A voice from the Congo : comprising stories, anecdotes, and descriptive notes . elves behind the trees at the edge of the was daylight by this time and the Manyema weremoving about among the huts. Naonga! (I say) called Ioko from the it true that our women are alive ? It is indeed true, replied Muini Khamici, whowas well enough acquainted with the Aruwimi dia-lects. Ioko called again from the woods: I bring anelephants tusk for Kaolenge and her child; but firstlet me hear her voice, that I may know you speaktruly. After a short consultation a womans voice calledfrom the vill
A voice from the Congo : comprising stories, anecdotes, and descriptive notes . elves behind the trees at the edge of the was daylight by this time and the Manyema weremoving about among the huts. Naonga! (I say) called Ioko from the it true that our women are alive ? It is indeed true, replied Muini Khamici, whowas well enough acquainted with the Aruwimi dia-lects. Ioko called again from the woods: I bring anelephants tusk for Kaolenge and her child; but firstlet me hear her voice, that I may know you speaktruly. After a short consultation a womans voice calledfrom the village: I am Kaolenge. Oh Ioko, I am your Kaolenge. Ioko then stepped boldly forward, and laying thetusk upon the ground, he retreated again behindthe trees. Several of the Manyema pointed theirguns to the forest to protect themselves from anytreachery on the part of the natives, whilst othersrushed for the tusk, which they carried to MuiniKhamici, who stood by the entrance to the stockade. Orders were then given to free Kaolenge, andwhen the bonds were cut from the poor womans. A Bateke Drawn by the Author THE TALE OF A TUSK OF IVORY 133 arms, she caught up her baby and fled like a deer tothe forest, crying piteously. Ioko seized her by thewrist and led her further into the Forest, when shefell cowering upon the ground at his feet, sobbingdeeply, as she clasped her baby tightly to her breast. During the next few days, many other womenwere ransomed by their masters, and when there wasno longer any prospect of obtaining more ivory fromYabuli, Muini Khamici and his gang evacuated thevillage, taking with them the remaining slaves—men, women, and children. They were now boundfor Kizingiti, having obtained the amount of ivoryexpected of them by the Arabs. Crossing the Aruwimi River in native canoes, thecaravan, which now numbered about three hundredpeople, two-thirds of whom were slaves, started onan overland march to the Congo River, which wasreached at a place called Yangambi. This
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1910
