and drink, numerous
groups were rceilcssly engaged In dancing
20 the time Of their respective tom toms