. They came to a village
of five huts where dwelt some herdsmen, although most of the cattle had
been driven westwards. Mungongo, seeking at Birnier's suggestion for some
one who had actually been present at the village when zu Pfeiffer
attacked, discovered a young girl who had escaped. He brought the daughter
of Bakala into the presence of Moonspirit still pathetically clutching the
amulet which Marufa had sold her. But from Bakuma, who had fled to the
forest at the first assault and afterwards to this herdsmen's village
where the fact of the tabu would not yet have penetrated, Birnier could
interpret little of value. Of the whereabouts of Zalu Zako she knew no
more than the peasants. She remembered Infunyana, as he had been called on
his previous visit to the City of the Snake, and to her it seemed that a
god had descended from the blue sky personally to aid her. So utterly
incomprehensible and terrifying had the attack appeared that unconsciously
the inevitability of her doom was shaken; if such things could happen, she
felt rather than thought, then who could say what else was possible? She
asked permission to travel with Moonspirit. Birnier, who knew from her
dress, or lack of it, that she was unmarried, smiled as he wondered
whether she was seeking her lover.

Throughout their journey they had not met a single warrior; but as they
neared the place of the king they began to meet groups of them. At the
sight of the first headdress Bakuma bolted into the grass, nor did she
reappear until after they had gone. Later she came to Birnier and asked
permission to hide within his tent when the warriors appeared, and to his
question began to explain the fate to which she had been doomed. Naturally
this account of the Marriage of the Bride of the Banana at the Harvest
Festival was of value as well as of interest to Birnier, from whom it had
been concealed when in the country before. He cross-questioned her and
made notes; but Bakuma could give him practically no details of what
actually happened, a secret well guarded by the craft.

They looked downcast, these warriors, and were doubtful what to do on
meeting another white. Many had never before seen a white man and were
inclined to bestow upon Moonspirit all the attributes which they had given
to Eyes-in-the-hands. Eh! said they, Eyes-in-the-hands is a more powerful
god than the Unmentionable One, for has he not eaten him up?
Eyes-in-the-hands has imprisoned the thunder and