th, health, health, and peace.

Finally, after going through the ceremony of greeting, like an assiduous
old diplomat that he was, he asked:

"Whence come ye, my brothers? and what is your purpose?"

The chief of the party of chiefs, who was the spokesman, answered, "Why
should we come thus far, O Ferodia, if it were not to greet thee as King
of all the Watuta? Katalambula, the great King, is dead. He is no
more. There is nothing left of him. He is in the ground. The Watuta
tribes have now no leader, no chief, no king; they are like unto the
flocks on the plain, bleating for the shepherd that cannot be found.
They are going astray after one who is not old enough to be their
shepherd. They have elected the boy Kalulu, who is but a child, and is
not yet a warrior. He is like unto an infant just weaned, who seeketh
the pap refused him. Katalambula being dead, Kalulu is drowned in
tears; verily, he has lost his head from sorrow, for he is but a child,
and has lost his friend and father, and knoweth not what to do.
Wherefore, we came unto thee, O Ferodia, to ask thee to be our shepherd,
our leader, our king. Say, what is thy answer?"

Ferodia answered softly: "The words thou hast spoken are words of truth,
my brother. Katalambula being dead, the Watuta have lost their leader.
Kalulu, in truth, is but a child--but a child completely spoiled. Any
of my boy-slaves were fitter to be king of the warlike Watuta than he.
Who is Kalulu? He is not a matuta, he is not a warrior, he is not the
son of Katalambula, he has not won the right to carry a spear, save as a
burden. He is a Mrori, the son of Mostana, one of a stranger tribe.
Katalambula being dead, the Watuta have no leader. But who has a better
right to fill his place than I, Ferodia? Who won his battles for him,
but I, Ferodia? Who conquered the Wabona, the Wumarungu, the Wakonongo,
the Wanyamwezi, the Wasowa, the Wakawendi, and the Warimba, but I,
Forodia? By my fame I have won the right to succeed him who is dead.
By my courage in the field, there is none fitter to take his place. By
my victories, I have deserved the honour. Verily, thy words are words
of truth, my brother, and thou makest me glad with thy wise remarks."

"Speak, Ferodia, O chief, when wilt thou that we go and punish Soltali,
and those who have chosen another in thy place?" asked the spokesman of
his visitors.

Whereupon a council was called, to which all the chiefs and all the
great