MY JOURNEY CONTINUED TO ASHAKA 219 



saying that the flag was one he did not know. Such insolence 

 was more than I could stomach and I immediately returned 

 to Mamaidi with my column. On my arrival I found the 

 town in a state of panic, and the people were already getting 

 their belongings together in preparation for a hurried fUght. 

 The old king (to give him his due) was the only calm one of 

 the lot, and was waiting in front of the palace to " face the 

 music." I recounted to him his crime, and he made some 

 excuses that were lamer than the goats. Whereupon I 

 fined him fifteen goats, which I ordered him to send in to 

 the Resident at Bauchi with a letter I had written detaihng 

 the case. I then left to take my road again, and I had not 

 gone far out of the town, when I heard a great hubbub 

 behind me, and looking back saw the old king mounted on 

 an old horse, riding out of the city gates with half his people 

 at his heels. Presently they overtook me, and as I strode 

 along, the old fellow spurred on his rickety horse, jerking 

 out entreaties to me to take back the letter. Meanwhile 

 women and children pressed about me, wailing and screaming. 

 We must have made a curious picture, and for a moment I 

 almost realised the satisfaction of the Pied Piper. When the 

 mournful procession had pressed along for a good two miles, 

 I thought that the old king had taken as much exercise 

 as was good for him, so I turned round suddenly and took 

 the letter from him. Then, telling him that he owed his 

 salvation to the love of his loyal people whose prayers I had 

 heard, I tore the letter up and bade him go back in gratitude 

 to rule his people with kindness. At this all the people 

 shouted for joy and the women clung about my feet. Then 

 a sound of laughter went rippling down the hill at the heels 



