King of the Wa-Kikuyu: A True Story of Travel and Adventure in Africa

by Bulpett,C.W.L.

• ISBN13: 9780714616384
• ISBN10: 0714616389
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1968-02-16
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This is an account of the "adventures" of a Yorkshireman, his early life as a sailor, participation in the Matabele War, and his largely succesful attempts to unite the Kikuyu tribe. It was first published in 1911.

Table of Contents

Early youth

I run away to sea on a fishing-boat

hardships of the life

take service on a tugboat

life on board a tramp

first view of tropical African coast

a collision at sea

land at Durban, 1895

I work my way up-country to Matabeleland

employed as fireman on engine

reach Johannesburg

trek the rest of the way to Bulawayo on foot

take service in the Matabeleland Mounted Police

join the Africander Corps engaged in putting down the rebellion

go into trade in Bulawayo

return to the coast

I take to the stage

work my way on an Arab dhow to Mombassa, February 1898

cool official reception

1898 - determine to organize a transport caravan on the Uganda Railway route to carry provisions for the collies working on the railway

man-eating lions at railway construction camps

reach the borderland of the Masai and Kikuyu tribes

desertion of my men

return to Railhead

start out again with convoys for Uganda

loss of my transport animals

decide to enter the Kikuyu country

Government official tries to prevent me going into the Kikuyu country

give the official the slip

my first acquaintance with the Kikuyu

meet Karuri, the Kikuyu chief

hospitable reception

Kikuyu village attacked because of my presence in it

I help to beat off the attack

successful trading

build a house in the Kikuyu village

native theory as to the origin of the Kikuyu race

I help defend my Kikuyu friends from hostile raids and beat off the enemy

benefit of my conciliatory counsels

Pigasangi and blood-brotherhood

Am established in the country

native festivities and dances

troubadours

musical quickness of the natives

dearth of musical instruments

my attempts at military organization

hostile rumours

preparations for resisting attack

great battle and defeat of the attacking tribes

victory due to skilful tactics of my Kikuyu force

succeed in taking a large convoy of provisions into the starving government stations

white men attacked and killed

am supreme in the tribe

native poisons

although I am supplying the government stations with food, I get no recognition at the hands of the officials. (Part contents)

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