Page:The New Negro.pdf/142

114 just accident. . . Goare go shuioa go elui ruri(when men die they depart for ever)they hadn't seen him fall. . hunting, one watches the hunt. . . a stray arrow. . . Konombju at her feet. ..

preparations for the funeral feast ... the seven wives of Konombju went to the new chief's hut. . . Mrabo. . . one. . two. . three. . he counted. . . no Sahdji. . .six. .seven. . no Sahdji. ..

the funeral procession filed past the door. . . and Mrabo. . . Mrabo went too. . the drums beat their boom. . boom. . . deep pulsing heart-quivering boom. . . and the reeds added their weird dirge. . . the procession moved on. . .on to Konombju's hut. . . boom. . b-o-o-m. . . ..

there from the doorway stepped Sahdji. . . painted in the funeral red. . . the flames from the ground are already catching the branches. . . slowly to the funeral drums she swayed. . . danced. . . leading Konombju to his grave. . . her grave. . . their grave.

they laid the body in the funeral hut. . . Goa shoa motho go sale motho)))(when a man dies a man remains)Sahdji danced slowly . . . sadly . . . looked at Mrabo and smiled . . . slowly triumphantly . . . and to the wails of the wives . . . boom-boom of the drums . . . gave herself again to Konombju . . . the grass-strewn couch of Konombju. ..

Mrabo stood unflinching. . . but Numbo, silly Numbo had made an old. . old man of Mrabo.