en I was very small, and I now recollect
one, which is not very long, about Maranda, a wife of one of the Basoko
warriors, called Mafala."

Maranda's father was named Sukila, and he lived in the village of Chief
Busandiya. Sukila owned a fine large canoe and many paddles, which he
had carved with his own hand. He possessed also several long nets which
he himself also made, besides spears, knives, a store of grass-cloths,
and a few slaves. He was highly respected by his countrymen, and sat by
the chief's side in the council place.

As the girl grew to be fit for marriage, Mafala thought she would suit
him as a wife, and went and spoke of it to Sukila, who demanded a slave
girl, six long paddles ornamented with ivory caps, six goats, as many
grass-cloths as he had fingers and toes, a new shield, two axes, and two
field-hoes. Mafala tried to reduce the demand, and walked backwards and
forwards many times to smoke pipes with Sukila, and get him to be less
exacting. But the old man knew his daughter was worth the price he had
put upon her, and that if he refused Mafala, she would not remain long
without a suitor. For a girl like Maranda is not often seen among the
Basokos. Her limbs were round and smooth, and ended in thin, small
hands and feet. The young men often spoke about Maranda's light,
straight feet, and quick-lifting step. A boy's arm could easily enclose
the slim waist, and the manner in which she carried her head, and the
supple neck and the clear look in her eyes belonged to Maranda only.

Mafala, on the other hand, was curiously unlike her. He always seemed
set on something, and the lines between the eyebrows gave him a severe
face, not pleasant to see, and you always caught something in his eyes
that made you think of the glitter which is in a serpent's eye.

Perhaps that was one reason why Sukila did not care to have him for his
daughter's husband. At any rate, he would not abate his price one
grass-cloth, and at last it was paid, and Maranda passed over from her
father's house into that of her husband.

Soon after, the marriage Maranda was heard to cry out, and it was
whispered that she had learned much about Mafala in a few days, and that
blows as from a rod had been heard. Half a moon passed away, and then
all the village knew that Maranda had fled to Busandiya's house, because
of her husband's ill-treatment. Now the custom in such a case is that
the father keeps his daughter's dowry, and i