sent it off by a swift
runner. None of the fighting men could read, and by the time they had
fingered it and talked over it Ma appeared.

She liked best, however, to appeal to the good side of the chiefs, and
get them to meet and reason and settle their affairs themselves. She
called it the Jesus way; they called it the God-woman way; learned men
would call it "the art of self-government."

On page 89 a picture is given of one of these palavers. It was in a
green glade in the forest four miles away. The chiefs of the two tribes,
who sat opposite each other under coloured umbrellas, were dressed in
gorgeous clothes and ringed round by armed men. Ma took her place
between them and began to knit, for the natives love to talk, and she
knew the palaver would be a long one. Besides, she never felt quite so
nervous when she knitted. First one spoke and then another, and the long
hours passed, and Ma's back began to ache, but still the talking went
on, and the excitement rose to fever-heat. Darkness fell with a rush,
and torches were lit and threw a weird light on the scene.

"Enough!" cried Ma. "Come, let us end."

An old chief went over all that had been said, and Ma gave the verdict,
which pleased both sides.

Then, as was the custom, a warrior from each party stood forward, blood
was drawn from their hands and mixed with salt and pepper and corn; and
half being given to one man and half to the other, they swallowed their
portions at the same moment. This was the terrible blood covenant
sealing the peace between tribes, and none ever dared to break it.

The sitting had lasted ten hours, and Ma was tired and hungry, but she
walked back in the moonlight feeling very happy.

So with a love that never wearied, with a patience that never gave in,
with a humour that never failed, Ma gradually put down the evil order of
things far and near. Year by year she grew in power, and from her house
ruled over thousands of people. She was really the Queen of Okoyong.
This was a marvellous thing, for at that time all the country belonged
to chiefs, and they could do as they liked.

By and by a change came, and Britain took charge of the land and placed
Consuls in the various districts. When Ma heard of it, she said: "You
mustn't send one here. If you do there will be trouble, for my people
are proud and fierce, and will fight."

"Well, Miss Slessor," the Government replied, "you know them best. Why
not do the work yourself?"

And