And now he seeks what we have not got to give, in
order that he may force a quarrel upon us and murder us. There is nought
left for us to give Lobengula. You have your answer."
"Indeed!" replied the envoy with a sneer. "How comes it, then, that
yonder I see a waggon laden with goods, and oxen in the yokes? Yes,"
he repeated with meaning, "with goods whereof we have known the like
at Buluwayo; for Lobengula also sometimes buys guns from white men, O!
little Makalanga. Come now, give us the waggon with its load and the
oxen and the horses, and though it be but a small gift, we will take it
away and ask nothing more this year."
"How can I give you the property of my guests, the white men?" asked the
Molimo. "Get you gone, and do your worst, or you shall be thrown from
the walls of the fortress."
"Good, but know that very soon we shall return and make an end of
you, who are tired of these long and troublesome journeys to gather so
little. Go, tend your corn, dwellers in Bambatse, for this I swear in
the name of Lobengula, never shall you see it ripen more."
Now the crowd of listening Makalanga trembled at his words, but in the
old Molimo they seemed only to rouse a storm of prophetic fury. For a
moment he stood staring up at the blue sky, his arms outstretched as
though in prayer.
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