STREMBOOM HAS A ROW WITH MOREMI 305 
glory as before in spite of the hocus-pocus tricks they played, 
while spies from both countries secretly hurried backward and 
forward with news of what was going on at the separate courts. 
I would also have given a trifle to observe the delight of Moremi’s 
people when quite assured of being well rid of Indala’s influence 
in this matter, and to have heard them in self-accusation ad¬ 
mitting the past folly of many years, in true native style 
summing up and regretting every particle of tribute they had 
sacrificed while imbecile enough to believe in the power of this 
miserable juggler. 
I think we are entitled to some self-congratulation for our 
part of the responsibility in having Mr. Indala referred to his 
bearings regarding this particular episode, and may with satis¬ 
faction erase our discontent for his evil treatment of us. 
Some days after our arrival, while I was repacking some 
odds and ends, the king’s interest was excited by seeing a pair 
of pince-nez of smoked glass, brought by us in the event of sore 
eyes attacking any member of the expedition. When shown 
the use of them, he tried to adjust them to the bridge of his 
flat nose, and was much mortified to find that they would not 
stick on, as the grip afforded by his greasy nasal organ was too 
insignificant to induce the glasses to remain. He said, ‘ I have 
told you lots of times that we are only black men, and not wise. 
Is this not another proof of it ? ’ 
Stremboom, who. reached this country in his youth, had been 
resident at the lake for many years. He had known the king 
from boyhood, and was on very intimate terms with him, hearing 
all his complaints and griefs with patience, and advising him to 
the best of his ability. He told us a very amusing episode that 
took place between himself and Moremi at the time the latter had 
attained his majority and was proclaimed king of the Batowaana. 
Stremboom was at work mending a gun belonging to Moremi, 
while the latter was looking on. The king annoyed him very 
much by interfering with the work, refusing to let Stremboom 
finish the job in his own way, and saying, that now he was king, 
he could do as he liked, and would not be ordered to sit still like 
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