Still the whole of them united could not lift the iron, which induced them, considering there must be some magic in it, to inform the king.

"Now," says Rumanika, "I no sooner went there and saw the iron, and brought it here as you see it.

What can such a sign mean ?" "Of course that you are the rightful king," said his flatterers.

"Then," said Rumanika, in exuberant spirits, "during Dagara's time, as the king was sitting with many other men outside his hut, a fearful storm of thunder and lightning arose, and a thunderbolt struck the ground in the midst of them, which dispersed all the men but Dagara, who calmly took up the thunderbolt and places it in the palace.
I, however, no sooner came into possession, and Rogero began to contend with me, than the thunderbolt vanished.

How would you account for this ?" The flatterers said, "It is as clear as possible; God gave the thunderbolt to Dagaro as a sign he was pleased with him and his rule; but when he found two brothers contending, he withdrew it to show their conduct was wicked." 5th .-- Rumanika in the morning sent me a young male nzoe (water-boc) [13] which his canoe-men had caught in the high rushes at the head of the lake, by the king's order, to please me; for I had heard this peculiar animal described in such strange ways at Kaze, both by Musa and the Arabs, I was desirous of having a look at one.