The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-05-21

my first impulse was to run to his assist
ance, but fortunately remembered his
caution and sat quiet.
Indaba-zimbi lay on the ground like a
person quite dead. His limbs had all the
utter relaxation of death. But as I
watched I saw them begin to stiffen, ex-
actly as though rigor mortis had set in.
Then, to my establishment, perceived
them once more relax, and this time
there appeared upon his chest the stain
of decomposition. Itspread and spread;
in three minutes the man, to all appear
ance, was livid corpse.
sat amazed watching this uncanny
sight, and wondering if any further nat
ural process was about to be enacted.
Perhaps Indaba-zimbi was going to fall
to dust before my eyes. AS watched
observed that the discoloration was be-
ginning to fade. First it vanished from
the extremities, then from the larger
limbs, and lastly from the trunk. Then
in turn came the third stage of relaxa-
ton, the second stage of stiffness or rigor,
and the first stage of after-death collapse.
When all these had rapidly succeeded
each other, Indaba-zimbi quietly woke
up.
I was too astonished to speak; simply
looked at him with my mouth open.
''Well, Macumazahn," he said, putting
his head ON one side like bird and nod
ding his white lock in q comical fashion,
cit is all right; have seen her,
''Seen who?' said.
''The STAR your wife, and the little
maic They are much frightened, but
unframed. The babyan-frau watches
them. She is mad, but the balloons obey
her and do not hurt them. The Star was
sleeping from WEAKNESS, SO whispered
in her ear ard told her not to be fright
ened, for you would soon rescue her, and
that meanwhile she must seem to be
pleased to have Hendrika near her."
"You whispered in her ear?" I said.
elbow could you whisper in her carp
"Bah! Macumazahn. How could l
seem to die and go rotten before your
eyes? You don't know, do you? Well,
will tell you one thing. l had to die to
pass the doors of space, as you call them.
| had to draw all the healthy strength
and life from my body in order to gather
power to speak with the Star. 1t was
dangerous business, Macumazahn, for if
had let things go little further they
must have stopped SO, and there would
have been an end of Indaba-zimbi. All,
you white men, you know SO much that
you think you know everything. But
you don't! You are always staring at
the clouds and can't see the things that
lie at your feet. You hardly believe me
now, do you, Macumazahn? Well, will
show you. Have you anything on you
that the Star has touched or worn?">
thought for moment, and said that
| had lock of her hair in my pocket
book. He told me to give it to him.
did SO. Going to the fire, he Lit the lock
Of hair in the flame, and let it burn to
ashes, which he caught in his left hand
These ashes he mixed up in paste with
the Juice of one of the leaves of the plant
have spoken of.
''Now, Macumazahn, shut your eyes,"
he said.
did SO, and he rubbed his paste on my
eyelids At first it burnt me, then my
head swan strangely. Presently this eff
feet passed off, and my brain was per-
fectly clear again, but | could not feel
the ground with my feet Indaba-zimbi
led me to the side of the stream Beneath
us was pool of beautifully clear water.
look into the pool, Macumazahn,"
said Indaba-zimbi, and his voice sounded
lNNI1O e.,