The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-23
An Effective Fetish.


Stanley Pool district. He had de-
manded, wrote Sir Henry M. Stanley
In his recently published "Autobiog.
raphy." and also received a goodly
sum for granting Stanley the privll-
ege Of establishing a station whore
up-river navigation begins. Time
passed, and Ngalyema chose to for
get this transaction, and made an
impudent demand for more money.
Duly warned, however Stanley had
prepared a surprise for him.
I had hung a great Chinese gong
conspicuously near the princial tent.
All my men were hidden, some in the
steamboat on top of the wagon; and
In Its shadow was cool place, where
the warriors would gladly rest after
ten-mile march. Other of my men
lay still as death under tarpaulins,
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, HAS not
my brother forgotten his road? What
does he mean by coming to this
country?"
NAY, it is Ngalyema who has for
ha no.
tween us. 1t is Ngalyema who has
forgotten the mountains of goods
which I paid him. What words are
these of my brother?"
Speech and counter-speech follow
ed. Ngalyema had exhausted his
arguments; but it was not easy to
break faith and be uncivil without
plausible excuse. His eyes reaching
round to discover an excuse to fight,
when they rested on the round. bur-
nished face of the Chinese gong.
What is that?" he said.
"Ah, that--that is a fetish"
"a fetish! A fetish for what?"
ut is war fetish, Ngalyema. The
slightest sound of that would fill this
empty 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 chief like Ngaly-
ema. My boy tells me it is kind Of
bell. Strike it and let me hear it."
20 Ngalyema, my brother, the con-
sequence would be too dreadful! Do
not think of such a thing!"
Strike it say"
1 struck it hard and fast, and the
dangerous roll rang out like thun-
der in the stiffness.
Only for few seconds, however,
for tempest Of human voices was
heard bursting into frightful discords,
and from above, right upon the heads
of the astonished warriors, leaped yell
ling men; and from tents, the huts,
the forest round about, they came by
skies, dozens and scores, yelling like
madmen, and seemingly animated
with uncomfortable rage.
The painted warriors became panic
stricken; they forgot their chief and
all thoughts of loyalty, and fed on
the instant. fear lifting their heels
high in the air.
But Ngalyema and his son did not
fly. They caught the tails of my coat,
and began to dance from side to side,
loving triplet, myself being fore
most, to ward off the blows savagely
aimed at my brothers" and cheer
fully crying cut:
Hold fast to me my brothers! I
will defend you to the last drop of my
blood! Come one, come ALL"
Presently the order was given, Fall
I'M" and quickly the men stood in
two long lines in beautiful order.
Ngalyema relaxed his hold on my
coat tails, and crept from behind,
breathing more freely.
"Eh, Mammal" he exclaimed.
Where did all these people come
from?'
"Ah, Ngalyema," 1 said, did I not
tell you it was a powerful fetish? Let
me strike it again, and show you what
else it can do
mo, no." he shrieked. 81 have
seen enough youths Companion.