Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

AN AFRICAN SECRET. The ordinary African had impressed him as curious only concerning what the passing white man might give him in the way of trinkets. These fellows looked as if they had never seen a white before, and as 1f they were bewildered at discovering such a being. They halted a few paces away, and, paying not the slightest attention to the body of the black, fixed their won- dering eyes upon the living white man. There was a brief interval of silence, and Bradshaw repeated his friendly gesture. The leader responded in kind, and then, in a guttural voice said some- thing which Bradshaw recognized as a very imperfect Dutch patois, but which he could not understand. Guessing that it was an inquiry as to whether he spoke that language, he shook his head and replied, “ No, Eng- lish.” “How much?” asked the leader, then. | Bradshaw smiled, the question was such a plain intimation that this man, at least, had had: dealings with English speaking traders. “I no sell,” he replied, with a strug- gle to limit his speech to the simple words with which these people were probably familiar ; “ I buy-——~” “No! no! ” the black interrupted im- patiently ; “ no sell, no buy. How much you?” and he held up three, four and five fingers in succession. “Oh!” said Bradshaw, “ you want know how many of me? Me, alone,” and he held up one finger. He inferred that a question of this sort referred jonly to the number of whites in his party, blacks seldom counting for anything to their fellow natives. The leader’s face was stolid, but it was fairly evident that he received the statement with incredulity, so Brad- shaw continued persuasively : “Me friend. Mecross country. Me pav vou. No want land. No want ivory.” 193 This eloquent address was intended to convey the idea that he was simply an explorer traveling for personal pleasure, and with no thought of claim- ing any of the country he traversed in behalf of a distant king; and further that he was willing to pay tribute for the privilege of a peaceful transit through the territory occupied by this tribe. If he thought of it at all he took it for granted that they woukd suppose that he was accompanied by a train of pack bearers. Up to this time there had been no difficulty worth mentioning in gaining the assent of tribes to a journey across their lands. Solemnly conducted ne- gotiations always ended with a distri- bution of flimsy trifles to the chief men, and by so doing lightened the burden of one of the carriers to a considerable extent. The black was silent for 2 moment, seeming to consider the matter. Then he said, “ You come talk chief,” which Bradshaw interpreted to mean that he was.invited to conduct his negotiations at the tribe’s headquarters. It occurred to him then to wonder what had become of Pan, for that ac- complished linguist was essential to the satisfactory transaction of business with the natives, and moreover, on all previous similar occasions Pan had stood at his side from the beginning to vouch for him and clear up knotty points either in language or the terms of the bargain. Pan was not in evidence, although of necessity he could not be far away. Bradshaw was impelled to call to him, but so great was his confidence in Pan's loyalty and shrewd sense that -he re- frained from doing so, telling himself that Pan’s absence must be owing to some good reason that would appear in due time. Accordingly Bradshaw nodded as- sent to the leader’s suggestion, and the leader, after a glance at the dead black and a few words to hiswuniranors 7 CO