Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 168: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

158 lighting a cigar and the tones of the voice irritably demanding the preparation of his rubber-bath was observed solemnly by the circle of boys and warriors tickling their curiosity while their wives, mothers and sisters toiled in the blazing sun in the fields. As the’ purple shadows elongated, came a procession from the hill, led by the tall chief, Basafingu. Advancing to within three feet of the white man, he squatted down. His followers placed before him two elephant tusks of great weight and good condition. According to the etiquette of a great chief the little doctor pretended not to notice their presence. For some minutes he continued to smoke his cigar, interested in the swelling of the sun as it sank within the humid atmosphere above the trees. As silently and abstractedly sat Basa- fingu and his ebon retainers. From another green tent, the replica of the doctor’s, emerged Ali in the green turban and a green gown and, stalking with much dignity, sank upon a stool beside the doctor without as much as a twitch of the eyelid to ac knowledge the presence of the young chief. In impressed silence the audience of warriors and boys and children watched the statuesque poses of the actors. At last Ali gravely permitted his eyes to rest upon Basafingu and, turning very slowly, ob- served quietly: ‘There appears to be some of the savages bearing presents for you, Doctor. Probably it would be as well to observe them now.” “Probably it would,’’ assented the doc- tor. “This sort of thing gets on my nerves. You bargain and begin the debate, Ali.” “Permit your eyes to see them, and I will speak.” The doctor accordingly turned his head and regarded the gathering with a bored stare. After some five minutes of formal greetings Ali obs¢rved: “The chief, Basayaguru, the father of this person, sends you these unworthy and trifling presents. Nod your head with the utmost carelessness, Doctor. Perfectly ad- mirable, sir. He intimates,that he will be pleased to receive you in audience upon the morrow before the sun is yet high. Nod again if you please, and I will dismiss these savages.” ra Ali made the set reply, whereupon the young chief, apparently impressed, re- sponded and rose. But, when the bearers of sir. “Not of divinity, I trust?” queried the little man with a twitching lip. “Tt is injudicious to exhibit levity in the presence of the ignorant,’’ admonished Ali vely. “Perfectly correct, Ali, perfectly correct. But what may the creature want?” “He is, I deduce, the tribal medicine- man.” - “Oh. A brother witch-doctor, begad! Um. Er—just the beggar we ought to ~ make friends with, eh, Ali? What does he want?” “As ever in this world among the infidel, he wishes undoubtedly a present of worldly goods of some denomination.” “Talk, man, for heaven’s sake, talk,” snapped the little doctor, “or I shall have to go into the tent to laugh. Ask him what the current ju-ju is.” “The moment is most inopportune,” retorted Ali woodenly. “With your per- mission I will instruct Yamagulu to present him with two knives and a small bale of cloth and your/most august r ay “All right, but add a Snider to the re- spects. And find out how much we can buy him for?” are ; ‘The time is most injudic——” “Never mind; try him.” “As you wish, Doctor.” After commanding the head man, “Yama- gulu, to bring the presents specified, Ali engaged the witch-Goctor in polite conver- sation regarding the exalted status of the mbites bi all tah epperiaes to him and the imaginary obj of the expedi- > - : s i 4 “a “3 * ; * é -