The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-17
A CENTRAL AFRICAN CHIEF.
Mpeseni Visited by European in His

Hut.
Mpesenis hut is built of the usual
shape, only much larger than the other
ones around it. When entering the out
er Enclosure the people shout out "Byel
(the royal salute) and when crawling
into the hut, the entrance to which is
only some two and half feet high the
same ealutation is repeated When l
entered the hut first | could not d1stln-
gush anything until my eyes'got used
to the darkness. Then l discovered that
there were some fifteen people sitting
on the ground while in the centre, on
little heap of cloth was seated an old
man clad in a dirty flannel shirt ana
with some cheap print round his IONS
This was the great Mpeseni.
| sat down on the cushion l had
brought with me for that purpose, and,
according to the usual custom, waited
until he should address me with the
usual, "Ndona inu" Il zee you). For
fully five minutes nobody spoke word,
all the while he was staring at me with
his big glazing eyes-a stare when L
returned, and then, at last he address,
ed me with the above mentioned words,
whereupon | replied: "Ndiona bamba'
q see YOU father. Anyhow it had tax
en- him o lang time to discover me IN
spite of my six feet six inches, but |
was told that thia is his usual way;
to stare at his visitors for long time
and try to stare them out. 1 then
brought forth my ''milandu," telling
him that Chuaula, whom his men had
raided, was a friend Of mine, and 1
wanted to ask him to release the prl-
soners. This he promised to do, and
messengers were dispatched at once to
call the induna who had sent the party
raiding. Also men We're sent to call in
the other chief whose raiding party to
Chinunda I had intercepted.
Mpeseni speaks, or, at any rate, I'M
derstands Chikunda and ChinyanJa
very WELL and l could converse with
him without an interpreter. The day OF
my arrival a lion had been killed by
his men, and the skin was brought to
him, as the law prescribes. In his hut
/ noticed at least dozen lion skins, ana
was told that nobody in the country
except himself ie allowed to keep one.
AT night they are spread out and form
his bed Though Mpeseni is between
hale and hearty. On the second day he
made me a present in the shape OF a
COW, and then I sent him some cloth.
In my tent l was always molested by
his people, who came to beg; but they
were not very successful. Mpesenl mas
been spoiled by lavish giving OF pres
ents.
A white man in Mpesenfs country is
little respected They will enter your
tent, sit down, get hold of anything
they fancy and say, Make me pres
ent of it. my friend" and not until
had treated my insolent friends some
what cavalierly and sent him flying out
of my tent, in spite of his wax crown
(Which signified him as an induna), was
/ left in peace. If one were to attempt
to satisfy all the wants of Mpesen1s
wives one would soon become bankrupt,
as he has hundred or more, and they
all come to beg. The king" Gas I have
heard him called is the worst of the
lot as regards begging. During my
stay at least twice every day he sent
and asked me to make him present OF
one of my guns, and as other people
have given him a gun and revolver ne
was rather disappointed to find me so
obstinate.
When, after four days waiting, the
two above mentioned indunas did not
turn up, although Mpeseni had sent re-
peatedly for them, / went myself.
Mpeseni is really dummy, and his in
dumas do whatever they like. "Chipeta
country" he said, II have conquered
long before the white men ever came to
the lake. What right have they?"
what right have you?" l asked, ''in
Asenga, Ulala Bisa and Achewa coun-
try?" ooh, I was the stronger. Does
not a lion kill the game?" he said.
And does not the white man kill the
lion when provoked" was my reply,
with silence on his part.
Truly royal manners prevail at Mpe-
seni's court. In his hut the people 90
not spit on the ground, but against the
mud plastered wall, and carefully rub
it out with the hand. Only Mpeseni
himself enjoys the privilege of using
kind of brush for this delicate ceremony.
The walls Of the hut through the long
usage of years are perfectly glazed now
and polished.-British Central African
Gazette.