114 To Sdnga - Tanga and Back. 
they will by some pretext or other shirk work to 
enjoy the headache. That old villain, “Young 
Prince/’ becoming very fou. , hospitably offered 
me his daughter-in-law Azfzeh, Forteune’s second 
wife ; and he was vigorously supported by the 
Nimrod himself, who had drawn a horizontal line 
of white chalk above the eyebrows, a defence 
against the Ibambo, those bad ghosts that cause 
fevers and sickness. Forteune then hinted that 
perhaps I might prefer his daughter—•“ he be 
piccanniny; he be all same woman.” Marchandise 
offerte a le pied coupd, both offers were declined 
with, Merci , non! Sporting parties are often made 
up by the Messieurs du Plateau, I had been told 
at the Comptoir; but such are the fascinations 
of les petites , that few ever progress beyond the 
first village. There was, consequently, wonder in 
the land as to what manner of utangani this one 
might be. 
It is only fair to own that the ladies endured 
with great philosophy the spretce injuria formcz , 
and made no difference in their behaviour on ac¬ 
count of their charms being unappreciated. Azfzeh 
was a stout and sturdy personage of twenty-five, 
with thick wrists and ankles, a very dark skin, and 
a face rendered pleasing by good humour. And 
Azfzeh was childless, a sad reproach in these 
lands, where progeny forms a man’s wealth and a 
woman’s honour. 
