The repast over, my attendant arranged the mats for repose, and,
bidding me lie down, covered me with a large robe of tappa, at the same
time looking approvingly upon me, and exclaiming, “Ki-Ki, muee muee,
ah! moee moee mortarkee,” (eat plenty, ah! sleep very good.) The
philosophy of this sentiment I did not pretend to question; for
deprived of sleep for several preceding nights, and the pain in my limb
having much abated, I now felt inclined to avail myself of the
opportunity afforded me.
The next morning, on waking, I found Kory-Kory stretched out on one
side of me, while my companion lay upon the other. I felt sensibly
refreshed after a night of sound repose, and immediately agreed to the
proposition of my valet that I should repair to the water and wash,
although dreading the suffering that the exertion might produce. From
this apprehension, however, I was quickly relieved; for Kory-Kory,
leaping from the pi-pi, and then backing himself up against it, like a
porter in readiness to shoulder a trunk, with loud vociferations, and a
superabundance of gestures gave me to understand that I was to mount
upon his back, and be thus transported to the stream, which flowed
perhaps two hundred yards from the house.
Our appearance upon the verandah in front of the habitation drew
together quite a crowd, who stood looking on, and conversing with one
another in the most animated manner. They reminded one of a group of
idlers gathered about the door of a village tavern, when the equipage
of some distinguished traveller is brought round previous to his
departure. As soon as I clasped my arms about the neck of the devoted
fellow, and he jogged off with me, the crowd—composed chiefly of young
girls and boys—followed after, shouting and capering with infinite
glee, and accompanied us to the banks of the stream.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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