English hussars. Then the adult captives in gangs of twenty, bearing
the plunder Ferodia had taken from the Arabs. Then the boy captives, at
the head of whom was Abdullah, whose white face and body obtained
universal notice. Then five hundred warriors bringing up the rear, each
head decorated according to the caprice of its owner, with feathers, and
red, white, and blue cloth.

The nine hundred warriors were formed around the square, while the
captives, after depositing their loads near the great tree in the centre
of the square--the cloth bales by themselves, the beads in a separate
pile, the boxes by themselves, the kettles, pots, pans, and
miscellaneous goods by themselves, the powder barrels and bullets by
themselves, and the guns by themselves--formed a circle around the tree.

Katalambula was seated on his mud bench or sofa, which was garnished on
this occasion with over a score of lion and leopard skins. In his hand
was a short rod, to the end of which was neatly fixed a giraffe's tail,
with which he negligently whisked the flies from his face.

The multitude which we first saw outside the gate had climbed upon the
roofs of the square tembes, and looked down now intent upon the
warriors, the slaves, the plunder, and the king, seated with Kalulu and
the grey-headed elders and councillors of the tribe under the tree.

Ferodia stood with spear in hand alone in the centre of the inner circle
formed by the ring of slaves, and close to the great heaps of spoil he
had taken from the camp of the Arab traders. His attitude was
unmistakeably grand, and spoke the proud chieftain. A broad robe of
crimson blanket cloth, which trailed to the ground, was tied in a knot
over his left shoulder, leaving his right shoulder free. There was a
dead silence; not a word was heard from the warriors or from the
multitudes. Then the mild voice of Katalambula was heard, saying:

"Ferodia, we have expected thee. We have heard of thy great success;
how thyself and the Watuta warriors have triumphed over the Arab
traders. Speak, our ears are open."

Then Ferodia replied: "O King, and ye elders of our tribe! I was sent
by Katalambula to bear presents to his friends, the Warori chiefs; and,
as I had concluded, I was thinking of returning to Ututa, when Olimali
sent word to my camp that the Arabs--the traders from the sea--had come
to his country with an immense store of cloth and beads. He said they
were of those who had slain