Part 19 (2/2)
”The Rock of the Great Sin!” he slowly repeated, gazing at me in astonishment. ”Thou, O friend, art not alone in seeking to discover it?”
”Not alone?” I cried. ”Who seeketh it beside myself?”
”A white man who came to Uganda by smoke-boat across the Victoria Nyanza.”
”What was his name?” I asked, eagerly.
”I know not. He was a Roumi of the English, and one of Allah's accursed.”
”Didst thou have speech with him?”
”Yea, he sought me at Masaka eight moons ago, and knowing that I had led my master's caravan across the forest may times, asked me whether I could direct him to the Rock of the Great Sin, and--”
”And didst thou guide him thither?” I demanded, breathlessly.
”Nay. He offered two bags of gold and ten guns to any who would guide him thither, but unfortunately neither myself nor any of my followers knew its whereabouts.”
”Why did this tou bab (European) desire to discover it?” I asked.
”He did not reveal. I told him that within the rock was the place of torment prepared for unbelievers, but my words only increased his curiosity and anxiety to find it,” and the thick-lipped headman grinned.
”Then thou canst give me absolutely no information,” I observed, disappointedly. ”Hast thou, in the course of thy many journeys afar, learned nothing of its existence beyond what the wise men and story-tellers relate?”
”Since I left Masaka I have, in truth, learned one thing,” he answered, his capacious mouth still full of food.
”What is it? Tell me,” I cried.
Ngalyema hesitated for a moment, then answered,--
”Three moons ago, during a raid upon one of the villages of the Wamb.u.t.ti pigmies, three days' march into the forest from Ipoto, one of the dwarfs of the woods who fell into our hands told me he knew the whereabouts of the rock, and that it was far away, many, many days' journey in the forest, and quite inaccessible.”
”In which direction?”
”I know not,” the headman answered. ”The dwarf had been wounded by a gunshot, and pleaded for the release of his wife. I kept him while I settled a dispute which had arisen about some ivory we had discovered in the settlement, intending to question him further, but when I returned to where I had left him he was dead.”
”And his wife? Did she know anything?”
”No; she had heard of the rock as the dwelling-place of some pagan spirit that they feared, but knew not where it was situated.”
”Then, whither dost thou advise me to search for information? Among the pigmies of the Wamb.u.t.ti?”
”Yea. It is evident they are aware of its existence, though apparently they regard it as a sacred spot, and guard the secret of its existence jealously. The manner in which the dwarf appealed to me, declaring that he would disclose the secret if I released his wife, showed that he believed he was imparting to me information of the highest importance.
What is hidden there I cannot tell; but it is strange that both the white man and thyself should desire to rest thine eyes upon it.”
”I have taken an oath to a woman to endeavour to discover it,” I answered, simply. ”I will accompany thee in thy return towards the country of the pigmies and continue my search among them.”
”If thou goest among them, may the One Merciful grant thee mercy,”
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