ry suggestion of what the mail represented
melted the fetters of this native world as wax in the sun.

Indeed more effort of will was required to return to his god-like throne
upon the camp-bed, and to amble through the etiquette which discussion of
such an important matter demanded, than to carry the idol on his back
through the forest and bear the sound thrashing to boot. Then as a further
test, Bakahenzie slowly developed a dictum that the magic things could not
be permitted to enter the sacred enclosure until they had been disinfected
from the multitude of evil eyes through which they must have passed. At
that the god came near to swearing or weeping, he did not know which.

But as he fumed inwardly he recollected that at any moment Zalu Zako and
his troops might return; or if the battle had gone the other way, then zu
Pfeiffer; in the former case the excitement would still further delay the
goods and mail, and the latter event might entail the complete loss. As
well as the growing irritation caused by Bakahenzie's interminable list of
tabus was the necessity of proclaiming, or rather gaining, his authority
before he could be of any assistance either to Bakuma, the white men or
himself. Indeed he had been waiting the arrival of these goods to secure
the subjection of Bakahenzie to his will. He determined that the trial
should be now. Merely to demand would, he felt, arouse the obstinacy of
the chief witch-doctor, who would never, unless compelled by force or
cunning, give up the reins of power which to him was the _raison d'etre_
of his life. Birnier must attack through the line of least resistance.
With the carriers bearing the mail was a case of "imprisoned stars"
(rockets) and a special cinema outfit, so that Birnier felt that he could
afford to explode the last manifestation of magic which remained to him.
After a judicious interval, he said to Bakahenzie:

"O son of Maliko, is not my tongue the tongue of the Unmentionable One?"

"He who knoweth all things knoweth that which is white," retorted
Bakahenzie.

"Verily. Therefore do thou cause to be brought that which is come, that
which the fingers of the Unmentionable One are hungry to touch. Thou
knowest his power of magic. Therefore are the evil eyes of the multitude
but dry leaves in the wind of his breath."

"Indeed thy words are white, O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands."

"Depart then that the hunger of His fingers may be appeased."

"The drums speak not