Page:Swahili tales.djvu/65

Rh make your plans." And he said, "I have no plan, my plan is finished, it is to give you the clothes, and the dowry, and the mkaja, and the turban, and the ubeleko."

"Well, then, give me quickly, that I may take them before the sun sets." And he said, "They are all ready, I have finished laying them out; I waited for you to take them, and you ask for them, all is ready." "Go inside and give me quickly, I am busy and I will go way."

The man went inside and took the dowry, and he took the turban, and he took the mkaja, and he took the ubeleko. And then he said, "And the feet-washing, take it, and the door-opening, take it." And he said, "The gift in the hand, I will take myself. So go and take them with compliments, I here am ready, and am waiting for them to come and call me."

And he went out and took all that had been given him, and went to the bride's father; he was not there, and he said to his wife, "Where is your husband gone?" "He told us he was going round behind to a neighbour's to play at Tiabu, and he directed us if the messenger should come, a child should call him."

And he said, "Call him to me then quickly, and I wait for him here." And a child got up and ran there behind to the neighbour's and saw her father playing Tiabu, and waved her hand to him to call him. And her father understood, and he said, "I am leaving the party, a child has come to call me, perhaps there is something going on at home." And they said, "Look sharp and go."

And he went home and saw his messenger waiting for him on the baraza. "Hollo! you are come." He says, "I am come, master." "The news of where you come from?" And he said, "The news of where I come from is very good, and more, it is gladdening, and more, it is pleasing, your pledge is come; first, this dowry; secondly, these clothes;