adow never
fell upon the entrance to the compound, was gilded by the sun; the mouth
grinned in one corner, one eye was closed in shadow, seemingly like a
prodigious wink.

To the thrumming of the sacred band Bakahenzie was rocking himself to and
fro mumbling incantations. Kawa Kendi squatted immobile, but the others
swayed and grunted softly in rhythm. Then on a sudden did Bakahenzie lift
up his head and cry in a great voice. The drums ceased and the body of
witch-doctors remained motionless, expectant. Bakahenzie dropped his head
and began to chant:

"Behold! I have heard the voice of the trees
Crying softly by night!
Lo! the soul of the plant is in labour!
As a woman with child!
Behold! is she not to break forth?
For she crieth for aid.
Unless she be heard the infant will slip!
The fruit will not be!
The plants will not break!
The milk will be sour!
The beer will be green!
Women will not bear!
Our spears will be blunt!
Our magic will wane!
And He will be wroth!"

"Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
grunted the chorus of the doctors. Then chanted Marufa:

"Lo! I have slept and been that which I must!
Preying swiftly by night!
Behold! I have bloodied my fangs in the throat
Of a mighty bull eland!
Blood succoured the earth and upsprang a plant!
Which panted for blood!
The sap of the plant is the soul of the tree!
Take heed to the thirst
Of Him who first was!
Who lusts for a maid!
Full breasted, soft thighed!
Supple, bow arched!
Clean blooded and strong!
Whose name is forbid!
Whose name is a sin!"

"Who hath stolen the name?" screamed Bakahenzie, leaping to his feet. "Who
is she that hath stolen the name?"

"Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"

As the drums throbbed swifter Bakahenzie began to shuffle in a stooping
posture as if he were snuffing a trail. To the continuous grunting he
continued this dance for fully a quarter of an hour. Then stopping
abruptly in front of the king he screamed:

"Let her be bidden
To come to the feast!
Let her be oiled!
Let her be shaved!
Let her come dancing!
Let her be joyful!
Let her be decked!
Let her be glad!
Lips of the groom
T