They drew on his body the sign of the otter--he who is cunning and brave, who is at home on land or in the water.

They made him a warrior, he who was a boy, because there was always meat in the hut of his mother.
"But his mother spoke.

'O Muata, hunter of the wild pig, take your spear and your bow, and the quiver of arrows with the iron heads.
You will hunt men.' Thus it came that Muata went alone on the war- trail.

With him went his mother, who carried the pots and the sleeping-mat, she who carried nothing at her kraal.
"The trail led into the Great Forest toward the rising sun, and there were dangers between the sunrise and its setting--dangers between the setting of the sun and its rising.
"A man-ape of great stature, hairy and fierce, stood before us in the path.

He lifted his brows at us, and bared his teeth.