170 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



his own unworthiness to enter the august presence, 

 that he remains at home until the Sultan has sent 

 for him many times. 



On this occasion he was very unworthy, or particu- 

 larly aware of it, for a great many messengers were 

 despatched before he would come — so many that Gau- 

 aronga had time to advance and fire a pistol into the 

 air as a salute to his people. Then a quaint figure 

 advanced. It was a woman clad in long, trailing 

 garments. Her face was shrouded beneath a heavy 

 veil, but the texture was not so thick as to wholly 

 conceal the gaunt, withered features of Miramiza, aunt 

 both of the deposed and reigning sovereigns of Wadai. 

 She was attended by her women, and paid the Sultan 

 her duty with considerable dignity. She had not 

 found life easy in her native land, and lived here 

 in Tchekna, the grateful recipient of Gauaronga's 

 hospitality. 



Two horsemen in chain-armour next tilted against 

 each other with their long spears, and then a stir at 

 the door gave warning that the Keeper of the Palace 

 was at last without. His entry was worthy of the 

 wait. It was heralded by numbers of retainers walk- 

 ing backwards before him ; next followed eleven men 

 playing vast, long, wooden trombones, and in the 

 midst of them was the Bata Kuji himself, playing 

 a like instrument made of white wood. 



Slowly they advanced, and twelve distinct times 

 they paused to play the following theme — 



H H 



:p=H=t=F— F— F— F-t-— 





