In the evening, the father-in-law called him, saying, "Mbuma-tyetye,
tomorrow there is only wrestling. You have stayed long here. As you
are about to go away with my child, there is left only one thing more
that she wants to see, that is, the wrestling tomorrow."
Gourd called him, and said to him, "It is not only for wrestling. You
know the part of the village where is the Wrestling-Ground. There
is a big pit there. You will take care if you are near that pit;
and you must push them in."
In the evening, food was made, and soon it was ready. He and his wife
ate, and finished. They engaged in conversation. They took pleasure
over their love that night.
The next day, in the morning, very early, the drums, both the elimbi
and the common, began promptly to tell things in the street. (The
Elimbi is a specially made drum used to transmit information by
a system of signal strokes. News is thus carried very far and
very rapidly.) The Gourd called him, and handed him a leaf of
magic-medicine, to hold in his hand, saying, "Go; fear not!"
The townspeople began to shout back and forth a song (to arouse
enthusiasm). Two companies ranged on each side of the street,
singing. "Engolongolo! hâ! hâ! Engolongolo! hâ! hâ!"
"Engolongolo! hâ! hâ!
Engolongolo! hâ! hâ!"
Hearing their song as a challenge, the young man went out of the
house into the street. Up to this point, the strongest wrestler of the
town, named Ekwamekwa, was not with them; he was out in the forest,
felling trees.
When the towns-people saw the young man standing in the street, they
advanced as many as a hundred all at once. He laid his hands upon
them, and they all went back; he also went back. Soon he advanced
again, and his single opponent advanced. They two laid their hands
on each other's shoulders. The townspeople began another song, as if
in derision. "O! O! A! O! O! A! O! O! A!"
At once, he seized his opponent, and threw him into the pit. Thereupon,
his father-in-law shouted in commendation, "Iwâ!"
Another one came forward; Mbuma-tyetye advanced; and as they met
together, he took him, and threw him into the pit. Again the shout,
"Iwâ!"
The sisters of the two men in the pit began to cry. The others said
to the girls, "What are you doing? He shall die today! It is we who
shall eat those entrails today!" (Among cannibals, a choice portion.)
Another one was coming, and, as they met together, again the shout
of derision, "O! O! O! A! O! O! O! A! O! O! O! A!" But, at one fling,
Mbuma-tyetye cast him into the pit. "Iwâ" was repeated.
The sister of him who was thrown thus into the pit began to cry. The
people rebuked her, "Mbâbâ! mbâbâ! Join in the singing!"