On the eighteenth day of the last month of parched land, Jumada II, in the
year 1277*, my master, the most eloquent and munificent Shah Wadi-Wahdi was enagaged in negotiations with master Tharia Topan, purveyor of firearms and other fine goods in Zanjibaar. Nonetheless, his clan did make war upon the Dar al-Harb. One of the Almight Wadi-Wahdi Clan's younger members was soon to be reaching his age of majority. It was seen as fitting therefore for young Rami ibn Rami was given the grave responsibility of leading a caravan...
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| A Mangbetu chieftain; a most wily and tenacious opponent. |
Alas, he fell foul of the Mangbetu, having valiantly travelled for months to the Mountains of the Moon and into the forests beyond. Presently, young Rami is recovering, enjoying the hospitality of the household of Prince Khalif, the youngest of Sultan Majid's half-brothers. Some scraps of news have been passed to me by the Sultan's secretary, Ahmed bin Nuuman.
It seems that One-Eyed Abdullah and Qurd espied some Mbuti from afar. Remembering my tales of an earlier ambush (albeit by the Ngoni, many miles from the caravan's current location), steps again were taken. No doubt they were concerned that Rami's caravan would disturb the sanctity of Mother and Father Forest. The diminutive Mbuti were soon disabused of this notion by sharp swordplay.
This was but a distraction. The caravan had made excellent progress, only to find the way blocked by warriors of yet another tribe, with distinctive elongated heads. I have since learned these may well have been Mangbetu, although they do not seem to have displayed any sign of their reputed culinary leanings.
Rami committed all his Baluchis and many wangwana to the fray, and indeed, this time the caravan was able to proceed unharassed. Sadly, this left Rami's warriors but a shadow of their former selves. Fleeing with Mangbetu arrows at their heels, the surviving Baluchis were able to rejoin the caravan (by the grace of the Prophet, peace be upon him), and Rami wisely sought to end his travels with all haste.
One hopes we will learn more of the encounter's details from young Rami, assuming he can resist the charms of Princess Selme.
It seems that One-Eyed Abdullah and Qurd espied some Mbuti from afar. Remembering my tales of an earlier ambush (albeit by the Ngoni, many miles from the caravan's current location), steps again were taken. No doubt they were concerned that Rami's caravan would disturb the sanctity of Mother and Father Forest. The diminutive Mbuti were soon disabused of this notion by sharp swordplay.
This was but a distraction. The caravan had made excellent progress, only to find the way blocked by warriors of yet another tribe, with distinctive elongated heads. I have since learned these may well have been Mangbetu, although they do not seem to have displayed any sign of their reputed culinary leanings.
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| A Mangbetu harpist. |
One hopes we will learn more of the encounter's details from young Rami, assuming he can resist the charms of Princess Selme.
*Early 1861. Kedgeree, anyone?
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