Part 42 (1/2)

”They get too fat,” Kaiso explained. ”Suppose I not do that. Fat wife too slow. No good. No.”

Every day of our sojourn in the country of the Gualichu brought some new pleasure. As far as I can remember, the programme was somewhat as follows:--

_First day_. A grand hunt and battue in the forest, in which all hands engaged, even to the women and children. We killed many pumas, foxes as big as wolves, and other beasts and birds innumerable.

_Second day_. A great fis.h.i.+ng expedition, with a feast of fish in the evening. We were more than astonished to-day to see little boys and girls leap from cliffs over a hundred feet high into deep pools in the river beneath. They also allowed themselves to be carried over a waterfall, and when we white folks thought we should never again behold them, lo! they bobbed up like seals close to our feet, smiling, and thinking it the best fun in the world.

_Third day_. A kind of circus. Marvellous display of horsemans.h.i.+p by Kaiso's people. We tried to persuade Peter to display his prowess, but he begged to be excused owing to the b.u.mps. Dance in the evening.

_Fourth day_. The marriage of a subordinate chief. This marriage was made on purpose to gratify us, for the chief had no particular desire to enter the holy bonds. Kaiso's word was law, however. There was a grand procession to bring the bride home, and a wild ride all round the plain, with much clapping of hands, singing, and shouting.

_Fifth day_. This was our last, and I shall never forget it. It was to be devoted to harmless dancing and other frolics. But unfortunately some of Kaiso's men who had been away at Santa Cruz arrived in the forenoon, bringing with them a large keg of rum.

”Now,” said Castizo to us, ”the Gualichu has come in earnest.”

I am sorry to say that the rejoicing among the male portion of King Kaiso's little community was universal, as soon as that keg of fire-water was broached. Even old quiet men, of whom there were several in camp, smacked their lips and grew garrulous in their glee.

To do him justice, Kaiso shared the poison liberally among his braves.

After which, dancing and the wildest revelry became the order of the day. Everything, however, pa.s.sed off pleasantly enough till near sunset, when some disagreement between two of the warriors was to be fought out with knives upon the spot. In this they were disappointed, however, for the women had taken the precaution to hide all warlike weapons. The warriors, however, were not to be entirely baulked in their designs. They commenced therefore to fight literally with teeth and nails, like wild beasts. The desire to tear each other spread through the camp like wild-fire. Donnybrook Fair was never anything to the scene we now witnessed.

We white folks stood aloof and simply looked on. It is dreadful to have to say that several men were killed with stones in this inhuman battle.

In the midst of it all up strode the giant Kaiso, with the keg of rum in his arms, and peace was immediately restored, and more rum distributed.

The men who fought now commenced to sing and to hug each other, and vow eternal friends.h.i.+p; but in the midst of their ill-timed merriment it was heartrending to hear the wail of the women and children over dead husbands and fathers.

Kaiso had gradually changed during the afternoon from a fool to a raving maniac, rus.h.i.+ng around with a bludgeon, felling his men and smas.h.i.+ng the tents. He relapsed into idiocy again, but it was of a mischievous and fiendish kind.

Castizo tried to get him to eat. He would not; but he would drink _mate_ mixed with rum. So our good cacique humoured him, hoping he would soon fall asleep.

Not so soon, however. He called his chiefs together, and waving an arm wildly in our direction, said briefly and fiercely,--

”Wirriow walloo! Eemook noosh. La.s.so!”

His chiefs grinned and retired. But Castizo began to sing; but we could see it was but a ruse. Kaiso joined in with his deep ba.s.s voice, which was more like a lion's roar than anything human. It was a song with a chorus, and a rattling one too, and this we all sang. We certainly were not very like men who were condemned to be strangled with the la.s.so early in the morning, but such had, indeed, been Kaiso's command.

”More rum!” Kaiso would have it. But it told even on the brain of this giant before long, and he toppled back where he sat, and fell into a deep sleep.

What a sigh of relief Peter gave!

I was expecting that pet puma in every minute.

”D'ye think he'll waken?”

”Oh no, he won't wake to-night,” said Castizo.

”We're going to be all hanged in the morning, aren't we?” said Ritchie.

”Yes, that's the order.”

”Well, if I had my way, I'd--”