| caption: |
Chapter eleven. The Affair of Degalang |
| caption: |
negotiations over marriage price |
| text: |
He was lost. Never relaxing pressure, Namkia fought him back point by point and pig by pig through every stage of the marriage-price. Almost single-handed, the Impoi headmen only a murmuring background to him, like distant small arms heard through the crash of artillery, he beat Rangalang down from Rs 60/- and goods of the same value to Rs 20/-, a necklace, one pig, and a cooking-pot. Now and then, true, Rangalang made a stand; but never for long. By five o'clock it was over and he and his had collapsed, stunned, deafened, and beaten to the ground. The girl was Degalang's at Degalang's own price. It was only a question then of sparing the conquered's feelings. Namkia left the Impoi headmen with a pot of beer to do that, and came on home with the news. |
