The King of Kazounde is Offered a Punch

           Itwasfouro’clockintheafternoonwhenaloudnoiseofdrums,cymbals,andotherinstrumentsofAfricanoriginresoundedattheendoftheprincipalstreet.Inallcornersofthemarket-placetheanimationwasredoubled.Halfadayofcriesandwrestlinghadneitherweakenedthevoicesnorbrokenthelimbsoftheseabominabletraders.Alargenumberofslavesstillremainedtobesold.ThetradersdisputedoverthelotswithanardorofwhichtheLondonExchangewouldgivebutanimperfectidea,evenonadaywhenstockswererising.

           Allbusinesswasstopped,andthecrierstooktheirbreathassoonasthediscordantconcertcommenced.

           TheKingofKazounde,MoiniLoungga,hadcometohonorthegreat"lakoni"withavisit.Anumeroustrainofwomen,officers,soldiersandslavesfollowedhim.Alvezandsomeothertraderswenttomeethim,andnaturallyexaggeratedtheattentionwhichthiscrownedbruteparticularlyenjoyed.

           MoiniLounggawascarriedinanoldpalanquin,anddescended,notwithouttheaidofadozenarms,inthecenterofthelargesquare.

           Thiskingwasfiftyyearsold,buthelookedeighty.Imagineafrightfulmonkeywhohadreachedextremeoldage;onhisheadasortofcrown,ornamentedwithleopard’sclaws,dyedred,andenlargedbytuftsofwhitishhair;thiswasthecrownofthesovereignsofKazounde.Fromhiswaisthungtwopetticoatsmadeofleather,embroideredwithpearls,andharderthanablacksmith’sapron.