Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-05-16
QUEER AFRICAN CHIEF.
Lion skins and Has = Hundred
Dusky Wives.

Mpesenis hut is buiit in the usual
circular shape, only muck larger than
the other ones around it. When enter
ing the outer inclosure the people
shout out "Byeti" (the royal salute),
and when crawling into the hat, the
entrance to which is only sesae two
and a half feet high. the same saluta-
tion is repeated. When I entered the
hut first | could not distinguish any.
thing until my eyes got used to the
darkness. Then discovered that
there were some Is people sitting on
the ground, while in the center. on a
little heap of cleth, was seated aa old
man clad in dirty flannel shirt. and
with some cheap priDt around his loins.
This, says writer in the British Cen
tral African Gazette, was the great
Mpesenil
sat down on the cushion I had
brought with me for that purpose,
and according te the usual custom.
waited until he should address me with
the usual "Ndiona inu" Il see von).
For fully five minutes nobody smoke n
word: all the while he was staring at
me with his big PlarinR eves--a stare
which I returned, and then. AT last.
he addressed me with the above men
toned words, whereupon I replied:
"Ndiona bamba" II see you. fnther).
Anyhow, IL had taken him long time
TO discover me in spite Of my six feet
six inches, but was told that this Is
his usual way; TO stare at his visitors
for long time and try TO stare them
out. | then brought forth my ''milan-
du," telling him that Chuaula, whom
his men had raided, was friend OF
mine, and ! wanted to ask him to re.
lease the prisoners. This he promised
to do, and messengers were dispatched
at once TO call the induna who had sent
the party raiding. Also men were
sent TO call in the other chief, whose
raiding party to Chinundo had in
tercepted.
Mpeseni speaks, or, at any rate, un.
derstands, Chikunda and Chinyanja
very well, and | could converse with
him without an interpreter. The day
Of my arrival lion had been killed
by his men, and the skin had been
brought to him, as the law prescribes
In his hut noticed at least dozen
lion skins. and was told that nobody
In the country except himself Is al.
lowed to keep one. At night they are
spread out and form hrs bed. Though
Mpeseni is between co and 40 years
old he is still hale and hearty. On the
second day he made me a present in
the shape OF a COW, and | then sent
him some cloth. In my tent | was al.
ways molested by his people, who came
TO beg, but they were not very success
ful. Mpeseni has been spoiled by Law.
ish giving Of presents
A white man in .Mpeseni's country
Is little respected. They will enter
your tent. sit down, get hold OF any
thing they fancy and say: MAKE me a
present OF 1t. my friend" and not un;Ii
! had treated one OF my "friends"
somewhat cayalierly and sent him ny-
ing out Of my tent in spite Of his wax
crown (Which signifed him as an in
duna) was left in peace. II one were
10 attempt 10 satisfy all the wants OF
Mpesenfs wives one would soon be-
come bankrupt, as he has 100 or more,
and they all come to beg. The king"
las | have heard him called) h. 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
~ other people have given him run
and revolver he was rather disappont-
ed TO find me 30 obstinate.
When, after four days waiting, the
two aforementioned indunas did not
turn up, although Mpeseni had sent
repeatedly for them, went myself.
Mpeseni is really "a dummy, and his
indunas do whatever they like. "Chi-
peta country" he said, ~ have con.
quered long before the white men ever
came to the lake. What right had
they?' What right had your" / asked
sin Asenga, Ulala, Bisa and Achewa
country" "0h, | was the stronger.
Does not lion kin the gamer he said.
"And does not the white man kill the
lion when proyoked?" was my reply,
with silence on his part.
Truly royal manners prevail at
hpeseni's court. In his hut the pee.
pie do not spit on the ground. but
against the mud-plastered wall. and
carefully rub IL out with the hand.
Only Mpeseni himself enjoys the privi-
lege 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.