Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-04-14
An Effective Fetish.

Ngalyema was an African, and an en-
terprising trader in ivory and slaves, hold
ing the position of chief of the Stanley
Pool district. He had demanded, wrote
Sir Henry M. Stanley in his recently pub
liShed autobiography" and also receiv-
ed, a goodly sum for granting Stanley the
privilege of establishing station where
up-river navigation begins. Time passed
and Ngalyema chose to forget his trans
action, and made an impudent demand
form money. Duly warned, however,
Stanley had.prepared surprise for him.
had hung great Chinese gong con-
spicuously near the principal tent. All
my men were hidden, some in the steam
boat on top OF the wagon, and in its shad-
ow was cool place, where the warriors
would gladly rest after ten-mile march.
Others OF my men lay still as death under
tarpaulnS under bundles OF grass, and in
the bush round the camp. BY the time
the drum-taps and horns announced
Ngalyema'S arrival, the camp seemed
practically abandoned.
Ngalyema was strangely cold at my
hearty greeting, and said, elias not
my brother forgotten his road? What
does he mean by coming to this country2"
"Nay, it is Ngalyema who has forgot
Ten the blood-bond that exists between
us. 1t is Ngalyema who has forgotten
the mountains of goods which paid him.
What words are these OF my brother ?"
Speech and counter-speech followed.
Ngalyema had exhausted his arguments
but it was not easy TO break faith and be
uncivil without plausible excuse. His
eyes were reaching round to discover an
to fight, when they rested on. the round,
burnishen face of the Chinese gong. r.
"What is that?" he said.
"Ah, that is fetish"
IA fetish A fetish for what?"
at is a war fetish, Ngalyema. The
slightest sound OF that would fillthiS emp
ty camp with hundreds Of angry warriors;
they would drop from above, they would
spring up from the ground, from the forest
about, from everywhere" :"
"Sho! Tell that story to the old women
and not to a. chief like Ngalyema. My
boy tells me it is a kind OF bell. Strike 1t
and let me hear it,"
80 Ngalyema, my brother, the conse-
uuenceS would be too dreadful! Do not
think OF such thing!"
"Strike it, | say"
struck it hard and fast, and the clan
gorous roll rang out like thunder in the
stiffness.
Only for a few seconds, however, for
tempest ofhuman voices was heard burst
ing into frightful discords, and from,a above,
right upon the heads OF the astonished
warriors, leaped yelling men; and from
tents, the huts, the forest round about,
they came by skies. dozerS and scores,
yelling like madmen, and seemingly ami
mated with uncomfortable rage.
The painted warriors became panic
stricken; they forgot their chief and all
thoughts of loyalty, and fled ON the in
stant, fear lifting their heels high in the
air.
But Nagalyema and his son did not fly.
They caught the tails OF my coat, and we
began to dance from side to side, a loving
triplet, myself being foremost, to ward
off the blows savagely aimed at my
"brothers, and cheerfully crying out:
"Hold fast to me, my brothers will
defend you to the last drop OF my blood !
Come one, come all p
Presently the order was given, "Fall
in p and quickly the men stood in two
long lines in beautiful order. Negalyema
relaxed his hold of my coat tails, and
crept from behind, breathing more freely'
"Eh, Mamma p he exclaimed. "Where
did all these people come from ?"
"Ah, Ngalyema, said, "did not tell
YOU it was powerful fetish? Let me
strike it again, and show you what else it
can do
'No, nop' he shrieked. 81 have seen
enough"