for whom we all mourn. To Kona, head man
of the Dagombas of the forest, I owe my life, and he shall be chief of
our army and of our body-guard, and his native followers shall themselves
be the principal members of the guard. And Scarsmere," he said, turning
towards me, "Scarsmere hath been my friend and companion across the great
black water; he knoweth not fear, for together we have been held by
Samory and Prempeh, and have yet managed to preserve our lives. Since I,
your Naba, left Mo by the Way of the Thousand Steps, and entered the land
of the white men, Scarsmere hath been my friend and companion, therefore
all shall treat him with due respect, for although he cometh from the
wonderful land afar he shall be Governor of this our city and Keeper of
our Treasure-house. He is the trusted and faithful friend of your Naba,
and all shall regard him as highest in favour."

"We greet thee, Goliba!" enthusiastically cried the surging crowd. "We
greet thee, Niaro, Custodian of the Gate! We greet thee, Kona, a savage
but great chieftain! Thou art head of our army! We greet thee, Scarsmere,
the friend of our royal Naba, and Governor of Mo! We, the people, accept
you, and have confidence in your rule. Ye are all great, and are worthy
of the offices to which ye have been raised. May your names be exalted
above all others, and your faces be as beacons unto us!"

And they shouted themselves hoarse in cheering, seeing in the
enthronement of the young Naba the dawn of a just and beneficent rule.
Their adulations became louder, and even more profuse, when Omar
proceeded to appoint others, well known and popular, to various offices
connected with the palace.

"Happy," cried the white-bearded sages who had taken their places behind
the throne--"happy is the prince whose trust is in Zomara and whose
wisdom cometh from the King of the River."

"Happy," cried the people, humbling themselves--"happy is our Naba, the
favourite of the Crocodile-god, the one from whose wrath all flee."

"That," replied Omar, "O people, is too much even for the Naba of Mo to
hear. But may Zomara approve of my thoughts and actions! So shall the
infernal powers destroy the wretches that employ them, and the arrows
recoil upon those who draw a bow upon us. But, O sages, though your
numbers are reduced your integrity is more tried and approved; therefore
let Omar, your Naba, partake of the sweetness of your counsels and learn
from aged experience the wisdom of