SASABONSAM

Chapter 5

On the other side of the land, there was a big settlement of white tents that were for the Portuguese. They seasonally sail to Africa carrying goods where they can exchange with to the African. Very early in the morning before the sun rose the skies were all red due to the reflation of the sunlight.

The whole settlement was silent. Nobody had woke up at the time because their arrived previous night; they were all tired after the long journey. What could be seen moving it was a string of smoke rising from firewood that burned at the night and they fully not extinguished.

In one of the tents, a Portuguese lady removed her head out of the tent to peep. Everybody had his own tent expect the married ones they shared. The lady turned right and left looking as if anybody was watching her where she found no one. She then closely looked at the tent that was opposite heirs as if she was more concern about the tent. After confirming that their was no one watching she pulled her head back in her tent.

After a moment in her tent, she sprung off her tent fully dressed while holding a book and a pencil. While tiptoeing she walked away while looking all over to be cautious not to been seen by anybody.

The lady walked away from where the settlements of the tent. She went stopped under a tree where she sat opened her book to a plan page then she started drawing in. The lady was into exploration and science. The Portugal lady as she was drawing suddenly from her behind she heard a deep voice, “Mayra!”

The lady quickly flipped her book with the pencil at the middle of the book stood up and turned to the man as she hides the book behind her. She wanted her admiration to be a secret because no one her family accepted a lady to do such life. Then the lady said to the man as she was smiling,

“Father good morning.”

“Morning Mayra,’

Then Barrett Mayra’s father took some time to look at Mayra direct as Mayra was quietly looking at her father. After some moment of silence, Barrett broke the monotony by facing the way back and said, “Let’s go.” Her father was one of the family that denied her the chance to do what she wanted but as always, her father was the only one who understand her more than anybody else. Mayra followed her father as he went back to the settlement.

As Barrett was moving and Mayra following him, he asked,

“Why did you wake up early like that?”

“It’s because I lose my sleep.”

“And you choose to come and sit under a tree or there is something else you were doing under the tree.”

“I was watching the sunrise under a tree.”

Suddenly Barrett stopped and Mayra also stopped curiously looking at her father who was facing the hills. Still as he was looking at the hills said, “I believe knowledge is power but wealth buys knowledge.” Then he turned and faced her and continued, “Mayra I brought you in this Dark Continent to show you how to live in this world. And a good father to you I choose to lift the burden of being married early because I respect you. And for you to live without a husband you must follow my path of trade and not exploration.”

Mayra responded while silently nodding his head and her father hugged her. After a while, Barrett pulled off from the hug and said, “Let’s go prepare for your first day.” Mayra smiled and responded, “I love you father.”

After the words, that Mayra responded Barrett continued walking towards the settlement of the Portuguese as Mayra continued. Immediately Barrett and Mayra reached the camp where it was quiet because no one had woken up. Barrett turned to her daughter and stopped and said,

“Go into your tent and prepaid because where we're going its quite fair.”

“Ok father.”

Then Mayra rushed into her tent and Barrett looked at her until his daughter entered into her tent. After Mayra entered her tent, Barrett started moving all around while shouting, “Everybody rise! Everybody rise today it is our day.”

The Portuguese then started slowly moving out of their tents one by one. When Barrett saw people were walking up, he moved towards the largest tent of them all and entered. In the tent, a man was sleeping on a matt. Barrett went and knelt beside the sleeping man and gently shook him to wake him up.

The shakes woke up the sleeping man where rose and facing Barrett. Barrett said to the man, “Andrej you are here sleeping and everybody is ready.” Andrej had come from a rich family and every trip he sailed his family funded in that is why he was important in the trade.

“Barrett, what made you wake up early today?”

“It’s because I know what day is today.”

“There have been more serious days than this and you have never been super attentive like today.”

Barrett stood off the ground beside Andrej to give him space to walk out of his mat and replied as he moved out of the tent, “Andrej I have somebody today that she is the most important in my life.” Andrej replied by giggling while still sited on the matt.

After he had woken up Andrej he walked out his tent. This was the first day after they landed to make a trade that they expected to go well. The Portuguese packed their textile goods on the back of the donkeys and camels in morale. At a distance, Barrett saw a woman who was struggling to tie a rope on a donkey where he went and help her still shouting, “We don’t have any time to waste.” Barrett was also of great importance to the trade.

Then at a far distance, Andrej who was fully prepaid waved at Barrett where Barrett noticed the indication and started shouting, “Now everybody let’s move to the east.” Then Barrett confirm his daughter was in line he rushed to his daughter’s tent. Immediately he entered Mayra’s tent he found Mayra was praying where Barrett responded by quietly walking out and stood at the doorstep-watching people as were moving. After Mayra finished she walked out where, found her father standing at the doorstep, and called out, “Father.” Barrett turned to Mayra and said,

 “I was waiting for you.”                

“Sorry father for keeping you.”

Then quickly Mayra took her bag and they both walked with her father to where the other was moving to who were led by Andrej.

In the Akan land, slowly the Portuguese entered in while fully packed with their trading goods. Hussein and Andrej were leading followed by other Portuguese that were caring goods on their animals.

On the other side, the Akan people were aliened at the opposite sides of the path way, and the Portuguese were passing through, busy gazing at them due to their unique dressing code and skin color. Slowly the Portuguese were moving ignoring the irritating gaze of the community people.

As the Portuguese were silently moving Mayra with her big bag on her back rushed in front to where her father was and low tone she asked he father,

“Why are these people so dark like that?”

“They were created like that.”

“Are they even humans?”

Suddenly Barrett faced Mayra and responded, “That’s being rude for you thinking they are not human.” Mayra facing down responded, “Am sorry father.” Then Barrett saw at distance Chief Ashanti was walking towards them and his men beside him where Barrett turns all his attention to Chief Ashanti.

Chief Ashanti and Barrett immediately reached near to each other Barrett gave Chief Ashanti a hand. Due to their frequent meets with them due of trade Chief had lead some of their ways and language. Chief Ashanti greeted him while saying, “Praise Jesus Christ?” Barrett still as they were shaking hands he responded, “Amen my brother.”

Then Chief Ashanti started to talk to his language it was hard for him due to his old age to know other language but not like Barrett was young and flexible, he was the one who always sail to Africa this made him perfect their language and other native African languages. Barrett confidently knowing the language he responded,

“My brother it has been a long since meet.”

“It is the trade that has made me busy.”

“What have you brought this time?”

“Textile goods, what we are best for.”

Everybody was silently facing Chief Ashanti and Barrett as they were talking. This is one of the thing made his ran to hype because he was the translator of traders Chief Ashanti continued,

“Now do you want us to do this thing faster?”

“This time I have come with more newcomers so if you won’t mind you can take them around the land so that they can see the beauty of your culture.”

“My brother I don’t mind.”

“Though some they were here last time and they loved this place.”

“I only remember Andrej.”

Barrett faced Andrej giggled where Andrej giggled not having a clue what they were talking about but creating a happy mood. Barrett knowing his fellow brother did not understand their talk he turned back to Chief Ashanti and asked, “Where is your daughter?”  Chief Ashanti responded, “Do you want to go back with my daughter?” Barrett as he was smiling he responded, “I want her to meet somebody,” then he turned and faced Mayra who responded by coming forth. Then Barrett added, “This is my daughter Mayra.”

Immediately Chief Ashanti turned to one of his men beside him and said, “Go and call my daughter.” Then Chief Ashanti turned to Mayra, “Praise Jesus.” Mayra joyfully responded, “Praise Jesus.” Chief Ashanti faced Barrett and commented, “You have a beautiful daughter.”

To where Chief Ashanti was, standing Ama went and stopped faced Mayra. Then Chief Ashanti placed his right hand on Ama’s shoulder and said, “My daughter this is Barrett’s daughter.” Then he turned to Mayra and said, “Mayra this is my Ama.” Mayra responded, ‘It is my pleasure being here,” in community language. She was wise like her father and plus being close to her father he taught her the African language that he knew. Chief Ashanti giggled and said to Mayra, “I can see you have the blood of your father.”

After the words, Chief Ashanti held Barrett’s shoulder pulled him as he was walking, and said, “Leave the girls alone and tell your people to place their goods there and follow me to see how beautiful our community is.” Barrett paused turned back and translated in Portugal where the Portuguese all placed their goods in one place and started following Chief Ashanti.

Ama turned to the different direction to which others were moving and said to Mayra, “Follow me.” Ama was friendly where she wanted to show her more about her culture that she was proud off. Mayra wanting to explore more she silently following Ama. As Mayra followed Ama until to the community podium, where she stopped and gazed there. For a moment, she remembered the killing that had just happened lately where she felt guilty of it though she was clean. Mayra noticing the connection between her and the podium she asked,

“What is this thing for?”

“It is where the elders stand while addressing the community.”

“Nothing else is done here?”

“Nothing important is here just following me.”

After the words, Ama continued with her walk where for some seconds Mayra gazed at the podium then followed Ama having a feeling that there was more than she was told.