The blood covenant : a primitive rite and its bearing on scripture / by H. Clay Trumbull.

  • Henry Clay Trumbull
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The blood covenant : a primitive rite and its bearing on scripture / by H. Clay Trumbull. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    at many places, and made blood-brotherhood with the chiefs of great districts, such as Irebu, Ukuti, Usindi, Ngombe, Lukolela, Bolobo, Mswata, and Kintamo, he urged upon them the pleasure it would be to me to make a like compact, sealed with blood, with the great chiefs of populous Iboko. He pictured the benefits likely to accrue to Iboko, and Mata Bwyki in particu- lar, if a bond of brotherhood was made between two chiefs like Mata Bwyki and Tandelay, [Stanley,] or as he was known, Bula Matari. There was no prompt response to Stanley's request for strong friendship with the Bangala. There were prejudices to be removed, and old memories to be overborne ; and Yumbila's eloquence and tact were put to their severest test, in the endeavor to bring about a state of feeling that would make the covenant of blood a possibility here. But the triumph was won. A forked palm branch was brought, says Stanley. Kokoro, the heir [of Mata Bwyki], came forward, seized it, and kneeled before me; as, drawing out his short falchion, he cried, ' Hold the other branch, Bula Matari!' I obeyed him, and lifting his hand he cleaved the branch in two. * Thus,' he said, * I declare my wish to be your brother.' Then a fetish-man came forward with his lancets, long pod, pinch of salt, and fresh green banana leaf He held the staff of Kokoro's sword-bladed spear.
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