Komati

“ I dreaded lest the trucks should be searched at Komati Poort, and my anxiety as the train approached this neighbourhood was very great. To prolong it we were shunted on to a siding for eighteen hours either at Komati Poort or the station beyond it. Once indeed they began to search my truck, and I heard the tarpaulin rustle as they pulled at it, but luckily they did not search deep enough, so that, providentially protected, I reached Delagoa Bay at last, and crawled forth from my place of refuge and of punishment, weary, dirty, hungry, but free once more. ”

“ At 2.30 p.m. they were attached to a passenger train, and for the rest of the day jogged across the high veld, till at Waterval Boven, where the descent to the low veld begins, the train drew up for the night. They started again next morning, and presently they reached the last Transvaal station, Komati Poort, where a bridge spans the Komati river. This was the place where a search was likely, and to the intense disappointment of the fugitives they found the truck detached and pushed into a siding. Discovery seemed now certain, and Haldane decided to try and bribe the first comer. ”

“ From Beacon I. the boundary runs to a hill across the Komati River, and thence along the crest of the range of hills known as the Makongwa, which runs north-east and south-west, to Kamhlubano Peak thence in a straight line to Mananga, a point in the Lihombo Range, and thence to the nearest point in the Portuguese frontier on the Libombo Range thence along the summits of the Libombo Range to the middle of the poort where the Komati River passes through it, called the lowest Komati Poort ”

“ In the Ganjam, Vizagapatam and Godāvari districts they are found in the hills, acting as middle-men between the hill tribes and the people of the plains. Most of the Kōmatis are literate, and this helps them in their dealings with their constituents. They are proverbially shrewd, industrious, and thrifty, and are often rich. If a Kōmati fails in business, his compatriots will come to his rescue, and give him a fresh start. Organised charity is well known among them. Each temple of Kanyaka Paramēswari is a centre for charity. ”

“ These people are notorious for their importunity and their gift for lampooning those who refuse them alms, and they trade upon the fact.
The Kómatis are the great trading and money-lending caste of the Telugu country, and are not popular. They call themselves Vaisyas, wear the sacred thread, claim to have 102 'gótras,' and of late years some of them have adopted Védic rites at their marriages and funerals in place of the Puránic rites which are traditional with them. ”

“ Where the mountains come down upon the plain of Yonezawa there are several raised banks, and you can take one step from the hillside to a dead level. The soil is dry and gravelly at the junction, ridges of pines appeared, and the look of the houses suggested increased cleanliness and comfort. A walk of six miles took us from Tenoko to Komatsu, a beautifully situated town of 3000 people, with a large trade in cotton goods, silk, and sake.
As I entered Komatsu the first man whom I met turned back hastily, called into the first house the words which mean "Quick, here's a foreigner;" ”

“ This was agreeable to all concerned, and, accordingly, Komatsu guided them to this famous spot, the pride of Tokyo. On the way they passed hundreds of people in jinrikshas or on foot. Many of the pedestrians carried paper parasols and fans, exactly like the chorus in the "Mikado." Those who rode in the graceful little two-wheeled buggies looked out upon the world with expressions of calm enjoyment.
The "Comet" was a conspicuous object as it progressed slowly along the road, but so far all things worked together for good and there was no cause for uneasiness. ”

“ Let us make haste," said the retainer, stepping into the carriage. "Lady Komachi! Lady Komachi! Please wake!"
The girl awoke, and the sleep having sobered her, she was filled with regret at having pretended to be her young mistress. She was overcome with shame at the mean deed she had committed.
"I am ashamed of myself, Lord Arihira!" she stammered. "I am not Lady Komachi. I am U-noha. I have longed for many a day to gain the love of your lordship. Pray forgive me, my dear lord!"
On hearing this confession, both Kuronushi and his retainer were struck dumb with astonishment. ”

“ We disguised ourselves as outlaws and have searched for you in order to catch you. You have eloped in violation of the Imperial command, and if we capture you and take you back we shall obtain our lord's pardon. Fortune has favoured us, and delivered you into our hands."
As they spoke, they bound Komachi and Arihira hand and foot, and were just about to depart for the capital with them, when the priest returned. The priest, who had formerly been a samurai, and was very proficient in military arts, and possessed Herculean strength, was not in the least alarmed at this state of affairs. ”

“ Amnesty was proclaimed to commemorate the occurrence, and consequently the capital sentence which had been pronounced upon Kuronushi was remitted, and he was not only pardoned, but his former rank and title were restored to him. But this grace was not extended to Lord Arihira and Lady Komachi, who were considered violators of the Imperial command. No one ventured to entreat for their pardon. Thus the young lovers were like plants growing in the shade without any chance of blooming forth in the sun. They continued to live a dreary and secluded life in Mount Atago. ”

“ But from those who died the hundred and two clans of the Komtis are descended, and they worship the maiden as Kanika Devī. She is considered to have been an incarnation of Pārvati and is the heroine of the Kānikya Purān. It is also said that she ordained that henceforth all Komtis should be black, so that none of their women might come to harm by being desired for their beauty as she had been. It is said that the caste look out for a specially dark girl as a bride, and think that she will bring luck to her husband and cause him to make money. ”

“ The artist did not move, but his eyes met those of the royal Prince Komatzu. The latter glared upon him fiercely.
“What means this rude intrusion?” demanded Kwacho. “We are simple citizens. Why are we disturbed?”
He was interrupted by the screaming of Masago. She rushed toward Komatzu, crying out:—
“You, you, you—He has sent you for me—oh-h—”
She swayed and fell even as she spoke.
Without a word of explanation the Prince Komatzu himself stooped to the floor. Lifting in his arms the senseless form of the maid Masago, he bore it to the royal norimon without the house. ”

“ With this resolve Komachi unsheathed her dirk with fast falling tears, and she said to herself with a sigh: "I wish I could see my beloved Arihira and father before I die." She raised her hand and was about to plunge the dirk into her throat, when just at the critical moment, someone suddenly seized her hands and prevented her from doing the fearful deed. She looked around, and to her surprise and pleasure, she saw her lover Arihira. He had that day been summoned to the Court on duty, and on hearing of Komachi's appointment as Crown Princess had sought for her to talk with her. ”

“ OMACHI, the daughter of Ono-no-Yoshizané, the Lord of Dewa, was the most beautiful woman that Japan has ever produced. She was a remarkably talented poetess, and her name is familiar to everybody in connection with the famous anthology Hyaku-Nin-Isshyu, or "Single Verses by a Hundred Poets."
In her younger days, Komachi was courted by a large number of noblemen and samurai. Two of these suitors were consumed with a burning passion for her. One was Fukakusa-no-Shōshō Arihira, a court noble, who was a handsome and accomplished gentleman. He had written the maiden many letters ”

“ Owato Wanisha, we met as strangers, we part as friends. Tell your young warriors you have been among the Comanches, and that we would like to know them. Tell them to come, a few or many, to our waikiams (lodges) they will find the moshkataj (buffalo) in plenty.
“Farewell, young chief, with a pale face and an Indian heart; the earth be light to thee and thine. May the white Manitou clear for thee the mountain path, and may you never fail to remember Opishka Toaki (the White Raven) , who is thy Comanche friend, and who would fain share with thee his home, his wealth, and his wide prairies. ”

“ Stooping, he kissed the soft, white flesh, in the emotional French way.
“All yours, Komatzu!” Junzo heard her sigh in answer. The artist did not move. Like a man turned suddenly to stone, he simply stared out at the scene, with fixed eyes. He heard as in a dream the voice of this proud prince whispering again to her, who but so lately clung to him, the lowly artist, with such piteous tears and prayers.
“To-morrow,” said the prince, “his Majesty will come to Tokyo. I will present myself before him and importune him to seal our betrothal. ”

“ How I envy her!"
"Hush, U-noha!" said Komachi blushing. "I see that I must confess the truth to you, but I must ask you to promise not to tell your brother. The man you saw hiding in the carriage is Lord Arihira."
She then told all that had passed between herself and her lover.
"Lord Arihira has promised to come secretly every night to my gate, during my hundred days of fasting and prayer." As she continued her face became wreathed with smiles. "So the man in the carriage must have been he. He is a very kind and trustworthy man. The period of fasting and prayer is nearly at an end. ”

“ Komatsu talked a good deal about the English naval instructors who had been engaged by the previous government, whom he evidently [pg 381] wished to get rid of, and I encouraged him to dismiss them, for I felt it would not be fair to insist on their keeping these officers in their service during a period of civil war, when the British neutrality proclamation prevented their making use of them. Komatsu told me that their plan was to retain the services of the commissioned officers, but to send the petty officers and seamen back to England. ”

“ A community of the warlike Gumbil people recently occupied the skirts of the vast Wallega forest fringing the western foot of the Abyssinian highlands, under the same latitude as the Nile and 8obut confluence. The chief river traversing their territory to join the Sobat, they named the Komanji, or "Cow River," because their herds, during the dry season, finding no pasturage except on its banks, crowded down to the water's edge. ”

“ After rather more than a week's slow travel through dreary and uninteresting tracts of land, covered by a deep, yielding sandy soil, bearing a dwarfish vegetation, we arrived at Komaggas, also a Rhenish missionary station. The Rev. Mr. Weich now officiated here. [1] The congregation consists of a promiscuous collection of Hottentots and the offspring of other dark-colored natives.
Komaggas is picturesquely situated, and well supplied with water. Gardening is brought almost to perfection; and, notwithstanding the dryness of the atmosphere, corn is cultivated with success in the neighborhood. ”

“ They also told how Komachi's poem had caused rain to fall at the "poetry-meeting" in consequence of which she had been appointed Crown Princess. They gave an account of their elopement, and begged the priest earnestly to protect and shelter them for the time being. The priest promptly and willingly consented, saying:
"Willingly, my lord and lady. I will do anything in my power to help you. You can stay here as long as you choose. But I am afraid the accommodation is very inconvenient. However, in such an out-of-the-way place you will be safe from all pursuers. ”

“ Opishka Koaki ordered me to light the Comanche calumet of peace, and advancing to the place left vacant by the ancient chief, he answered:—
“I have heard words of great wisdom; a Comanche always loves and respects wisdom; I love and respect my father, Wetara Sharoj; I will tell him what are the complaints of our warriors, but before, as we have come as foes, it is but just that we should be the first to offer the pipe of peace; take it, chief, for we must be friends ”

“ They will say: "A great man is being buried down in Kristiania"; and when the news comes, it always corresponds with their statement. It may happen, at sea, that such a man will say to the captain that he will do well to go out of his course for a little while; and he is always obeyed, for the crew are quite sure that he beholds in front of the ship what none of them perceive, perhaps a goblin in his half-boat, or a spectre, or something else that brings misfortune.
One of Komag-Nils' many stories of this kind had happened to an acquaintance of his during the winter fishing. ”

“ Kominato lies on the ocean side of the peninsula which encloses Tokyo Bay,—the body of water with the capital city at its head and Yokohama, the principal port of the country, on its western shore. The railroad now runs part way down the peninsula, but does not as yet consider it worth while to extend itself into a region which, although its coast is interesting and picturesque, is occupied almost exclusively by fishermen and petty tillers of the soil. ”

“ The Blackfeet warriors have hitherto made war upon you as children. They are now coming as men. A great force is at hand; they are on their way to your towns, and are determined to rub out the very name of the Nez Perces from the mountains. Return, I say, to your towns, and fight there, if you wish to live any longer as a people."
Kosato took him at his word; for he knew the character of his native tribe. Hastening back with his band to the Nez Perces village, he told all that he had seen and heard, and urged the most prompt and strenuous measures for defence. ”