Evening star., 1909-03-14
late. and laid their causes before them 10

late. and laid their causes before them for
judgment. These causes Eddo and his
fellow priests heard and settled as seemed
best TO them. nor did any dare to dispute
their rulings. Indeed. even when they
deposed a high chief and set another in
his place. the man who had lost all knelt
before them and thanked them for their
goodness Also they tried criminals who
had stolen women or committed murder,
but they never ordered such men to be
slain outright. Sometimes EddO would
look at them drea amily and curse them in
his slow. kissing voice. bidding them
waste in body and in mind. as he had done
20 the soldier at Umgugundhlovu. and die
within one year. or two. or three. as the
case might be. Or sometimes If the crime
was very bad. he would command that
they should be sent to travel in the
desert" that is wander 20 and fro with
out food or water until death found them.
Now and again misera able-lOoking men,
mere skeletons. with hollow cheeks. and
eyes that seemed to start from their
heads, would appear at their camp weep
ing and imploring that the curse which
had been laid upon them In past days
should be taken off their heads At such
people Eddo and his brother priests. Pani
and Hama. would laugh softly. asking
them how they throve upon the wrath OF
the Mother of the Trees. and whether
they thought that others who saw them
would be encouraged to sin as they had
done. But when the poor WretcheS prayed
!
the spear. the priests shrank up in horror
beneath their umbrellas. and asked if they
were mad that they should wish TO ''sprin-
kie their trees with blood.
One morning a number OF these be-
witched EmkuluS. men. women and chill
dren. appeared, and when the three priests
Knocked them. as was their wont. and the
! guards. some of whom were their own
relatives sought to beat them away with
! sticks. threw themselves upon the ground
and burst into weeping. Rachel. who was
camped at little distance with Noie. Ill
reed tent that the guard had made for
her. which they folded up and carried as
they did the umbrellas, heard the sound
OF this lament alton and came out FOL
| lowed by Noie. For a space she stood
| contempat ting their misery with tro,I-
| bled air then asked Eoie why these peo-
pie seemed so starved and why they wept.
| Mole told her that when she was on her
embassy the head of their kraal. an en-
! ormous man of middle age. whom she
pointed out to Rachel. had sought to de-
tain her because she was beautiful. and he
wished to make her his wife. although he
knew well that she was on an embassy 10
! the Mother of the Trees. She had escaped,
but il was for this reason that the curse
of which they were perishing had been
| laid upon him and his folk.
/ Now Rachel went on to where the three
priests sat beneath their umbrellas doing
| away the hours of sunlight. beckontng To
the doomed family to follow her.
Wake priests" she cried in loud
voice and they looked up astonished
rubbing their eyes. and asked what was
the matter.
This" said Rachel. II command you
! to lift the weight of your mailed :ction on
the head of these people. who have suf-
| fered enough.
| Thou commandest u.s. exclaimed Ed
do. astonished. And If We will not
! Beautiful One. what them"
| Then" answered Rachel Il will lift
II and set it on to your heads and you
shall perish they are perishing. Oh!
you think me mad. you priests, who Kill
more cruelty than did the Zulus and mad
/ am whose spirit wanders. Yet 1 tell
you that new powers grow within me
though whence they come ! know not, and
what | say I can perform"
| Now they stared at her. muttering to-
gether. and sending for a wooden bowl
peeped into IT, Whatever it was they saw
there did not please them for at length
k,ddo addressed the crowd of suppliants,
lsaying:
The Mother of Trees forgives the kno;
she tied she looses: the tree she planted
she digs up. You are forgiven. Bones
put OH strength: mouths, receive food