NDOTO ZA KIPEPEO 1st Edition John

Mihambo Kamelwa (John Wisse)

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 Ndoto
za
Kipepeo
John Mihambo

DAROHN
TANZANIA KENYA UGANDA SUDANI RWANDA BURUNDI

2
 Kwa
Wasichana wote,
Wanawake wote,
Na wapenzi wa riwaya,

****
ISBN: 978-9987-9836-0-5
Ndoto za Kipepeo
Kaida: Daistopia/Fasihi
© 2016, John Kamelwa
Chapa ya kwanza, 2016
Chapa ya pili, 2018
Chapa ya tatu, 2019

****
Kimechapwa kwa hisani ya Darohn 5 Press, tawi
mwenza na Blue Bird Press, Amerika. Hairihusiwi
kukichapa ama kukitoa kitabu hiki kwa namna yoyote bila
idhini ya maandishi kutoka kwa Darohn 5 Press.

Kinasimamiwa na
Darohn 5 Press
Kanda ya Ziwa, Tanzania.
Jalada: John Kamelwa
Uhariri: Daria John
Michoro ya Jalada: Blue Bird Press

Kimepigwa chapa na
Riso Printers, Malaysia na
Eco Tech, Uganda.

3
 I

PAMBAZUKO

Wahenga walisema, shangwe huwa siku ya kuzaliwa,

dunia huchekelea. Mtoto awapo hadharani, ulimwengu
humpokea na kumtia akilini. Katikati ya msitu wa
walimwengu, mtoto huchipuka na kustawi kwa nasaba na
haiba. Kwa kimo hujitangaza mbele ya kila mzaliwa. Lakini
upo wakati huja pasipo hiari, akuaye huchagua wa
kuambatana naye. Kwa usuhuba au huba, ni hiari ya moyo
wa mtu umtumavyo, kuchagua au kuchaguliwa. Lakini
mwisho wa yote, moyo ndio humuongoza mtu, kumpata
wake wa sirini—mme au mke. Hiyo ndiyo sifa ya maisha ya
muumbwa kwa damu na nyama.
Vilevile ulimwengu uliwakutanisha watu wawili kutoka
katika familia mbili; Majaliwa akiwa mtoto wa pekee kwa
mama yake, Bi Lola Muksin, mwenyeji wa Pwani iliyp
mwambao wa Bahira ya Hindi; na Maua binti wa Jackson,
alikuwa mzaliwa wa bara. Kukutana kwa wawili hawa
kulikuwa kama pambazuko la kuyatimiza yasiyo hiari
mwilini mwao; walipendana. Nia yao iliwafanya
wachaguane ili kuyaishi maisha ya uchumba hatimaye
ndoa, walichukuana. Ilikuwa fahari kubwa kwa ulimwengu
kuwapokea wawili hao kama mke na mme walioshibana.
Hatimaye waliokotana na kuvutana hadi bara, nia ikiwa
ni kujitafutia riziki waliyopangiwa na Maulana. Wakiwa
bara ilipita misimu kumi na mitano ya masika na kiangazi
wakiwa na furaha. Furaha waliyokuwa nayo, ilifukuza ila
zote kutoka kwa watu wenye inda. Walicheka na kufurahi

4
pamoja. Msibani waliomboleza pamoja na hata harusini
walikuwa chanda na pete. Hawakuachana hata hatua moja
kama kumbikumbi. Walistahili kuwa baba na mama wa
mfano. Lakini je, lingewezekanaje hilo pasipo kutokewa na
uzao? Hivyo iliwapasa kukazana kumwomba
aliyewaunganisha wakimtaka mzaliwa wao wa kwanza.
Ndoa ya Majaliwa na Maua katikati ya kijiji cha
Hamaniko ilikuwa ya mfano. Maua alikuwa badii jamali
kwa sura, umbo na sauti. Majaliwa nafsi ilimsifu na
kumpandisha kwa fahari na kujiona akiwa kileleni mwa
mlima mgumu kuukwea. Kila alipokuwa akimtazama
Maua, hakuisha hamu ya kutaka kumsogelea japo
amtekenye na kuisikia sauti yake nyembamba tamu kama
kinanda. Walishibana na kushabikiana. Maua alijua
mmewe alikuwa mtanashati kuliko waume wote aliopata
kuwatia machoni, vilevile Majaliwa alijua fika kuwa, ahali
yake alikuwa hana wa kufanana naye kwa kila kitu.
Walisifiana!
Siku zilikatika, miezi hatimaye miaka ikawa imewapa
kisogo, kitanda chao hakikuwahi kumbeba mwana hata
binti mchanga wa kumzaa. Walikuwa bado wakibarizi
kama wachumba. Wahenga walisema; juhudi haishindi
kudra, hatimaye ndoa ya Majaliwa na mkewe ilijibu baada
ya miaka mingi. Wakati ambao jirani zao walikazana
kuwanyoshea vidole vya lawana, Rabana alijaza furaha
chumbani mwao. Maua alishika ujauzito.
Shauku ya kumpata mwana kwa Majaliwa ilikomaa
moyoni. Maua yeye hakutaka kutabiri wala kutangaza
tamaa ya jinsia ya mtoto alomtaka kuwa naye. Alitaka
mtoto, awaye yeyote, mwana hata binti kwake ilikuwa
zawadi na tunu katika ndoa yake. Maua hakuisha kudeka
naye alidekezwa. Majaliwa alimtunza mkewe zaidi ya
bustani mbele ya kasri la kifalme. Hakuna alichokitaka
Maua ambacho Majaliwa alishindwa kumtimizia. Hata
5
kama ilimlazimu Majaliwa kumwaga jasho jingi kwa
kwenda mbali kwa miguu kutafuta limau, hiana hakuwa
nayo, alitii. Hata kama Maua ingefika siku akahitaji mzizi
wa mlima, Majaliwa angejipiga kifua akitaka kuung’oa
mlima Kilimanjaro. Hakutaka mkewe aingiwe huzuni hata
kwa sekunde moja kutokana nay eye kushindwa jambo.
Alitaka mke awe na siha njema na akili tulivu ili amzalie
mwana, mrithi wa amali na fahari zake.
Miezi kenda haikuwa muda mfupi kwa Maua aliyepitia
kila aina ya changamoto. Kwa kuwa hakuwahi kuwa na
hali ile tangu kuzaliwa, ilimpasa kuwauliza rafikize
waliokuwa wakifika kumjulia hali. Kuna wakati miguu
ilimvimba na wakati mwingine hasira zilimchukua bila
sababu na kuhisi kumchukia mme wake. Kuna wakati
Maua alitamani harufu ya maua mabichi na kumlazimu
Majaliwa kuyatafuta kondeni asubuhi hata mchana wa jua
kali. Kwa Majaliwa miezi kenda aliyoipitia Maua ilikuwa si
chochote. Muda kwake ulienda kama konokono tofauti na
hamu yake iliyokuwa ikienda kwa kasi kama mshale wa
msasi mawindoni. Alitaka kumwona mzaliwa wake wa
kwanza. Si kumwona tu, bali alitaka kumwona mwana
ambaye alifanana naye kwa haiba na nasaba. Hali hiyo
ingeweza kumwondolea laana na fununu za majirani
ambao walikuwa wakimbandika sifa ya kutokuwa mme.
Walikuwa hawaishi kumzushia kuwa alikuwa chapapunga.
Hayawihayawi mwishowe ikawa. Usiku wa saa tisa
Maua alishikwa na uchungu. Majaliwa aliikupua akiba
yake yote ya fedha na kumpeleka Maua kwa mkunga wa
kijiji hicho. Alijifungua salama usiku uleule baada tu ya
Majaliwa kuipa kisogo nyumba ya mkunga. Majaliwa
ambaye alikuwa na shauku ya kuitwa baba, hakupatwa na
usingizi. Hakuwa akijitambua na asingeweza kufanya
lolote bila kumfikiria Maua. Hamu yake ni mwana, mrithi
wake kutoka kwa ubavu wake.
6
 Mapema alfajiri hapajakuchwa, Majaliwa aliwasili kwa
mkunga. Hapakuwa na siri tena ya kumfanya Majaliwa
asitambue ukweli. Sauti ya mtoto ilimpokea angali akiwa
hatua chache kabla hata hajafika ugani kwa mkunga.
Furaha ilibisha hodi nafsini mwa Majaliwa, mwili
ulimsisimka hadi vinyweleo vilisimama wima baada ya
sauti ya kichanga kuisikia. Alitaka kupayuka kwa furaha
kutangaza ujio wa damu yake, lakini alijipa muda.
Aliharakisha kutembea ili awahi, hatimaye alifika
mlangoni na kubisha hodi ili afunguliwe.
“Amejifungua Maua, kipenzi changu?” Majaliwa aliuliza
baada ya kufunguliwa. Akiwa na shauku ya kujibiwa,
mkunga alisita kidogo kumjibu lakini baada ya kuona
Majaliwa alitaka kumpita mlangoni bila adabu, alimpatia
ushuhuda.
“Ndiyo baba, amejifungua. Hongera sana, Mungu
awakuzie,” alisema mkunga. Majaliwa alikuwa tayari
kaingia ndani. Alikuwa kasimama sebuleni. Koroboi
iliyokuwa inawaka haikutoa mwanga wa kutosha na
kumfanya aweze kuona chumbani alimokuwa Maua.
Baada ya Majaliwa kumpita kama mshale pale mlangoni,
mkunga naye aliingia. Alipitiliza moja kwa moja hadi kwa
Maua aliyekuwa kapumzika baada ya kazi nzito ya kumleta
shuhuda wa kizazi chake.
“Mama, mtoto gani?” Aliuliza Majaliwa. Alitamani
mkunga amjibu papo kwa hapo kabla hata hajamaliza
kumeza funda la mate alilokuwa tayari kulimeza baada ya
maneno kumtoka. Masikio yalimsimama wima kama
mbwa mwitu asikiaye milio ya mnyama aliyempoteza
katika windo. Moyo uligonga na kuripuka kwa kasi ikiwa
hamu ya kujua imeuzidi mwili mzima. Mkunga bado
aliendelea kuwa kimya kwa sekunde chache, akiwa kama
hakulisikia swali kutoka kwa Majaliwa.

7
 Baada ya ukimya ndipo aliamua kumjibu ili kumtoa
wasiwasi. “Mrembo kama mama yake, mrefu kama baba
yake, mke mwenzangu huyo,” alijibu mkunga. Majaliwa
hakujibu kitu wala hakuuliza tena. Joto la mwili lilizima na
baridi kali liliuvamia moyo, ukapoa kama nofu lililotiwa
jokofuni. Aligeuka bubu, macho akiyakodoa kama maarasi
akichekura kwenye jaa la uchafu. Ukimya wake haukuweza
kutabirika wala kubainika, lakini aliamua kuuvunja baada
ya kutafakari sana.
“Maua haliye ikoje, maana simsikii akinena.
Anaendeleaje, mke wangu?” Aliuliza Majaliwa.
“Hajambo, lakini amelala tu kwa uchovu. Nataka
apumzike kwanza. Nakuomba kaninunulie mafuta ya
kugonga, ya nazi au ya kukama, ya karanga ingali mapema.
Kama kuna nguo za kubadilisha, nenda kaniletee vitenge
doti moja na kanga doti mbili. Hivi sasa, navihitaji ili
akiamka niendelee kumhudumia. Yakupasa pia kumpeleka
hospitalini,” alieleza mkunga.
Kuna jambo lilimchokonoa Majaliwa akilini. Alitaka
kusema lakini aliishia kupanua midomo kama mamba
aliyekosa kumla samaki na kuparamia mzizi au tawi la mti.
Lakini kwakuwa kilicho fikrani husemwa kwa mdomo,
hatimaye alinena mashaka yake. “Hospitalini kwa lipi tena
mama? Kama kajifungua salama si mambo yamekwisha!”
Alisema Majaliwa akiwa kajaa tanziko. Jambo la kwenda
hospitalini tena lilikuwa kama habari mpya kwake. Kutaja
hospitalini ilikuwa kama kumtajia kwenda mahali ambako
hajawahi kuwaza kwenda kwa hiari yake. Hakutaka na
wala hakuwa na wazo la kwenda hospitalini kabisa. Fikrani
alijua na alikuwa na uhakika kuwa, kufika kwa mkunga
ilitosha kwani mambo yote yaliishia pale.
Mkunga alilazimika kumfahamisha sababu ya kwenda
hospitalini akisema, “Mwanangu, dunia ya zama zenu ni
8
tofauti na ya sasa. Mambo huenda yakibadilika kizazi hadi
kizazi. Ukienda hospitali, huko watamchunguza hali yake
kiafya, pia watampatia mtoto karatasi ili aweze kupata
cheti cha kuzaliwa. Siku hizi kila kitu ni mpaka karatasi. Ni
nyaraka muhimu sana usipuuzie,” mkunga alieleza.
Kijasho katikati ya baridi kilimmiminika Majaliwa.
Ilimpasa kukubaliana na agizo la mkunga akiitika kwa
unyonge uliojaa baridi, “Sawa mama. Lakini mambo haya
ya cheti kila uendako, yananisumbua sana hata mimi.
Kama mara mbili au tatu nakosa kupatiwa stahiki zangu
nyingi, nikidaiwa cheti cha kuzaliwa au kitambulisho cha
uraia. Sasa mimi nawashangaa sana watu hawa, tangu lini
mtu aliyezaliwa chini ya mwembe kama mimi akawa na
cheti cha kuzaliwa? Kama mwembe ulikuwa na uwezo wa
kutoa cheti basi siku nitawapatia waendelee kungoja.
Lakini kwa huyu, ni jambo jema umenifumbua macho.
Acha nifuate nguo kwanza ndipo nitarudi ili twende huko
hospitalini,” alisema Majaliwa. Alitoka na kutokomea
alikokuwa akiishi na mkewe kwa ajili ya kuchukua
alivyokuwa ameagizwa.

*****

Baada ya kuwa wamempata binti katika uzao wao wa

kwanza, Majaliwa alipendekeza jina. Ilipaswa mtoto
kuitwa Lola. Jina hilo lilikuwa la mama yake ambaye
alikuwa akipenda sana kujitazama kwenye kioo. Tabia hiyo
ndiyo ilipelekea wazazi wa mama yake Majaliwa
kumbandika mama yake jina hilo ambalo lilikuwa na
maana ya mpenda kioo. Wakati uliendelea kuyoyoma, Lola
alikua na kuchipuka kama mche wa mgomba kwenye
rutuba. Alikuwa na afya njema iliyowafurahisha wazazi
wake wote.
9
 Majaliwa ambaye alikuwa akitegemea kumpata mwana
badala ya binti hatimaye moyo wake aliushauri
kukubaliana na ukweli. Alijua fika, uzao ule ungefuatwa na
uzao wa kiume kama matamanio yake. Alijipa imani hiyo
baada ya kudodosa ndani ya ukoo alimozaliwa, hapakuwa
na uzao mkubwa wa watoto wa kike. Alimpenda Lola na
kumfanya mwanaye na kumtukuza.
Baada ya Lola kufikisha umri wa kwenda shule,
Majaliwa alianza kumtilia mashaka mkewe. Hakukuwa na
dalili yoyote ya kushika ujauzito zaidi ya Maua kuongezeka
kwa unene. Maua alinenepa na kuwa na uzito mkubwa.
Majaliwa hakukoma kulalama akimlaumu mkewe kuwa
alikuwa amefanya hila ili asiweze tena kujipatia mtoto
aliyemhitaji. Maua yeye hakuwa na wasiwasi, fika alijua
siku ingefika ambayo angempata mtoto wa pili kumfuata
kifungua mimba wao.
Wakati Lola akianza darasa la kwanza hadi anahitimu
darasa la saba, Maua na Majaliwa walikuwa wakiwa.
Hawakuwa tena na mtoto zaidi ya Lola jambo ambalo
Majaliwa lilimvuruga akili. Hakuwa akishinda nyumbani
wala hakuwa akimganda mkewe kama hapo awali. Kutwa
alikuwa akihangaika na kazi zake za juakali. Mapenzi
aliyokuwa akiyaonesha kwa Maua hapo awali yalipungua.
Tabasamu lake lilikuwa nadra sana kuliona. Lola ililazimu
kulelewa kwa kiasi kikubwa na sauti ya mamaye.
Kwa kuwa miongoni mwa sifa za mama, ni kumlea
mwanaye ili aweze kuwa mfano wa kuigwa kwa mema,
Maua alikuwa mzazi mwema. Pamoja na sadfa ya
kumfanya mtoto kuwa juu ya kilele cha tabia njema na
vurugu za mme kutaka mwana, Maua alibaki kuwa nguzo
muhimu. Isingeweza kuwa familia bora bila uwepo wa
mama bora. Hii sawa na ujenzi wa nyumba, haiwezi kuwa
nyumba pasipo kuwa na nguzo imara yenye kuinyanyua.
Kwa uhitaji huo, baba yeye huwa kama chumvi, hukoleza
10
uhai na ladha kwa kusimamia miiko na misingi imara.
Hivyo katika nyumba, Majaliwa alikuwa msingi wa nguzo
kusimama japo alikuwa kasongwa na fadhaiko.
Maua hakuisha kumnasihi bintiye kwa maneno ya kila
aina. Ilipolazimika kucheka naye walicheka na ilipobidi
kumkanya kwa maneno makali alifanya. Palipohitaji
kumpatia peremende alimpatia na palipokuwa pakihitaji
mshubiri napo hakusita kumjazia. Hakutaka mtoto wake
akue na kuwa kama chaza ajianikaye mwambani. Alitaka
Lola awe mfano mwema ili kumwaminisha Majaliwa kuwa,
Lola alikuwa mtoto sahihi kwake.
Siku ya kumnasihi tena Lola ilifika. Umri wake ulihitaji
kukumbushwa kila wakati kwa kemeo na ushauri ili akue
na kukivuka kipindi kigumu cha usichana wake baada ya
kuvunja ungo. Lingali jua limefifia, likichomoza kwa shida,
Mama Lola alitoka shambani alikokwenda kuchuma
kisamvu. Alimwita mwanaye na kumtaka wasaidizane
angali akisema naye.
“Lola mwanangu, sasa wewe ni embe bivu mtini. Kama
halikuliwa changa kwa chumvi na pilipili, sasa watakiwa
kuishi tofauti. Kila apitaye karibu yako analitamani tunda
ili kuituliza njaa yake,” alisema mama Lola angali
akiendelea kuchambua kisamvu.
“Abee!” Lola aliitikia. Alionesha kutoelewa kile mama
yake alisema.
“Nisikilize mwanangu. Maisha siku zote ni utu kwa
watu, endapo watageuka afriti, ubaya wao huuzidi ule wa
mnyama. Tangu utoke tumboni mwangu, Mola amekujalia
afya, waishi salama. Unapaswa kumshukuru kwa kila hali.
Ninacho kusisitiza ni kimoja ufahamu; ulimwengu hauna
mgumu, kwake wote laini mithili ya mkate kwa chai.
Halahala binti wa Majaliwa, ichunge haiba yako na yetu
pia, usituvue nguo. Ushakua mwanangu, kote kusi na kasi
11
vijana wakutazama,” alisema Mama Lola. Alikisogeza kinu
alichokuwa amekiandaa kwa ajili ya kulitwanga samvu
lililokuwa limejaa tele kwenye kapu.
“Mama, huishi mafumbo. Kila kukicha kuniasa kama
mie kiziwi nisiyeweza kusikia. Ninajitambua mama’ngu,
kamwe sitaweza kuwavua nguo. Njia yangu nyoofu najua
waifahamu, namtumaini Mungu pekee. Mwalimu wangu
wa somo la Kiswahili alishasema mara nyingi kuwa, miluzi
mingi humpoteza mbwa. Nakuomba uamini na uniamini
mwanao. Najitunza ili ndoto zangu zisiende na mwezi,”
alijibu Lola wakati akimnyang’anya mamaye mchi na
kuanza kukitwanga kisamvu. Mamaye alimtazama kwa
makini usoni. Aliupeleka mkono wake mmoja shavuni na
kuubandika kisha kuuegesha kwenye goti lake. Aliendelea
kumpekua Lola kwa macho, tangu unyayo hadi ncha ya
unyewe.
“Hivi Lola, upitapo mitaani siku hizi hali ikoje?” Aliuliza
mama Lola.
“Mama, ushaanza, maswali yako kama mpelelezi.
Mitaani ni kawaida tu. Hakuna ubaya, lakini……..”
“Hapo ishia…. Hiyo lakini naitaka, hasa ndipo
nikaamua kukuuliza. Nishaliona jua likichomoza kabla
yako miaka mingi iliyopita. Niulizapo maana yangu ni
kubwa. Hebu nieleze, lakini ina nini ndani yake?” Aliuliza
mama Lola.
“Mama’ngu we acha tu, kila nikatizapo mbele ya
wanaume, vijana hata wazee, haweshi kuziacha hamsini
zao na kunikazia macho. Tena, hunitazama tangu chini ya
miguu hadi unywele. Basi hunisindikiza kwa macho na
utawasikia tu wakirusha maneno ya chinichini, ni aibu
hata kuyasema,” alieleza Lola.
“Aibu ee mama! Aibu kaburi la nafsi, siri sema na
mamayo, kijakazi usimsiri. Ushakua nimesema. Enhee,
12
wanasemaje? Maana hapo ndipo palipo na lile ninalotaka
kukuasa,” aliendelea mama Lola.
“Mama nitakwambia, acha kwanza nimalize kutwanga
kisamvu niinjike. Wauona wakati wakimbia kama mshale
wa msasi. Nataka baba’ngu arudipo kutoka kondeni
ajipatie mlo mapema,” alieleza Lola.
“Kumbe wamjua vema baba yako. Tangu akiwa
barobaro na ukoko shingoni, yeye chakula kwanza
mengine hungoja. Hasira zake za mkizi akikosa mlo kwa
wakati ndipo utazijua,” alisema mama Lola kisha kuangua
kicheko. Jicho tena liliendelea kumtazama Lola wakati
akitingishika kila alipousukuma mchi kwenda kwenye kinu.
“Mashallah!” Alistaajabu mama Lola.
“Mama jamani, wanitazamaje kama sanamu la
maonesho, kwa makini namna ile? Hadi naogopa, au kuna
jambo mama’ngu walijua wataka kunijuza. Basi niume
sikio unitoe wasiwasi,” alisema Lola.
“Nikutazamapo nayakumbuka mengi mwanangu.
Nazikumbuka enzi, wakati nilikuwa nikimwaga maji
kichwani, yalienda haraka chini kumwagika. Mwili
ulikuwa mororo na ulikuwa ukimeremeta kama embe
dodo bivu. Kila mwanaume alitaka japo nimpe mkono
kabla ya salamu. Cha ajabu nakiona sasa, baada ya baba
yako kunioa, hatimaye kukuzaa wewe, mambo yapo tofauti.
Mwili ushakuwa kama gunia la mkonge, ukitia maji
kichwani pengine yaweza yasifike chini, huishia
pasipojulikana. Salamu tena za vijana na wababa
zishakoma,” alisema mama Lola.
“Mama nawe, mpaka uzunguke kama tiara. Najua
unachotaka kusema, we niambie mwanao nakusikiliza,”
alisema Lola.
“Haya, pakua hilo samvu, litie kwenye chungu, nenda
kaliinjike na urudi hapa. Kabla baba yako hajarudi nikupe
13
yangu ya moyoni. Binti na mamaye, mwana na babaye,
hivyo nisiposema utanilaani uzeeni,” alisema mama Lola.
Mama Lola alibaki kimya kajiegesha kwenye mti wa
kivuli. Ulikuwa mti mkubwa wa mzambarau. Dusumali
lake kichwani lilipepea kwa upepo uliokuwa ukivuma hasa
baada ya dalili ya mvua kutaka kunyesha. Alikuwa akiwaza
jinsi ya kusema na mwanaye kuhusu maisha, hasa wakati
ule wa usichana ulioiva. Lola hakukawia kuinjika kisamvu
alichokuwa amekiandaa. Alipomaliza, alitia kuni ili apate
moto wa kutosha, kisha alipiga hatua kurudi kwa mamaye
aliyekuwa akimngoja.
“Ushatia kuni za kutosha jikoni?” Aliuliza mama Lola.
“Ndiyo mama, tena naona leo zitawahisha kisamvu
kuiva,” alijibu Lola.
“Haya sikio tega na usikie. Niyasemayo hutayasikia
popote mpaka utaenda kaburini,” aliongea mama Lola.
Usoni tayari aliuvaa umama ambao haukuwa na chembe
ya masihara. Lola alibaki kimya, moyo ulimdunda kwa
shauku ya kujua kile mamaye alitaka kumjuza.
“Nianulie kanga yangu hapo kambani ndipo uje
tuendelee,” Mama Lola alimwagiza mwanaye. Lola
alinyanyuka na kuivuta kanga iliyokuwa imekauka. Mji
wake ulikuwa umepambwa kwa samaki wadogo wengi
wakiwa wamemzunguka samaki mkubwa ambaye alipanua
domo. Lola aliketi kwenye kigoda kumsikiliza mamaye.
“Watoto wa leo kwa kutaka laana! Unajua maana ya
kuketi juu ya kigoda wakati unazungumza na mama yako?
Teremka jikalie hapo msalani. Mwiko kwa msichana
asiyeolewa kuketi juu ya kigoda angali akizungumza na
wazazi wake,” Mama Lola alifoka. Lola alinyanyuka kisha
kuketi mkekani. “Usipozingatia hilo, nakwambia
hutaolewa, zaidi utakaliwa vikao vya kusutwa kwa
ushankupe,” aliongeza mama Lola.
14
 “Nishaelewa mamangu, nisamehe,” alisema Lola kwa
unyenyekevu.
“Haya, uko tayari kunisikiliza?”
“Ndiyo mama.”
“Naomba nieleze bila kuficha, ushaanzisha usuhuba na
mvulana au mwanaume yeyote tangu nikuzae?”
“Aka! Sijawahi mama. Mbona wauliza una…”
“Shhhhhhi! Taratibu. Nijibu hatua kwa hatua.”
“Sijawahi mama,” alijibu Lola.”
“Vizuri! Umehitimu darasa la saba, sasa wangojea
matokeo. Je, wataka kuendelea na shule ama umefika
kikomo?”
“Mamaaa! Kikomo nd’o wapi?”
“Umefikia mwisho wa ndoto zako?”
“He! Mama, mie nataka kusoma hadi madarasa
yasiwepo huko mbeleni. Ndoto yangu ni kusoma–kusoma-
kusoma, mpaka nitamanicho nikifikie,” alijibu Lola.
“Vizuri. Nakuuliza haya kwa maana kubwa. Tazama,
rafikizo wote sasa wanaeleka mabegi mgongoni, tena
mapema baada ya kuzivua sare za shule. Wamezalishwa
nao wanalea. Wao pia hawaitaki shule kabisa, wanasema
kuketi darasani kwa binti ni utumwa. Wao wanasema
kuwa, wanasomewa na bwana zao. Wanaringia makalio
yao kuwa, wakikalia sana viti, watapigwa pasi kama
wachina. Isiwe nawe wasomewa na bwana’ko,” alieleza
mama Lola.
“Mama, nataka kusoma kwa juhudi zangu mwenyewe.
Nataka kupata kila kitu changu kwa akili na nguvu
alizonijalia Maulana. Sihitaji upendeleo wala kumtegemea
mtu kama dhamana ya maisha yangu,” alieleza Lola.

15
 “Isome hii kanga, imeandikwa nini?” Mama Lola
alisema kisha alimpatia Lola kanga. Lola aliizungusha
kanga kuiweka vema ili aisome.
“Imeandikwa; avumaye baharini ni papa, dagaa
mjichunge.”
“E-waaa! Haya, niambie ina maana gani?”
“Ina maana kuwa, papa ni kiumbe mkubwa ambaye
anapaswa kuogopeka baharini. Kwamba, dagaa
wajihadhari wasije kuingia hatarini kwenye domo lake
maana atawala bila huruma,” alijibu Lola.
“Yaonesha mwalimu alokufundisha Kiswahili hajambo.
Safi kabisa.” Mama Lola alifurahi. Alikenua hadi meno
yake mdomoni yote yalihesabika. “Hongera kwa hilo
Mwanambee!”
“Ahsante mama.”
“Je, kati ya papa na hao dagaa, wewe unajifananisha na
kipi?” Aliuliza mama Lola.
“Hee mama! Mie dagaa tu, tena mdogo kabisa.”
“Haya, nadhani sasa utaelewa maneno yangu kwani
akili yako yaonesha kupevuka. Hapa duniani ni sawa na
bahari, papa ni wanaume wenye hila. Ni wale watumiao
vipawa vyao, mali zao na mionekano yao kuwahadaa
mabinti. Jichunge dhidi ya wanaume laghai, watakao
kuonekana katikati ya dagaa,” alieleza mama Lola. “Hivi
kanga ul’oivaa unajua imeandikwaje?” Mama Lola
aliendelea kumdadisi mwanaye. Lola aliikagua kanga yake
kisha kutoa jibu.
“Imeandikwa; mbuzi na ng’ombe wamoja, mtu mbali ni
kondoo,” alisema Lola.
“Waelewa nini napo?” Aliuliza mama Lola.
“Mama mie sielewi. Niambie wewe,” alijibu Lola.

16
 “Asiyejua maana haambiwi maana. Lakini ukae
ukifahamu kuwa, huwezi kuwa mwerevu na mjuvi kwa kila
jambo. Umeweza kujibu vema mafumbo nil’okuuliza,
yumkini hili dogo limekuacha ugenini. Namaanisha kuwa,
wenye mali na kauli ndio hushirikiana; nao ni ng’ombe na
mbuzi. Humkandamiza kondoo ambaye ni sawa na mtu
mjinga ama mpole, kichwamaji asiyeweza kujieleza na
kujitetea. Sasa ukae ukijua mwanangu, duniani kuwa
mwema kiasi, wema ukizidi sana huwa upumbavu.
Msabihi Mungu wako, kwa kudra atazinyanyua juhudi
zako uifikie pepo.”
“Ahsante mama. Ndoto zangu mie nataka kusoma tu,
hakuna kingine. Sihitaji kuolewa katika maisha yangu
kabla sijakamilisha matakwa ya nafsi yangu. Kwani mama,
kutoolewa ni dhambi?” Alihoji Lola.
“Nisingeolewa ungetoka wapi?” Mama Lola alijibu kwa
swali.
“Pengine nisingelizaliwa.”
“Usiwe mbumbumbu. Kuolewa si dhambi, lakini namna
ya kuolewa na mtu wa kuolewa naye ndicho huzaa dhambi.
Jitunze, soma na fikia malengo yako kisha Mola atakupa
mume umtakaye. Ulimwengu unaoupokea usichana wako
umejaa mashaka. Usiuharakie ujana na kuupa kisogo utu
wema,” alieleza mama Lola. “Nakumbuka ulisema wataka
kuwa hakimu, bado unaota kuwa hivyo ama ushageuka
kama mlevi kitandani?” Alihoji mama Lola.
“Hapana mama. Ndoto zangu hazitabadilika maana
ndilo chaguo langu,” alijibu Lola.
“Haya binti wa Majaliwa, nitakapopata wasaa
nitakujuza mengi, lakini leo nimekumbuka shairi la
malenga mmoja. Anaitwa Sudi Bin Hamood Akwaay,
alikuwa akiimba tungali Pwani minazini. Ni vema

17
nikuimbie upate kujitwalia ujumbe al’otaka wasichana
wajue juu ya nikuusiacho.”
“Mama, napenda sana mashairi. Hebu niimbie. Naona
Pwani uliikaa na pwani ilikaa ndani yako,” Lola alisema
kisha alitabasamu akimtazama mama yake.
“Haya shairi sikia, laitwa KIPEPEO:

Kipepeo we mpole, maishayo ya shakani

Humjui mwendapole, kinyonga akutamani
Yake nia akupole, furahayo kichakani
Ona wala lako dole, kipepeo kwenye jani

Haraka guu chepusha, kinyonga atafutani

Yake shida kukurusha, yako ndoto kufitini
Sijifanye kumrusha, yaja siku kichakani
Zako ndoto tazikosha, fahamu kuziruhani

Ndefu safari meenda, heshimayo darasani

Ngazi nne kuzipanda, kujifunza kwa hisani
Utelezi njia panda, sisahau kurehani
Kwa vitabu utapanda, safariyo toka pwani

Kipepeo binti yangu, nakusihi sijizini

Kinyonga na nyungunyungu, takukuna kwa thumuni
Barobaro kama jungu, hakinai kukutani
Ujichunge kwa majungu, kwa zawadi takubani

Takuletea nikama, tamaayo kwa kidani

Kingayo wima simama, kuupinga ushetwani
Ilimu hima ni mama, babayo awe ilani
Hishimayo kwa ulama, uombe tena sirini
18
 Sijifanye we chuchunge, taliwa tena domoni
Utajipatia nunge, dunia itakuzini
Shauri langu kinange, hima kijazi sizini
Saharani na kinange, waombee kwa imani

Nachoka jipendekeza, harusi si msibani

Ujingao takutweza, kwa inda na baniani
Kwetu mie ni jinaza, siyendi kwao Mazini
Takutia kwa jeneza, ndoto yako ukutani

Takushika kwa upaja, njaa kenda sebuleni

Nimechoka kubwabwaja, pira natia kwapani
Kipepeo wewe mja, simtukuze shetwani
Sasa valia pambaja, kinyonga mwache chakani

“Mamaaaaa! Kipepeo ndiye nani katika shairi hilo?”

Aliuliza Lola
“Kipepeo asili yake ni maua, maua asili yake ni urembo.
Katika shairi, Bin Hamood alimlenga sana msichana
mbichi anayechipuka. Sawa kabisa na wewe binti yangu.
Wewe ni kipepeo ambaye wapaswa kukaa macho dhidi ya
maadui wengi. Wapaswa kujilinda dhidi yao,” alieleza
mama Lola.
“Kipepeo kwahiyo ni msichana! Amakweli sikuwa
nafahamu hilo. Ahsante mama, nimelipenda sana shairi
hilo,” Lola alisema. Muda huo alifika babaye akitokea
kondeni.
“Karibu baba’ngu. Shikamoo!” Lola alimkaribisha na
kumsabahi baba yake.

19
 “Marahaba mwanambee! Kuna heri hapa?” Mzee
Majaliwa aliitikia na kudadisi. Alikuwa akihema kwa shida
kwani alifika pale akiwa mbio mbio.
“Baba, naona umekuja mbi mbio, kuna usalama
utokako?” Alihoji Lola.
“Nawe baba yako hata hajapumua ushamjaza maswali
ya mkimbizi mpakani. Mwache apumzike kwanza ndipo
maswali yako muulize,” mama Lola alifoka.
“Acha kisirani mke wangu. Haki yake mtoto kutaka
kujua siha ya babaye. Ama kafanya kosa?” Aliuliza
Majaliwa. Alimsogelea mke wake aliyekuwa akiutandua
mkeka ili kuingia ndani. Wingu na upepo vilishindana.
Upepo ulipotulia wingu nalo lilisimama wima, upepo
ulipovuma na kufanya fujo, wingu nalo lilikimbia kwa kasi
angani.
“Wewe waonaje, ni sawa afanyavyo? Anapaswa
akukaribishe, akupokee kisha uketipo kitako ndipo aje kwa
adabu akusabahi. Sasa wamdekeza kama yai, siku
akikengeuka utanigeuka najua,” mama Lola aliendelea
kunung’unika.
“Mke wangu yeshe! Mi najua mtoto ni haki yake,”
alijibu Majaliwa.
“Haya, mkeo hujaniona? Maana tangu uniache
kitandani alfajiri, huna hata hamu ya kunijulia hali. Jicho
lako kwa huyo mama yako, mwanambee mja wa Vuga,”
alilalama mama Lola.
“Maua mke wangu, acha gubu. Huyu ni mwanetu sote.
Kusema sijakutakia heri nalo linatoka wapi? Usiku kuchwa
tumelala wote, nilijidamka nik’enda kondeni nikitaka
uendelee kupumzika, sasa imekuwa nongwa? Kweli hila
imekosa pa kwenda. Kibuyu akitiwa kunde hulalama
kavimbiwa, akitiwa maji hutapika yashamkinai, tosheka na
penzi nikupalo mke wangu,” alijibu Majaliwa.
20
 “Majaliwa mume wangu, siku hizi si kama zamani.
Nilikuwa kama yai kwako kabla sijamzaa huyu mrembo
wako. Hukuwa ukibanduka hapa nyumbani na wala
hukuwahi kuniacha kitandani. Hata uk’enda kokote,
hujawahi kurudi bila kunibebea kijizawadi na kuniuzia
maneno matamu. Tena, niliyapokea mbali kabla hata
hujafika nilipo. Mahaba yashakwenda na maji ya moto
sasa waniona kama kibuyu cha siagi. Saweni bwana,
mpende mwanao,” Mama Lola alilalama.
“He! Mke wangu nisamehe. Sikudhani kama utawaza
yote hayo. Nyakati hazifanani, nitakuwa mwema basi
yaishe,” alijibu Majaliwa.
“Mie nakubali yaishe lakini yanaishaje hapo ndipo
unapaswa ujirekebishe. Fahari ya mume ni mke, na fahari
ya mke ni mume,” alieleza mama Lola.
“Mama Lola usitake kuamsha yaliyolala. Tena naomba
yaishe kwa wema tu,” alisema Majaliwa angali akiwa
kaingiwa na kijiba rohoni.
“Hebu yaamshe yaliyolala niyasikie. Yepi hayo yalolala
nisiyajue yakufanye hadi unisahau mkeo. Mapenzi yote
sasa tangu nimzae Lola yashakwisha kabisa. Hutulii
mwanaume kwa mkeo, kutwa kiguu na njia wala hujali
kama nahitaji hata tucheze bao kama zamani. Au wataka
niende mtaani kukaa kitako na wanawake makuwadi, si
utakata kauli weye?” Alisema mama Lola.
“Makuwadi, kina nani hao?”Alihoji Majaliwa.
“Kina mama Koi na hao vijuso wengine, wale wa mtaa
wa maduka. Huwajui mashambenga na makuwadi! Hadi
midomo ishawaenda upande kwa kuwasema watu kwa
mabaya. Kila mmoja anawanyoshea kidole wale jini
walivyo na midomo mirefu?” Alifafanua mama Lola.
“Usitake nicheke ningali naugulia moyoni. Unawaitaje
mashambenga na makuwadi? Naona akili zako zote
21
ushaziacha Pwani juu ya mnazi ungali ukija katika kijiji
hiki. Unapaswa kuwaheshimu. Tena unatakiwa ukikutana
nao njiani, unawapisha wapite na kuwasabahi kwa
heshima. Uwapo kisimani wakifika unawapisha kwanza
wachote maji na wewe uwatwishe. Wale ni wake za watu,
wake wanaostahili kusalimiwa asubuhi na waume zao. Si
wewe Maua, hustahili kabisa salamu na matunzo
ninayokupatia hadi unakuwa kama faru umenenepa humu
kwangu,” alieleza Majaliwa. Mama Lola alikuwa kasimama
kwenye kizingiti cha mlango angali mumewe akiwa ndani.
Lola alikuwa jikoni akiendelea na maandalizi ya chakula.
Mvua ilikuwa imeanza kudondosha matone ya rasharasha.
“Majaliwa, kosa gani nililokutenda hadi wanitusi namna
hiyo? Ulitaka mtoto nikakuzalia Lola, tena kwa shida
nusura niupoteze uhai wangu. Hiyo haitoshi, nimekuwa
nikitii kila agizo lako la kutoubandua mguu wangu hapa na
kwenda kwenye magenge ya wanawake na vikundi vya
upatu. Bado waniona hayawani nastahili matusi. Si bure
bwana weye! Utakuwa umeshapata bibi mwingine zaidi
yangu, naona anakuzuzua. Hata huku kutoka hapa alfajiri
ninapata shaka sasa, si ajabu unaenda kumalizia usingizi
huko kwa bi mdogo. Mlete basi tuhangaike naye hapa,”
alieleza mama Lola.
“Maua shida yangu ni moja tu….”
“Ipi? Looh, huna hata haya Majaliwa. Ushakua achana
na tabia za barobaro.”
“Bado hujazaa. Kabisa hujazaa hata familia yangu
naiona ikipaparika kwa ukiwa, haiheshimiki. Tunaonekana
wote kama wanawake.”
“Unasema nini Majaliwa?”
“Umesikia. Usijitie kiziwi eti hujasikia. Nataka dume
humu ndani. Ningetaka mwanamke si wewe unatosha,
yanini ningeoa sasa. Nizalie mshika fimbo si mwiko, hapo
22
ndipo utajua Majaliwa alizaliwa Pwani na kulelewa bara
kwa bahati mbaya.”
“Mungu wangu! Majaliwa kumbe siku zote ukimya
wako umeficha hayo! Ni kwa sababu ya kukuzalia Lola,
msichana na si mvulana. Sasa leo nimeelewa. Hata hiyo
elimu yako ya darasa la nne haijakusaidia kabisa. Mtoto ni
mtoto tu, jinsia ni maumbile,” alisema mama Lola.
“Toka mbwa! Ukiwa na rununu ya tochi nawe
utajilinganisha na mwenye rununu ya video na picha?
Utafananishaje mtoto wa kiume na wa kike. Haunazo
kabisa Maua, leo ndo nimefahamu. Mtoto wa kiume ndiye
mshika fimbo na mkuki. Ndiye mshika sanda kunitwaa
kaburini. Sasa huyu mshika mwiko wako anaweza kunizika?
Anaweza kunitetea kwa kuushika mkuki na fimbo dhidi ya
maadui!” alifoka Majaliwa.
“Kinywa changu umekitia shubiri. Usemayo hata sielewi
kama wayasema weye.”
“Lione, usinisimamie wima kama nyonyadamu. Keti
hapo kitini uipishe mvua inyeshe japo tupate kulima,”
alisema Majaliwa.
“Haya naketi, lakini Majaliwa leo umenikata kauli,”
alilalama mama Lola angali akiingia ndani. Alikivuta kiti
tayari kukikalia. Alipokifikia ili kuketi, kiti kilivunjika
akajibwaga sakafuni.
“Haya umeona, kwa dhambi zako hukumu ishaanza
kukupata ingali asubuhi. Maua niliyekuwa nimeoa alikuwa
mrembo. Alikuwa mwembamba, kiuno kimekatika kama
dondola, umbo la kibuyu cha maziwa. Shingo yake ilikuwa
ndefu kama twiga. Kifua chake kipana, kiwiliwili kilikuwa
kimeumbika na kuvutia. Mdomoni alikuwa amejaa meno
meupe na tabasamu. Ibara ya nywele zake sasa, laini kama
hariri. Midomo kama kaswiba, waridi kasingiziwa. Kula
kwake kidogo alishiba na kwa usowe nuru ilicheza na
23
kumfanya anighuri. Hayo ndiyo yalinifanya niache kazi
zangu na kukimbia mbio kwenda kumkumbatia kila
wakati. Tazama, sasa ushakuwa dubwana kama mcheza
mieleka. Mdomoni nd’o kabisa, meno yote yashapuruka
kama muuza ugoro. Hujulikana kichwani na miguuni wapi.
Umenenepa mpaka unachukiza. Sasa unadhani wewe
ndiye nilikuoa miaka iliyopita. Umeharibika sana na
umejisahau, kisa tu tayari nishakuoa na sina la kukufanya.
Ujitunze kama vile ulivyokuwa kwa baba yako, naweza
kukuona tena. Punguza kula, utanilaumu bure,” Majaliwa
alieza.
Mama Lola alikuwa amejizoazoa na kuketi. Kifua kilijaa
kwa hasira. Alimtazama Majaliwa akitamani japo
kumrarua na kumfanya vipande vipande. Chozi lilianza
kumtiririka wakati akilia kwa uchungu. Majaliwa alikuwa
kaeleza ya fikrani mwake. Maua alipaswa kuyasikia na
aliyasikia na kuyajibu kwa kilio.
“Majaliwa mume wangu, leo umeniambia maneno
ambayo sikutegemea kuyasikia toka kwako. Nisamehe na
Mungu atasikia kilio changu. Kama yote haya ni sababu ya
kumzaa Lola, basi atafanya namna nitakupatia mtoto wa
kiume. Hakika Mungu hana choyo,” alisema Maua kwa
uchungu.
“Maua ulishachelewa kuamua. Lola ndiye fungua na
funga mimba kwa uzao wetu mimi na wewe. Sitegemei
kama kutakuja muujiza wa kwenu, labda utoke kwa
shetani. Hata kama vitabu vya dini vinawataja watu wengi
kuwa walizaa watoto wakati wa machweo, kwako
haiwezekani,” alisema Majaliwa.
“Sawa Majaliwa. Hata hivyo, Lola atakufaa najua ipo
siku. Hata kama si yeye, uzao wake utakufaa wakati wa
uzee wako. Amini Mungu anayo makusudi. Tumpende na

24
kumlea bila kuonyesha kuwa hakustahili kuzaliwa hapa.
Tu wazazi wake ujue,” Maua alieleza.
“Haya, maneno yako ni sawa na kelele za mlango.
Nishakuzoea, mwambie alete chakula nile hapa maana
kazi za shamba zimenifanya kurudi mbio niipoze njaa
yangu,” alisema Majaliwa.
Lola alikuwa tayari kaivisha chakula. Aliandaa kama
kawaida ya alivyolelewa. Alimtengea baba yake chakula.
Baada ya baba yake kutosheka, yeye na mamaye walitenga
chakula wakala. Mama Lola alikuwa mnyonge jambo
ambalo Lola alilazimika kulihoji. Siku hiyo ilikuwa
ikiondoka ifuatiwe na siku ya mkesha wa Noeli.
“Mama, kesho nitafanya kazi za hapa nyumbani
mapema. Nitakwenda kwenye mkesha wa Noeli kama
nilivyozoea ili nawe upate nafasi ya kwenda asubuhi. Muda
huo mimi nitakuwa naandaa chakula cha siku,” alieleza
Lola akimjuza mamaye.
“Nishakuzoea binti yangu, ibada na wewe hamkwepani.
Jitahidi kuamka mapema ili uyakamilishe yote kwa wakati
tena kwa ufanisi zaidi,” alijibu mama Lola. “Utaenda na
nani safari hii kanisani wakati huo wa usiku? Nakumbuka
Pasaka, ulienda na akina Joyce ambao sasa hawapo.”
“Nitaenda mwenyewe mama. Siwezi kuogopa kitu
maana mbalamwezi sasa huchomoza mapema.
Nitatembea harakaharaka bila shaka nitafika na kurudi.
Wakati wa kurudi ndo kabisaa, watu wengi sana
nitaongozana nao,” alisema Lola.
“Haya mwanambee, kuwa makini maana usiwe na
mazoea na binadamu. Kila siku iendayo kwa Mola kuna
visanga vingi. Huwezi kuota nani anakuwazia yepi, Mungu
tu akuongoze.”
“Sawa mama.”

25
 Hatimaye walimaliza kula chakula cha mchana. Lola
aliviokota vyombo ili apate kuviosha. Mvua iliyokuwa
imesheheni wingu zito na upepo ilinyesha. Hali ya mchana
wa saa nane ilikuwa kama jioni ya saa kumi na mbili. Kila
mmoja alijifungia ndani akitafakari yaliyotokea siku ile.
Hakika ilinyesha hadi jimbi la kwanza kuwika usiku ule.

26
 II

HAMANIKO

Lola, binti mwembamba, tula kwa kimo, sura ya yai na

rangi ya mwafrika halisi aliingia mashakani. Si kwa
shambulio la guruneti wala mishale ya msasi, ila kwa hila
za waja walioasi. Lola angali mwanamwali, alifikwa
hamaniko. Gauni lake jeupe ndilo lilikuwa la kwanza
kuusema ukweli. Damu zilizokuwa zikimwagika baada ya
kuupoteza usichana wake kwa shida, zilisema kwa sauti
iliyojaa uchungu kuyaeleza yaliyomsibu.
Maumivu aliyoyahisi Lola hayakuwa ya kipimo cha
macho, bali ilitosha kwa kila aliyemtazama kudondokwa
chozi. Walimhurumia. Alilishika tumbo lake, mkonowe
ulisimama chini ya kitovu akijaribu kujinasua kutoka
kwenye kichaka alikokuwa ametelekezwa. Chozi kama
chemchemi lilibubujika na kuifukuza haiba ya uzuri wa
macho yake ya duara. Aliyumba, kushoto kisha alirudi
kulia kabla hajaanguka chini kama fuko la taka. Mithili ya
mlevi aogopaye mwanga wa jua, aliyabinya macho yake
akitazama. Kwa makini alitazama kitu kilichokuwa
kikining’inia, kilishikwa na uzi mwembamba wa gauni lake.
Yalah! Lola alitulia kidogo. Pumzi bado zilikuwa za
kuokoteza. Alitazama na kuuona mkufu ukibembea. Akili
yake tayari ilimtaka kuutuma mkono wake, aliushika
mkufu na kuutia kiganjani. Aliunyanyua uso kuangaza
mbele akiwa kasimama wima akitikisika. Alitafakari
kidogo wakati akiyahisi maumivu yaliyokuwa yakiumiliki
mwili wake. Hatimaye nafsi yake ilisema, ‘Mola wangu,
niokoe dhidi ya hili tufani liutekalo mwili.’

27
 Kulikoni! Jicho lake liliuendea tena mkufu kuutazama.
Uchungu ulimzidi. Taratibu kiganja cha mkono alikikunja
kuushika usimponyoke. Ulikuwa kitu muhimu kwake kwa
hisi na fikra za wakati ule. Lola aliendelea kujivuta kuifuata
njia ambayo ilikuwa karibu na kile kichaka. Zuzu si zuzu,
mlevi si mlevi, mgonjwa si mgonjwa, Lola alisepetuka.
Nguvu zilimhama, maumivu yalimkalia na kuishinda
miguu. Alichutama kupumzika. Hakufahamu kilichotokea
hadi afikwe na unyama ule. Aliuagiza mkono wake katikati
ya mapaja, hakuamini, alitoa siahi, ‘ala!’ Hakuwa na
nguoye ya ndani. Alikuwa uchi, gauni lake jepesi lilipepea
juu ya mwili ulio tupu. Hatua chache akiikaribia ile njia ya
wote, macho mengi yalimmulika kwa mshangao. Kila
aliyemtazama alikifunika kinywa chake kwa viganja.
Ilikuwa aibu isiyoelezeka.
Utamu wa mwili na faragha, vyote vilikuwa kama
chelezo kwenye maji ya bahari. Taarifa za kubuni na kuona
zilizagaa kama upepo na kuufikia kila mlango wa kijiji cha
Hamaniko. Kwa chuku na chumvi waswahili habari
walizisambaza. Wasifu wa Lola wakati ule ulikuwa
mdomoni mwa kila mpika maneno kwa kipimo sawa na
hata kwa kutia chumvi nyingi.
Hatimaye wake kwa waume, wana kwa mabinti, wote
kama siafu walimiminika kutaka kushuhudia kwa macho.
Wote walimwelekea wakijaribu kumsaidia. Lakini haikuwa
muda sahihi. Lola hakuhitaji msaada tena. Muda wa
kumnusuru dhidi ya unyama uliokuwa umetendeka
zamani ulipita. Akiwa bado yupo chini, alijaribu
kunyanyuka. Hakuweza. Aliunyosha mkono wake wa
kushoto kuelekea kwa makutano waliofika kumshuhudia.
Aliwakodolea macho akiwashangaa wangali nao walikuwa
wakimshangaa. Mkono wake wa kuume aliupachika tena
katikati ya mapaja na kujikunja kama kikongwe akificha
aibu yake. Sauti ilimtoroka, “Nimefanyiwa-unyama!”
28
Alitamka kwa shida wakati sura yake ikiwa imejaa simanzi.
Alikusudia kuwaeleza jambo watu wale, lakini
hawakuelewa.
Alijaribu tena na tena kuunyosha mkono ili watu waone
na kuelewa alichokusudia waelewe. Bado hakuna
aliyeelewa kwa haraka. Aliunyanyua mkono uliokuwa na
mkufu uliofumwa kwa shanga na kuvishwa kikaragosi
chenye ramani ya Afrika, bado hawakuelewa. Macho yake
aliyalazimisha kuitazama nuru ya jua lililokuwa likianza
kuchomoza, hakuweza kusadiki. Uso wake ulijaa mashaka.
Yalimkuta!
Mwanaume mmoja alimsogelea Lola akiwa kajawa
mshangao. Alimkazia macho kutoka usoni hadi unyayoni.
Alimpekua kwa macho tokea chini hadi juu akiwa mkimya.
Lola alikuwa peku mguu wa bata. Hereni moja ilining’inia
sikioni. Sikio la pili lilikuwa tupu ila tu kulikuwa na
kidonda kilichokuwa kikitoa damu. Uso ulikwaruzika na
kupambwa kwa mistari mingi. Mdomo wake uliokuwa
mzuri kama ua waridi ulikuwa na mipasuko na kuufanya
uvimbe. Mwanaume huyo fahamu ilimjia na kumfanya aite
kwa sauti, “Lola!” Wakati akiita katikati ya mshangao,
aliyashusha macho yake hadi kwenye mkono uliokuwa
katikati ya mapaja ya Lola. Zilimpokea damu nyingi
zilizoshuka na kufanya michirizi mingi kuelekea kwenye
nyayo za miguu yake. Nafsi ya mwanaume huyo ghafla
ilijaa uchungu. Uzalendo ulimjaa kisha kutangaza kwa
sauti, “Amebakwaaa!”
“Mkononi ana nini?” Sauti nyingine ya kike ilihoji.
Ilikuwa sauti ya mama wa makamo aliyekuwa akijongea
kumsogelea Lola. Aliushika mkono wake na kuuchukua
mkufu uliokuwa mkononi.
“Wa nani?” Mama msamaria alimhoji Lola. Lola alibaki
akimtazama. Uchungu ulimzidi kisha aliangua kilio kwa
29
sikitiko. Katikati ya kilio lilimtoka neno kumjibu mama
yule, “Aliyenibaka!” Kila sikio la aliyefika eneo lile lilijua.
Lola alifanyiwa kitendo cha aibu. Mwanaume na yule
mama pamoja na wasamaria walimshika Lola kisha
walimkokota na kumpeleka hadi kwa mjumbe kutoa
taarifa ya kilichotokea.

*****
Kabla ya kuelekea kanisani kwenye mkesha, Lola aliamka
mapema na kuzifanya kazi za nyumbani. Alifagia nyumba
na uwanja, aliteka maji, aliosha vyombo na tayari alikuwa
alijiandaa kwenda dukani kufuata mahitaji ya siku.
Ilikuwa siku muhimu, tarehe 24 mwezi wa Desemba. Ni
siku ambayo kila mwaka aliitumia kutwa akijiandaa
kuipokea Noeli ambayo huja kila tarehe 25 ya kila mwaka.
Hata siku hiyo, Lola alikusudia kukusanya mahitaji yote ya
msingi mapema. Aliamini kufanya hivyo angeweza kupata
wasaa mzuri wa kwenda kuabudu usiku ule kwa nafasi.
Akiwa na kusudi lake akilini, aliingia ndani ya chumba
chake. Aliangaza juu ya sanduku ambalo alilitumia
kuhifadhi nguo zake. Macho yake yalitua kwenye shajara
ya matukio ya kanisa. Aliifunua na kuichomoa noti moja,
ilikaa mkononi. Aliikunja kisha kuifunga kwenye pembe ya
kanga isipotee, aliitunza. Miguu aliinyanyua kutoka nje.
Aliufikia mlango na kusimama akitafakari mahitaji ya
kwenda kununua. Hatimaye alianza kutafakari moyoni,
‘Mchele, unga wa ngano, mafuta, sukari, viungo vya
pilau na….’ Lola hakuendelea kuwaza. Aligundua kuwa,
pesa aliyokuwa nayo haikutosha. Alirudi ndani na
kuzitwaa pesa zote zilizokuwa kwenye shajara. Kwa haraka
tena alitoka moja kwa moja alielekea dukani.
Kutoka maskani alipoishi hadi lilipokuwa duka, ilikuwa
pua na mdomo. Hivyo, alipokuwa akilikaribia dirisha la
30
duka, aliifungua pesa yake na kuishika kiganjani.
Aliyatuma macho kutazama pembeni, alimwona kijana
aliyekuwa kaketi juu ya jiwe moja kubwa. Ada yake ni
salamu, hakuwa na chuki na yeyote, hivyo kwa kutoa
salamu ilikuwa kama hewa aivutayo bure.
“Habari za asubuhi kaka,” Lola alisabahi. Magoti
aliyatua chini kwa adabu.
“Safi! Sijui wewe mrembo! Uko salama?” Kijana yule
alijibu. Macho yake yalimsaliti akimtazama Lola kwa hamu.
Alikitingisha kichwa chake. Mdomo ulimcheza akitaka
kuzitangaza sifa za Lola japo kwa upepo uliokuwa ukivuma.
“Kama kuumbwa, wewe ulizidishiwa. Mungu kakutunuku
haiba isiyo mfano…,” aliongeza kijana yule baada ya
salamu. Lola hakujali, aliondoka zake. Fahari ya
ulimwengu kwake ilikuwa ni kudra za Mungu na juhudu
ndizo zilikuwa za binadamu.
“Oliii! Acha kumtani’ mteja wangu….” Sauti kutoka
dukani ilionya. Oli alibaki kimya kidogo akitafakari. Jicho
lake lilikuwa bado limeganda nyuma, chini ya mgongo wa
Lola. Mate alikuwa akiyameza ingali nafsiye ikimtaka
kufanya jambo.
“Kwa nini nisiuvunje ukimya, Koi? Ukweli husemwa.
Heri mfalme asemaye kwa kinywa kuliko mtwana afaye
kwa ukimya. Muungwana asemapo la moyoni nafsi huwa
huru na hupata tiba. Au….” Oli alijibu.
“Ungelijua hilo, hakika ungelikuwa umetuma washenga
kwenda kumposa,” Koi alisema wakati akimtayarishia
mahitaji Lola. Binti wa Majaliwa alikuwa kaufumba
mdomo wake. Hakutoa neno lolote kuingilia mazungumzo
yaliyokuwa yakilenga kumnasa. Baada ya kuwa mahitaji
yake yamekamilika, aliubeba mfuko akiondoka kurudi
nyumbani. Alipowapa kisogo, Oli na Koi walianza kusogoa
wakimteta.
31
 “Hivi tutaendelea kula kwa macho hadi lini?” Koi alihoji.
Aliufunga mlango wa chumba wa kuingilia dukani.
Alitembea hadi alipokuwa Oli.
“Hawezi kutushinda binti mdogo kama huyu. Unajua
kumchinja kobe lazima umvizie, ikilazimu hata kulivunja
gamba.” Maneno yalimtoka Oli wakati mdomoni akiwa na
sigara iliyokuwa ikifuka moshi.
“Unadhani tutafanyaje kumpata? Kijiji kizima, binti
hawezekani. Tangu Kinesi hasomeki, Kilima hashikiki hata
Tareta kote huishia kumtazama na mate kuwashuka.
Vitongoji vyote wamemshindwa. Hamaniko nzima,
warumbi ninaowaamini kwa porojo na mpunga, katu
kasimama imara. Watu huenda kwa hamu kumhadaa kwa
maneno matamu na nyimbo lakini bado hang’oleki. Wapo
waliojaribu kumhonga mapesa, lakini mtoto hajasikia hata
shairi moja la mtu. Sasa unijibu, kijiji kizima hiki unataka
kuniambia ni mabwege?” Alisema Koi angali akimpoka
sigara rafikiye na kuitia mdomoni.
“Kweli usemayo. Lakini umekaona kalivyoondoka hapa
kwa mbwembwe? Kama dudu washa vile. Tikiri-tikiri,
tatara-tatara!...mtikisiko huko nyuma utadhani
kafungiwa furushi la sufu. Mbona tunalo!” Oli alizungumza.
Alisimama na kuiga mtembeo alioondoka nao Lola. “Moyo
wangu vumilia, ukishika mawili moja litaniponyoka,”
aliongeza Oli.
“Huwezi kujua, inawezekana kakawa na tatizo.
Mwamba!” Koi alisema kwa kusisitiza.
“Mwamba? Haiwezekani katoto kazuri hivyo kawe na
mwamba. Hapo ni shamba darasa unajipandia mbegu kwa
maarifa yako,” Oli alijibu kwa msisitizo.
“Labda kanataka kuingia utawani. Iweje, kijiji kizima
hiki hata mmoja! Anaishije bila kupata hamu ya

32
kusalimiana na wajinsia tofauti naye?” Koi alisema kwa
kulalama.
“Mtawa wa Hamaniko?” Oli alisema kisha kucheka kwa
kejeli.
“Haiwezi kutokea. Jimbi wawikao kijiji hiki ni wengi
kuliko mtetea. Leo uniambie haka kawe kuku wa banda la
uani, katikati ya jimbi wenye ugwadu? Haiwezekani. Siku
zinahesabika, tutampata tu. Tena tazama atokapo, kwa
Majaliwa pale hapana hata uzio tutashindwa nini!” Oli
alizungumza kwa msisitizo. Aliunyosha mkono wake
kuelekea mdomoni kwa Oki. Aliipoka sigara na
kuitumbukiza mdomoni kwake. Aliivuta kwa pupa na
kuukupua moshi kupitia kwenye tundu za pua na mdomo.
Moshi uliruka juu na kuelea hewani wangali wakiendelea
na mazungumzo yao.
“Hewala si utumwa! Umezungumza kuhusu utawa.
Hakika nimekumbuka jambo muhimu,” Koi aliongea.
Alitabasamu na kuyaacha meno yake makubwa kuonekana
hadharani.
“Leo usiku kuna mkesha wa Noeli ujue. Ni lazima Lola
atapita hapa usiku kunywa soda. Karibu kila mkesha ni
lazima hufanya hivyo. Sasa hii ndiyo nafasi pekee ya
kumpata,” Koi alianika siri kwa ujasiri wakati tabasamu
likiwa limechanua. Macho yake makubwa kama bundi
yalikuwa yakizunguka na kudondosha chozi baada ya
kuivuta sigara kubwa iliyomtatiza. “Au unasemaje?” Koi
aliongeza.
“Fyekeo linamhusu. Ukiongeza na zana zako, mia
tutampata,” Oli alijibu.
“Fyekeo kwa majani makavu hapana. Tutaumbuka
mapema,” Koi alihadharisha. Alimnyoshea kidole rafikiye.
“Tumtie kiberiti kisha reki tumzoe.”

33
 “Kiberiti, Koi! Una maana gani? Eleza mpango mzima.”
“Kwenye soda tu, nywiii! Cha Kolombia kitamtuliza.
Tutamzoa kama tawi la mti tuumalize mchezo kwa ulaini,”
Koi alipendekeza.
“Cha Kolombia kinapatikana wapi kijijini hapa?” Oli
aliuliza.
“Ondoa shaka. Japo nilisahau kuja nacho kutoka mjini
wakati huu, najua hatuwezi kukosa,” Oli aliongeza.
“Nakuamini, jungu kuu halikosi ukoko. Unakumbuka
uliniletea kipindi kile. Ninayo akiba kidogo itamtosha,” Koi
alieleza.
“Kweli mwanajeshi haishiwi silaha. Lazima tukatie
adabu. Tena….!” Oli alichombeza kwa furaha. “Unajua
kuwa, maji ukiyakamia sana, huyanywi?” Oli alimpiga
kijembe rafikiye. “Usije ukaishia kushika pembe na
maziwa wakanywa wenzio.”
“Samaki mjanja majini, nchi kavu kitoweo. Hakuna
kumkosa. Ushawahi kuona dagaa aliyekikaangoni akaruka
na kutoroka? Huliwa hata mfupa usionekane. Tena, nina
hakika zote kwa zote, katakuwa bado mdomo wa chupa.
Wa kwanza mimi sajenti, halafu mtafuata nyie mlio
wavumilivu. Nitaka…..!” Koi hakumaliza mazungumzo.
Mteja alifika na kumtaka Koi kunyanyuka kwenda
kumhudumia.

*****
Jua lilikuwa limetua na kupumzika kuliruhusu giza
kutawala. Ilikuwa saa nne usiku. Mbalamwezi ilipambana
kujinasua kutoka mikononi mwa mawingu meusi
yaliyokuwa yakijitahidi kuikumbata kwa nguvu. Mwanga
wake ulijipenyeza na kusafiri kwa usawa kisha kulifanya
anga lote kujaa nuru. Wakati huo, Lola alikuwa tayari
34
kahitimisha maandalizi ya siku. Alikuwa kaanza
maandalizi kwa ajili ya mkesha.
Baada ya dakika chache, alisikia kengele ya kanisani
ikiliteka anga lililokuwa tulivu kwa tafakari. Alinyanyuka
na kuitwaa ndoo ya maji. Aliingia bafuni kuusafisha mwili
wake. Hakuwa ameikumbuka sabuni aipendayo, alirudi
ndani kuifuata. Alijitwalia Yolanda-sabuni ndipo aliporudi
tena bafuni. Alimaliza kuoga, kanga yake aliitumia
kuukausha mwili. Aliziokota nguo tayari kurudi ndani ya
chumba chake. Macho aliyaangaza kulitafuta kopo la
mafuta ya kupaka. Mkono wake wa kuume ulimsaidia
kupapasa kitandani. Alilipata kopo alilolifunua na kujipaka
mafuta ya mgando. Sanduku la nguo zake alilifungua.
Alichomoa nguo yake ya Noeli aliyoipenda. Aliitupia
kitandani kabla ya kupiga hatua kwenda nje palipokuwa na
moto mkali wa kuni.
Muda huo alibaki na kanga moja nyepesi iliyoushika
mwili. Alikichukua chungu kitupu na kukiinjika jikoni,
alirudi ndani kuvaa. Gauni jeupe pee alilitupia mwilini.
Lilimwagika hadi unyayoni na kumfanya aonekana
malaika katikati ya mawingu meusi. Lola aliinama, macho
yake yalielekea uvunguni alikochomoa viatu avipendavyo.
Chubwi! Miguu yake aliitumbukiza kwenye loso kisha
kuzikaza kamba sawia. Mkononi alizipachika bangili zake
za shaba. Heleni alizipachika masikioni zikaning’inia kama
pilipili mbuzi. Alikichukua kioo kujikagua akiutumia
mwanga hafifu wa kibatari kilichokuwa kikiangaza
chumbani usiku ule. ‘Nimependeza!’ Nafsi yake ilimsifu.
Lola alikirudisha kioo kisha kukokoa mafuta ya mgando
kwa vidole vyake. Alikijaza kiganja. Hatua alizipiga
kuelekea ulipo mlango wa kutokea. Macho yalimsafirisha
hadi kwenye chungu alichokiinjika. Kilichemka na kuwa
chekundu kama kaa la moto. Alivifikicha viganja
kuyalainisha mafuta kabla hajayakandika kichwani zilipo
35
nywele zake fupi. Aliendelea kuzifikicha hadi zikayameza
mafuta yote. Naam! Lola alikusudia kuzijali nywele zake
zilizoukoleza uzuriwe wa asili.
Macho aliyaangaza, kushoto kisha kulia pale sakafuni.
Aliliokota tambara lililokuwa limelowa na kulifanya shikio.
Alikitwaa chungu cha moto na kukipitisha kichwani
akikizungusha kila sehemu yenye nywele. Sawia! Kusudi
lake lilitimia. Huyooo! Lola aliingia ndani hadi kwenye
kioo na kujikagua. Ng’aring’ari! Nywele zililala na kuwa
kama zilipitiwa na ulimi wa ng’ombe. Maandalizi ya Lola
yalikuwa tamati, fika moyo wake uliridhika.
Kengele ya pili ya wito kanisani ililia kumkumbusha.
Aliitwaa noti kutoka kwenye shajara na kuitia kiganjani
wakati akiharakisha kutoka nje. Aliwaaga wazazi wake
waliokuwa wakiota moto usiku ule. Chap chap! Aliifuata
njia yake iliyomchukua karibu na duka ambalo hulitumia
kutwaa mahitaji yake. Baada ya kulikaribia, nafsi yake
ilimvuta na kumsaliti. ‘Soda! Kesho sitapata muda wa
kunywa soda. Kila mmoja atakuwa na hamu ya soda
hadi watu watagombania. Ngoja ninywe kesho ipite.’
Lola aliukubali ushauri wa moyo wake. Aliichepusha
miguu yake hadi dukani.

*****
Baada ya hamu kumzidi, Lola mate yalimwagika, Shwaa!
Utamu kolea. Mdomo ukahitaji kuupatia kilichopaswa
kunywewa wakati huo. Moyo ulimsukuma kuifungua noti
iliyokuwa mkononi na kumpatia Koi, muuza duka.
“Nipatie Punto ya baridi.” Aliagiza Lola angali akiyapepesa
macho yake upande wa nje ya duka lile. Aliwaona vijana
wengi wakizagaa katika uchanjaa wa duka lile kama siafu.
Wengine walikuwa wakitimua moshi wa sigara katikati ya
mazungumzo waliyokuwa wamependezwa nayo. Wengine
36
kwa kujipumbaza, walisimama mlingoti vikundivikundi
wakipata machozi ya simba ili kujipumbaza. Yote ilikuwa
ni namna ya kuupokea mkesha wa Noeli. Lola hakuwajali.
Hamsini zake zilikuwa kwenda kanisani na hamsini
zilizosalia ni kuinywa soda aina ya Punto ambayo
aliitamani. Baada ya sekunde chache, Koi alimnyoshea
mkono kumpatia.
“Hii hapa, nimeshakufungulia… Au?” Koi alihoji. Tayari
soda alikuwa ameifungua.
“Nachelewa, nipe bwana!” Alisema Lola wakati
akiipokea na kuitundika kinywani. Aliimimina mdomoni
ikapita kooni. Aliuhisi utamu ukilipapasa koo na kuufanya
mwili kusisimka. Aliitua chupa kupitia dirisha la duka lile.
Alimkazia macho Koi aliyekuwa akiushauri moyo wake
kuwa na subira. Kifua cha Lola kilikubali kuipokea soda
tamu. Alitabasamu kwa utamu asili alioumeza.
“Nipe baki yangu,” Lola alitaka baki ya fedha yake.
Kiganja cha mkono wake alikifungua kuipokea fedha
aliyokuwa akiihitaji.
“Hujui kama hiyo ni sadaka ya leo?” Lola alinong’ona
wakati mkono wake ukizipokea fedha kichele toka kwa Koi.
Kushoto-kulia, Lola aliinyanyua miguu yake kuelekea
kanisani. Fikra ya aendako ilimjia akilini, kanisani na
hakuwaza kingine.
‘Leo lazima niimbe kwa nguvu, tena soda hii imenitia
nguvu maradufu.’ Yalikuwa mawazo ya Lola aliyekuwa
akiumaliza uga wa duka lile kisha kuishika njia iliyokuwa
ikielekea kanisani kwao. Wakati akitokomea, Koi alikuwa
na furaha isiyo kifani. Alimwita kijana ambaye walizoeana
na kushibana naye. Alilitungua shati lake lililokuwa
limeshikiliwa na msumari ukutani. Alilivaa mwilini haraka
kama mtu aliyefumaniwa akizini. Alivifunga vishikizo kwa
mkono mmoja wakati mkono mwingine uliuvuta mkufu
37
uliokuwa umefunikwa na shati. Aliutoa na kuuacha
ukionekana shingoni sawia.
“Niangalizie, muda si mrefu narudi,” Koi alisema.
Kijana aliyemwalika kumsaidia alikubali. Koi alitoka mbio
kuelekea ilipokuwa maskani ya Oli. Haikuwa mbali, mara
baada ya kupiga kona na kuupita uchochoro wenye kuta za
mabua, tayari alifika dirishani kwa Oli.
“Dege limeruka, twende!” Koi alimnong’oneza Oli
kupitia dirishani. Baada ya kusikia hivyo, Oli alitoka na
kuurudisha mlango wa chumba chake. Walianza kutembea
kuifuata njia aliyokuwa ameipita Lola. Macho waliyakodoa
kupitia kwenye mwanga wa mbalamwezi iliyokuwa
ikitamalaki.
“Ametoka kitambo?” Oli alihoji.
Koi alikohoa kidogo kabla ya kujibu, “Ameondoka muda
si muda. Nina hakika hawezi kukatisha kile kichaka cha
njia panda. Unalijua zigo la Kolombia lilivyo! Kila hatua
atakayoipiga damu itazidi kuchemka nalo zigo litampanda
kichwani. Atakuwa tayari amecheua,” Koi aliongea wakati
sigara akiitia mdomoni. Alikilipua kiberiti na kuiwasha
sigara. Kama jadi yake, moshi aliukupua kupitia vitundu
vya pua na kumalizia mdomoni. Baada ya kumaliza
alimdakisha rafikiye. Miguu yao iliongeza kasi. Macho
walizidi kuyakodoa kutazama kwa mbele. Lahaula! Mtu
alionekana mbele yao, vazi lake lilikuwa likichangamana
kabisa na mwanga wa mbalamwezi iliyokuwa hafifu. Oli
alimshika bega Koi kumtaka asimame. Walisimama wima.
“Amevaa nguo ya rangi gani?” Oli aliuliza.
“Nyeupe. Tulia kwanza, namwona akiinama na
kusimama,” Oki aliunyosha mkono kumwonesha Oli.
“Tayari mzigo umeshamchukua nini?”

38
 “Tayari kashikwa mdondo. Kilichopo tunatia hatua hadi
alipo. Tunamchota mpaka kichaka kile pembeni,” Koi
aliongea. Kidole alikielekeza kumwonesha Oli sehemu ya
kichaka kilichokuwa hatua chache na alipokuwa
kachutama Lola.
Wakati Koi na Oli wakijadili jinsi ya kumchota Lola,
yeye alikuwa katikati ya jongomeo na kitala. Alipokuwa
akitembea, ghafla alihisi joto kali kuuteka mwili. Alijipepea
kwa kitambaa lakini hewa haikumtosha. Alihisi wingu zito
jeusi kumvamia na kuufunika uso kisha kuiteka fahamu
yake. Tayari, zilizala lilimvamia. Lilimtikisa upandeupande
likitaka kumdondosha, alilibishia. Alikiagiza kiganja
kuyafunika macho aliyoyafumba ili asione kilichokuwa
kikimkumba. Wasiwasi ulianza kumwingia binti wa
Majaliwa. ‘Mungu, nini kinatokea?’ Alihoji Lola. Akiwa
hajapata jawabu, kichwa kilianza kupasuka kwa maumivu.
Kilisikia maumivu makali kikigonga kama nyundo ya
mhunzi. Alisimama wima. Koo lilimkauka. Tetemo
liliitembelea miguu yake na kuipiga vikali. Kila kiungo
kilimsaliti mwenzake. Aliyumba kama mti uliopigwa
kimbuka jangwani akikubali kuporomoka kwenda chini.
‘Mungu, nakufa pasipo kujua sababu. Sijakutenda
dhambi. Kama unanichukua nichukue kwa amani.
Nisamehe dhambi zangu, wewe ni muweza.’ Lola
alinong’ona kwa kutubu. Mikono na miguu ilikuwa uji wa
mhogo ikiegama kwenye majani yaliyopembeni ya njia
hiyo. Fahamu zilimhama na uono ulitoweka. Udende wa
teja ulimiminika akiwa nusu hai nusu mfu. Aliishi katika
dunia mbili kwa wakati mmoja, ile ya wafu na ile ya uzima.
Kama fisi mawindoni, Oli na Koi walimfikia Lola.
Walisimama na kuyaangaza macho yao kama kurunzi,
walikagua kila upande. Palikuwa tulivu bila hata dalili ya
mpita njia wa kuweza kuwakatisha kuikata kiu yao.

39
Walikuwa rafiki wa giza, waliokusudia kufanya kwa hamu
ya matamanio yao.
“Hakuna noma,” alisema Oli baada ya kuyaangaza
macho yake kila upande. Kweli hapakuwepo na mtu karibu
na pale. Mkono kwa mkono walimpakata Lola. Kushoto
Koi wakati kulia alikuwako Oli. Binti aliikokota miguu yake
chini akiwa hajitambui. Safari ya fisi wenye njaa iliongoza
hadi kichakani.
“Pale kwenye giza,” domo la Koi lilipendekeza.
Walikisogelea kichaka kilichokuwa kimestawi. Majani
mengi ya kijani yalikoleza giza eneo lile. Chini walimtua
Lola kama furushi la ulezi. Alianguka na kulala chali
akiliangalia anga. Mkono mmoja suheli na mwingine
kadimu. Pumzi alizikokota angali mwili ulimkana
kuusogeza. Nguvu za kujisogeza popote ama kuipaza sauti
yake nyembamba kuwafikia watu kwa msaada, yote ilizima.
Ulimwengu ulimsaliti!
“Wa kwanza mimi!” Koi alinguruma. Alimsukuma kwa
nguvu rafikiye.
“Mimi…ah!” Sauti ya ukali ilimtoroka Oli aking’aka
kama simba kwenye mzoga. Toba! Mikono ya Koi
ililichana gauni la Lola kutoka shingoni hadi kitovuni.
Kweli rafiki wa kweli Rabuka, wengine wasaliti. Hamadi!
Aibu ilikuwa ikiandikwa katikati ya mapaja ya mwanawali
mrembo. Mkono wa Oli ulijipenyeza na kulipasua kufuri
lililoulinda mji wa malkia. Gigidi-gagada! Oli alilazimisha
kupata upenyo wa kutuliza kiu yake. Ghafla guu la Koi
lilimparamia usoni na kumgonga Oli. Lilimsukuma na
kumbwaga chini kichakani. Kasi ya kulionja tunda
walilolitamani siku nyingi iliongezeka maradufu. Utu wa
Koi ilibaki hewani ukielea kwenye vichaka vilivyokuwa
vikistaajabu ya binadamu. Mkono wa kushoto ulikazana

40
kuufungua mlango wa mfalme. Alimtembelea malkia
pasipo kubisha hodi, aibu isiyo tumainiwa.
Mzigo wa huba ulimkalia Koi akilini na kifuani. Alijihisi
peke yake ndiye aliweza kuitawala dunia pasipo nguvu
kubwa. Sherehe ilipiga kambi moyoni, kijana aliongeza
juhudi kuulinda umahiri wake juu ya asiye na fahamu.
Kushoto alienda, kulia pia alienda. Mbele na nyuma
alibembea akitafuta maficho. Mapigo ya moyo yalimwenda
omo! Kwa nguvu alijituma kuupasua mwamba. Mwamba
wa mawe ya dhahabu ambao Lola aliulinda kwa kipindi
chote cha maisha yake ulivamiwa kwa ubaya. Mlango wa
malkia haukubisha, ulikubali kufunguka na kumkaribisha
mfalme ambaye hakuwa na kibali. Koi alijivuta kama
konokono akijaribu kujipenyeza hadi chumba ambacho
alihisi malkia alihifadhi asali. Joto kali lilimkaribisha kisha
alishikwa fadhaa. Yai lilivunjika, likaukinai moyo wake
naye alitapika chakula chote alichokitunza kwa kiangazi
chote. Asali aliyoilamba haikuwa na thamani tena. Koi
alitoka chumbani akijifuta vumbi lililokuwa limemtanda
wakati ule.
“Hakika ulisema, mwamba!” Koi alitoa ushuhuda. Oli
naye alimparamia Lola kwa uchu. Kama mtangulizi wake,
alicheza tarazia na kila ngoma alizofundwa na asili yake.
Hamu na midadi vilimpandisha mbingu ya anasa.
Hakulijua jina lake wala asili ya wazazi wake.
“Ewaa!” Oli aliafiki kumuunga mkono mtangulizi wake.
Alikipanda na kukishuka kilima cha huba kwa kasi. Pumzi
zilimuisha. Alijiachia fedhuli kifuani kwa Lola na
kumkumbatia kama boya lililo baharini kuwaokoa
manusura wa tufani. Lola alihisi kusafiri anga ya shetani.
Hakuwa hai na hakuwa mfu, alikuwa katikati ya jongomeo
na uzima. Kama mwenye kuota ndoto chafu za mahaba,
aliweweseka akijaribu kukinyanyua kichwa chake. Kwa
alivyokuwa taabani, hakuweza kuihamisha mikono wala
41
miguu pia. Kwa mbali, alihisi maumivu yakimnyenga
angali hakuweza kutambua ukweli.
Firauni, wanaharamu, fidodido na kila aina ya jina baya
ilikuwa sifa halali kwa Koi na Oli kuitwa. Kiu yao ilikatika.
Akili ya utu iliwavamia wakawa tayari kuondoka.
Walichepuka hadi kwenye njia iliyowaongoza na
kuwafikisha walipomchota Lola kama mche wa mgomba.
“Koi!” Sauti ilibisha hodi masikioni mwao. Walisimama
na kuchungua kwa makini. Walikuwa na shaka,
hawakumjua mtu aliyewaita usiku ule.
“Mbona wanguwangu. Tena kichakani, kuna heri
kweli?” Alihoji kijana aliyekuwa mrefu na mwembamba
kama mlingoti. Alimkwida Koi na kuliviringa shati lake
shingoni. Koi alihisi mambo yalienda omo. Alijua fika,
kijana yule naye alikuwa miongoni mwa waliomaliza soli
za viatu vyao kumfuatilia Lola. Wazo lilimrukia akapata
cha kufanya. Alimsogelea kijana yule mrefu na kumvuta
pembeni. Alimnong’oneza, “Lola, ameingia mkenge. Yupo
kichakani,” Koi alimwaga mtama. Kijana yule alisimama
kimya asiyaamini maneno yale. Hatimaye hamu ya kuona
naye ilimjaa.
“Sema haki ya nani?” alisema kijana yule wakati
akimvuta Koi kumrudisha kwenye njia iliyoelekea
alikokuwa Lola. Mkufu wa Koi baada ya kukwidwa katika
vurumai ile ulikatika na kubaki mkononi mwa kijana yule
mrefu.
“Nakwambia ni kweli. Tumeshamaliza yetu. Kama
unataka kukizima kichungi cha sigara, mzimaji yupo….,”
Koi alikatiza. Kijana yule ambaye aliongozana na rafikiye
baada ya kumwona Lola walistaajabu. Ibilisi aliwavaa
kutaka kujua mbivu ama mbichi kwa walivyomfahamu
Lola. Tajiri msafisha makombo kikombe hatumii.
Aliuachia mkufu ukaangukia shingoni kwa Lola kisha
42
alikibinua kikombe na kukifunika. Kwa zamu, kila mmoja
aliizima sigara yake angali Lola akiyoyoma upande upande
kama mbuzi achunwaye kwa kitoweo.
Waonevu! Miti iliyokuwa ikimpepea Lola ilitamka
pasipo kusikiwa. Kweli waonevu, tena zaidi ya ibilisi.
Dunia ilikuwa ikiwazomea walioutesa mwili wa
mwanamwali angali taabani kwa hashishi. Hakika
yalitokea. Ndoto aliyoiota wakati ule si ya mchana wala
usiku wa maanani, bali ndoto katikati ya wanaharamu
waliomtamani kwa huba. Maji yalishakwisha kumwagika,
kuzoleka hayakuweza. Historia iligeuka na kuwa
kumbukumbu yenye mtihani usio na majibu.

43
 III

V U N T A N’K U V U T E

Baada ya kutomwona Lola usiku mzima, mzee Majaliwa

hakuwa na kituo. Alikuwa mwenye kuzunguka kila pahali.
Aliingia ndani na kutoka. Alizunguka kila upande wa
nyumba na kuikagua njia itokayo kanisani. Hakupata
kumwona. Hakuwa na usemi bali alikuwa akitamani japo
amwone Lola ndipo angeweza kutulia. Maua yeye alituliza
akili zake akitafakari.
“Baba Lola, usihangaike huko nje mme wangu. Usiku
huu mkubwa huwezi kujua utakutana na nini. Najua Mola
atamleta Lola akiwa mzima kwani alikoenda ni mahali
salama,” alisema mama Lola kumsihi mmewe.
“Nyamaza kinyamkela. Usitake nikufanye kile
kinamngoja kumpata nuhusi wako,” alisema Majaliwa
akimjibu mke wake. Povu lilimjaa mdomoni kisha staha
ilimhama.
“Nuhusi wangu wataka kimpate nini? Unajua kile
kimemkawiza kufika, Baba Lola!” Aling’aka Mama Lola.
Hakutaka mmewe amhukumu bintiye kwa jambo
asilokuwa na uhakika nalo. Aliendelea kuwa na imani
kuwa, Lola angerudi akiwa salama.
“Saa kumi kasoro hii! Kanisa gani linasalisha waumini
usiku kuchwa?” Majaliwa alisema baada ya kuitazama saa
yake iliyokuwa ikimkonyeza. “Maua, Lola alishakushinda
na leo mmeamua namimi nijue. Baada ya mkesha wa Noeli
umegeuka kuwa mkesha wa…”
44
 “Majaliwa nyamaza! Weka akiba ya maneno mme
wangu. Kwa nini uhukumu ungali huna uhakika. Utajuaje
kilichomkuta?” Alifoka Mama Lola. Hali ikawa si hali. Vuta
n’kuvute ikawa sehemu ya wawili hao wakipingana kwa
ambacho hakuna kati yao alikuwa akikifahamu.
“Unaona! Nilishakuonya siku nyingi Maua. Leo sijui
utanieleza nini?” Mzee Majaliwa alifoka kumgombeza mke
wake. Mama Lola alinyamaza kimya. Alijikunyata kama
paka jikoni asiye na la kufanya. Aliikusanya mikono yake
akimwomba Mola kumsaidia. Alijawa hofu.
‘Lola mwanangu! Hujawahi kuniletea jefule kama leo.
Uko wapi Lola? Njoo kabla babako hajanimaliza.’ Mama
Lola alinong’ona nafsini akisema na roho yake. Mzee
Majaliwa bado alikuwa akienda humahuma kila upande.
Kila pahali kwenye uga uliotanda mbele ya nyumba yake
aliufikia kama kifaru. Mkongojo ulikuwa mkononi
akiyaangaza macho yake kila kona. Mishipa ya kichwa
ilimsimama wima.
“Leo utanitambua! Aibu gani unataka kuniletea kijijini
hapa? Hamaniko yote leo masikio yatawasimama kusikia
mtoto wa Majaliwa amelala uchi nyumba ya jirani. Tena!”
Majaliwa alitamani kumwona Lola akifika ili
kumwadabisha.
“Ndiyo maana! Shikamoo-Shikamoo Majaliwa!
Zimekuwa nyingi hadi sijui kwa nini? Barobaro wengi
shikamoo wananirushia kama mwalimu wa shule? Ah! Leo
nimepata jibu zuri sana. Kumbe shikamoo zikizidi
inapaswa kufuga mbwa wakali. Shikamoo nanyinyi,
pumbafuuu!” Majaliwa alifoka. Alielekea upenuni
kilipokuwa kiti chake ambapo aliketi. Alimtazama mkewe
kwa jicho la husuda.
“Wewe makorokoro, huyu kahaba alikuaga kuwa atalala
kwa nani? Maana wanaonitupia shikamooo ni wengi
45
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
even to forgotten and moth-eaten twopenny pamphlets, which may
be used to the disadvantage of his own country. But, as to the
Hartford Convention, sir, allow me to say that the proceedings of
that body seem now to be less read and studied in New England than
farther south. They appear to be looked to, not in New England, but
elsewhere, for the purpose of seeing how far they may serve as a
precedent. But they will not answer the purpose—they are quite too
tame. The latitude in which they originated was too cold. Other
conventions, of more recent existence, have gone a whole bar’s
length beyond it. The learned doctors of Colleton and Abbeville have
pushed their commentaries on the Hartford collect so far that the
original text writers are thrown entirely into the shade. I have
nothing to do, sir, with the Hartford Convention. Its journal, which
the gentleman has quoted, I never read. So far as the honorable
member may discover in its proceedings a spirit in any degree
resembling that which was avowed and justified in those other
conventions to which I have alluded, or so far as those proceedings
can be shown to be disloyal to the constitution, or tending to
disunion, so far I shall be as ready as any one to bestow on them
reprehension and censure.
Having dwelt long on this convention, and other occurrences of
that day, in the hope, probably, (which will not be gratified,) that I
should leave the course of this debate to follow him at length in those
excursions, the honorable member returned, and attempted another
object. He referred to a speech of mine in the other house, the same
which I had occasion to allude to myself the other day; and has
quoted a passage or two from it, with a bold though uneasy and
laboring air of confidence, as if he had detected in me an
inconsistency. Judging from the gentleman’s manner, a stranger to
the course of the debate, and to the point in discussion, would have
imagined, from so triumphant a tone, that the honorable member
was about to overwhelm me with a manifest contradiction. Any one
who heard him, and who had not heard what I had, in fact,
previously said, must have thought me routed and discomfited, as
the gentleman had promised. Sir, a breath blows all this triumph
away. There is not the slightest difference in the sentiments of my
remarks on the two occasions. What I said here on Wednesday is in
exact accordance with the opinions expressed by me in the other
house in 1825. Though the gentleman had the metaphysics of
Hudibras—though he were able
“to sever and divide
A hair ’twixt north and north west side,”

he could not yet insert his metaphysical scissors between the fair
reading of my remarks in 1825 and what I said here last week. There
is not only no contradiction, no difference, but, in truth, too exact a
similarity, both in thought and language, to be entirely in just taste. I
had myself quoted the same speech; had recurred to it, and spoke
with it open before me; and much of what I said was little more than
a repetition from it. In order to make finishing work with this alleged
contradiction, permit me to recur to the origin of this debate, and
review its course. This seems expedient, and may be done as well
now as at any time.
Well, then, its history is this: the honorable member from
Connecticut moved a resolution, which constituted the first branch of
that which is now before us; that is to say, a resolution instructing
the committee on public lands to inquire into the expediency of
limiting, for a certain period, the sales of public lands to such as have
heretofore been offered for sale; and whether sundry offices,
connected with the sales of the lands, might not be abolished without
detriment to the public service.
In the progress of the discussion which arose on this resolution, an
honorable member from New Hampshire moved to amend the
resolution, so as entirely to reverse its object; that is to strike it all
out, and insert a direction to the committee to inquire into the
expediency of adopting measures to hasten the sales, and extend
more rapidly the surveys of the lands.
The honorable member from Maine (Mr. Sprague) suggested that
both these propositions might well enough go, for consideration, to
the committee; and in this state of the question, the member from
South Carolina addressed the Senate in his first speech. He rose, he
said, to give his own free thoughts on the public lands. I saw him
rise, with pleasure, and listened with expectation, though before he
concluded I was filled with surprise. Certainly, I was never more
surprised than to find him following up, to the extent he did, the
sentiments and opinions which the gentleman from Missouri had put
forth, and which it is known he has long entertained.
I need not repeat, at large, the general topics of the honorable
gentleman’s speech. When he said, yesterday, that he did not attack
the Eastern States, he certainly must have forgotten not only
particular remarks, but the whole drift and tenor of his speech;
unless he means by not attacking, that he did not commence
hostilities, but that another had preceded him in the attack. He, in
the first place, disapproved of the whole course of the government
for forty years, in regard to its dispositions of the public land; and
then, turning northward and eastward, and fancying he had found a
cause for alleged narrowness and niggardliness in the “accursed
policy” of the tariff, to which he represented the people of New
England as wedded, he went on, for a full hour, with remarks, the
whole scope of which was to exhibit the results of this policy, in
feelings and in measures unfavorable to the west. I thought his
opinions unfounded and erroneous, as to the general course of the
government, and ventured to reply to them.
The gentleman had remarked on the analogy of other cases, and
quoted the conduct of European governments towards their own
subjects, settling on this continent, as in point, to show that we had
been harsh and rigid in selling when we should have given the public
lands to settlers. I thought the honorable member had suffered his
judgment to be betrayed by a false analogy; that he was struck with
an appearance of resemblance where there was no real similitude. I
think so still. The first settlers of North America were enterprising
spirits, engaging in private adventure, or fleeing from tyranny at
home. When arrived here, they were forgotten by the mother
country, or remembered only to be oppressed. Carried away again by
the appearance of analogy, or struck with the eloquence of the
passage, the honorable member yesterday observed that the conduct
of government towards the western emigrants, or my representation
of it, brought to his mind a celebrated speech in the British
Parliament. It was, sir, the speech of Colonel Barre. On the question
of the stamp act, or tea tax, I forget which, Colonel Barre had heard a
member on the treasury bench argue, that the people of the United
States, being British colonists, planted by the maternal care,
nourished by the indulgence, and protected by the arms of England,
would not grudge their mite to relieve the mother country from the
heavy burden under which she groaned. The language of Colonel
Barre, in reply to this, was, “They planted by your care? Your
oppression planted them in America. They fled from your tyranny,
and grew by your neglect of them. So soon as you began to care for
them, you showed your care by sending persons to spy out their
liberties, misrepresent their character, prey upon them, and eat out
their substance.”
And does this honorable gentleman mean to maintain that
language like this is applicable to the conduct of the government of
the United States towards the western emigrants, or to any
representation given by me of that conduct? Were the settlers in the
west driven thither by our oppression? Have they flourished only by
our neglect of them? Has the government done nothing but prey
upon them, and eat out their substance? Sir, this fervid eloquence of
the British speaker, just when and where it was uttered, and fit to
remain an exercise for the schools, is not a little out of place, when it
was brought thence to be applied here, to the conduct of our own
country towards her own citizens. From America to England it may
be true; from Americans to their own government it would be
strange language. Let us leave it to be recited and declaimed by our
boys against a foreign nation; not introduce it here, to recite and
declaim ourselves against our own.
But I come to the point of the alleged contradiction. In my remarks
on Wednesday, I contended that we could not give away gratuitously
all the public lands; that we held them in trust; that the government
had solemnly pledged itself to dispose of them as a common fund for
the common benefit, and to sell and settle them as its discretion
should dictate. Now, sir, what contradiction does the gentleman find
to this sentiment in the speech of 1825? He quotes me as having then
said, that we ought not to hug these lands as a very great treasure.
Very well, sir; supposing me to be accurately reported in that
expression, what is the contradiction? I have not now said, that we
should hug these lands as a favorite source of pecuniary income. No
such thing. It is not my view. What I have said, and what I do say, is,
that they are a common fund—to be disposed of for the common
benefit—to be sold at low prices, for the accommodation of settlers,
keeping the object of settling the lands as much in view as that of
raising money from them. This I say now, and this I have always
said. Is this hugging them as a favorite treasure? Is there no
difference between hugging and hoarding this fund, on the one hand,
as a great treasure, and on the other of disposing of it at low prices,
placing the proceeds in the general treasury of the Union? My
opinion is, that as much is to be made of the land, as fair and
reasonably may be, selling it all the while at such rates as to give the
fullest effect to settlement. This is not giving it all away to the states,
as the gentleman would propose, nor is it hugging the fund closely
and tenaciously, as a favorite treasure; but it is, in my judgment, a
just and wise policy, perfectly according with all the various duties
which rest on government. So much for my contradiction. And what
is it? Where is the ground of the gentleman’s triumph? What
inconsistency, in word or doctrine, has he been able to detect? Sir, if
this be a sample of that discomfiture with which the honorable
gentleman threatened me, commend me to the word discomfiture for
the rest of my life.
But, after all, this is not the point of the debate; and I must bring
the gentleman back to that which is the point.
The real question between me and him is, Where has the doctrine
been advanced, at the south or the east, that the population of the
west should be retarded, or, at least, need not be hastened, on
account of its effect to drain off the people from the Atlantic States?
Is this doctrine, as has been alleged, of eastern origin? That is the
question. Has the gentleman found anything by which he can make
good his accusation? I submit to the Senate, that he has entirely
failed; and as far as this debate has shown, the only person who has
advanced such sentiments is a gentleman from South Carolina, and a
friend to the honorable member himself. This honorable gentleman
has given no answer to this; there is none which can be given. This
simple fact, while it requires no comment to enforce it, defies all
argument to refute it. I could refer to the speeches of another
southern gentleman, in years before, of the same general character,
and to the same effect, as that which has been quoted; but I will not
consume the time of the Senate by the reading of them.
So then, sir, New England is guiltless of the policy of retarding
western population, and of all envy and jealousy of the growth of the
new states. Whatever there be of that policy in the country, no part of
it is hers. If it has a local habitation, the honorable member has
probably seen, by this time, where he is to look for it; and if it now
has received a name, he himself has christened it.
We approach, at length, sir, to a more important part of the
honorable gentleman’s observations. Since it does not accord with
my views of justice and policy, to vote away the public lands
altogether, as mere matter of gratuity, I am asked, by the honorable
gentleman, on what ground it is that I consent to give them away in
particular instances. How, he inquires, do I reconcile with these
professed sentiments my support of measures appropriating portions
of the lands to particular roads, particular canals, particular rivers,
and particular institutions of education in the west? This leads, sir, to
the real and wide difference in political opinions between the
honorable gentleman and myself. On my part, I look upon all these
objects as connected with the common good, fairly embraced in its
objects and its terms; he, on the contrary, deems them all, if good at
all, only local good. This is our difference. The interrogatory which
he proceeded to put, at once explains this difference. “What interest,”
asks he, “has South Carolina in a canal in Ohio?” Sir, this very
question is full of significance. It develops the gentleman’s whole
political system; and its answer expounds mine. Here we differ toto
cœlo. I look upon a road over the Alleghany, a canal round the falls of
the Ohio, or a canal or railway from the Atlantic to the western
waters, as being objects large and extensive enough to be fairly said
to be for the common benefit. The gentleman thinks otherwise, and
this is the key to open his construction of the powers of the
government. He may well ask, upon his system, What interest has
South Carolina in a canal in Ohio? On that system, it is true, she has
no interest. On that system, Ohio and Carolina are different
governments and different countries, connected here, it is true, by
some slight and ill-defined bond of union, but in all main respects
separate and diverse. On that system, Carolina has no more interest
in a canal in Ohio than in Mexico. The gentleman, therefore, only
follows out his own principles; he does no more than arrive at the
natural conclusions of his own doctrines; he only announces the true
results of that creed which he has adopted himself, and would
persuade others to adopt, when he thus declares that South Carolina
has no interest in a public work in Ohio. Sir, we narrow-minded
people of New England do not reason thus. Our notion of things is
entirely different. We look upon the states not as separated, but as
united. We love to dwell on that Union, and on the mutual happiness
which it has so much promoted, and the common renown which it
has so greatly contributed to acquire. In our contemplation, Carolina
and Ohio are parts of the same country—states united under the
same general government, having interests common, associated,
intermingled. In whatever is within the proper sphere of the
constitutional power of this government, we look upon the states as
one. We do not impose geographical limits to our patriotic feeling or
regard; we do not follow rivers, and mountains, and lines of latitude,
to find boundaries beyond which public improvements do not benefit
us. We, who come here as agents and representatives of those
narrow-minded and selfish men of New England, consider ourselves
as bound to regard, with equal eye, the good of the whole, in
whatever is within our power of legislation. Sir, if a railroad or canal,
beginning in South Carolina, appeared to me to be of national
importance and national magnitude, believing as I do that the power
of government extends to the encouragement of works of that
description, if I were to stand up here and ask, “What interest has
Massachusetts in a railroad in South Carolina?” I should not be
willing to face my constituents. These same narrow-minded men
would tell me that they had sent me to act for the whole country, and
that one who possessed too little comprehension, either of intellect
or feeling—one who was not large enough, in mind and heart, to
embrace the whole—was not fit to be intrusted with the interest of
any part. Sir, I do not desire to enlarge the powers of government by
unjustifiable construction, nor to exercise any not within a fair
interpretation. But when it is believed that a power does exist, then it
is, in my judgment, to be exercised for the general benefit of the
whole: so far as respects the exercise of such a power, the states are
one. It was the very great object of the constitution to create unity of
interests to the extent of the powers of the general government. In
war and peace we are one; in commerce one; because the authority of
the general government reaches to war and peace, and to the
regulation of commerce. I have never seen any more difficulty in
erecting lighthouses on the lakes than on the ocean; in improving the
harbors of inland seas, than if they were within the ebb and flow of
the tide; or of removing obstructions in the vast streams of the west,
more than in any work to facilitate commerce on the Atlantic coast. If
there be power for one, there is power also for the other; and they are
all and equally for the country.
There are other objects, apparently more local, or the benefit of
which is less general, towards which, nevertheless, I have concurred
with others to give aid by donations of land. It is proposed to
construct a road in or through one of the new states in which the
government possesses large quantities of land. Have the United
States no right, as a great and untaxed proprietor—are they under no
obligation—to contribute to an object thus calculated to promote the
common good of all the proprietors, themselves included? And even
with respect to education, which is the extreme case, let the question
be considered. In the first place, as we have seen, it was made matter
of compact with these states that they should do their part to
promote education. In the next place, our whole system of land laws
proceeds on the idea that education is for the common good;
because, in every division, a certain portion is uniformly reserved
and appropriated for the use of schools. And, finally have not these
new states singularly strong claims, founded on the ground already
stated, that the government is a great untaxed proprietor in the
ownership of the soil? It is a consideration of great importance that
probably there is in no part of the country, or of the world, so great a
call for the means of education as in those new states, owing to the
vast number of persons within those ages in which education and
instruction are usually received, if received at all. This is the natural
consequence of recency of settlement and rapid increase. The census
of these states shows how great a proportion of the whole population
occupies the classes between infancy and childhood. These are the
wide fields, and here is the deep and quick soil for the seeds of
knowledge and virtue; and this is the favored season, the spring time
for sowing them. Let them be disseminated without stint. Let them
be scattered with a bountiful broadcast. Whatever the government
can fairly do towards these objects, in my opinion, ought to be done.
These, sir, are the grounds, succinctly stated, on which my vote for
grants of lands for particular objects rest, while I maintain, at the
same time, that it is all a common fund, for the common benefit. And
reasons like these, I presume, have influenced the votes of other
gentlemen from New England. Those who have a different view of
the powers of the government, of course, come to different
conclusions on these as on other questions. I observed, when
speaking on this subject before, that if we looked to any measure,
whether for a road, a canal, or any thing else intended for the
improvement of the west, it would be found, that if the New England
ayes were struck out of the list of votes, the southern noes would
always have rejected the measure. The truth of this has not been
denied, and cannot be denied. In stating this, I thought it just to
ascribe it to the constitutional scruples of the south, rather than to
any other less favorable or less charitable cause. But no sooner had I
done this, than the honorable gentleman asks if I reproach him and
his friends with their constitutional scruples. Sir, I reproach nobody.
I stated a fact, and gave the most respectful reason for it that
occurred to me. The gentleman cannot deny the fact—he may, if he
choose, disclaim the reason. It is not long since I had occasion, in
presenting a petition from his own state, to account for its being
intrusted to my hands by saying, that the constitutional opinions of
the gentleman and his worthy colleague prevented them from
supporting it. Sir, did I state this as a matter of reproach? Far from it.
Did I attempt to find any other cause than an honest one for these
scruples? Sir, I did not. It did not become me to doubt, nor to
insinuate that the gentleman had either changed his sentiments, or
that he had made up a set of constitutional opinions, accommodated
to any particular combination of political occurrences. Had I done so,
I should have felt, that while I was entitled to little respect in thus
questioning other people’s motives, I justified the whole world in
suspecting my own.
But how has the gentleman returned this respect for others’
opinions? His own candor and justice, how have they been exhibited
towards the motives of others, while he has been at so much pains to
maintain—what nobody has disputed—the purity of his own? Why,
sir, he has asked when, and how, and why New England votes were
found going for measures favorable to the west; he has demanded to
be informed whether all this did not begin in 1825, and while the
election of President was still pending. Sir, to these questions retort
would be justified; and it is both cogent and at hand. Nevertheless, I
will answer the inquiry not by retort, but by facts. I will tell the
gentleman when, and how, and why New England has supported
measures favorable to the west. I have already referred to the early
history of the government—to the first acquisition of the lands—to
the original laws for disposing of them and for governing the
territories where they lie; and have shown the influence of New
England men and New England principles in all these leading
measures. I should not be pardoned were I to go over that ground
again. Coming to more recent times, and to measures of a less
general character, I have endeavored to prove that every thing of this
kind designed for western improvement has depended on the votes
of New England. All this is true beyond the power of contradiction.
And now, sir, there are two measures to which I will refer, not so
ancient as to belong to the early history of the public lands, and not
so recent as to be on this side of the period when the gentleman
charitably imagines a new direction may have been given to New
England feeling and New England votes. These measures, and the
New England votes in support of them, may be taken as samples and
specimens of all the rest. In 1820, (observe, Mr. President, in 1820,)
the people of the west besought Congress for a reduction in the price
of lands. In favor of that reduction, New England, with a delegation
of forty members in the other house, gave thirty-three votes, and one
only against it. The four Southern States, with fifty members, gave
thirty-two votes for it, and seven against it. Again, in 1821, (observe
again, sir, the time,) the law passed for the relief of the purchasers of
the public lands. This was a measure of vital importance to the west,
and more especially to the southwest. It authorized the
relinquishment of contracts for lands, which had been entered into at
high prices, and a reduction, in other cases, of not less than 37½ per
cent. on the purchase money. Many millions of dollars, six or seven I
believe at least,—probably much more,—were relinquished by this
law. On this bill New England, with her forty members, gave more
affirmative votes than the four Southern States with their fifty-two or
three members. These two are far the most important measures
respecting the public lands which have been adopted within the last
twenty years. They took place in 1820 and 1821. That is the time
when. And as to the manner how, the gentleman already sees that it
was by voting, in solid column, for the required relief; and lastly, as
to the cause why, I tell the gentleman, it was because the members
from New England thought the measures just and salutary; because
they entertained towards the west neither envy, hatred, nor malice;
because they deemed it becoming them, as just and enlightened
public men, to meet the exigency which had arisen in the west with
the appropriate measure of relief; because they felt it due to their
own characters of their New England predecessors in this
government, to act towards the new states in the spirit of a liberal,
patronizing, magnanimous policy. So much, sir, for the cause why;
and I hope that by this time, sir, the honorable gentleman is
satisfied; if not, I do not know when, or how, or why, he ever will be.
Having recurred to these two important measures, in answer to
the gentleman’s inquiries, I must now beg permission to go back to a
period still something earlier, for the purpose still further of showing
how much, or rather how little reason there is for the gentleman’s
insinuation that political hopes, or fears, or party associations, were
the grounds of these New England votes. And after what has been
said, I hope it may be forgiven me if I allude to some political
opinions and votes of my own, of very little public importance,
certainly, but which, from the time at which they were given and
expressed, may pass for good witnesses on this occasion.
This government, Mr. President, from its origin to the peace of
1815, had been too much engrossed with various other important
concerns to be able to turn its thoughts inward, and look to the
development of its vast internal resources. In the early part of
President Washington’s administration, it was fully occupied with
organizing the government, providing for the public debt, defending
the frontiers, and maintaining domestic peace. Before the
termination of that administration, the fires of the French revolution
blazed forth, as from a new opened volcano, and the whole breadth
of the ocean did not entirely secure us from its effects. The smoke
and the cinders reached us, though not the burning lava. Difficult
and agitating questions, embarrassing to government, and dividing
public opinion, sprung out of the new state of our foreign relations,
and were succeeded by others, and yet again by others, equally
embarrassing, and equally exciting division and discord, through the
long series of twenty years, till they finally issued in the war with
England. Down to the close of that war, no distinct, marked and
deliberate attention had been given, or could have been given, to the
internal condition of the country, its capacities of improvement, or
the constitutional power of the government, in regard to objects
connected with such improvement.
 The peace, Mr. President, brought about an entirely new and a
most interesting state of things; it opened to us other prospects, and
suggested other duties; we ourselves were changed, and the whole
world was changed. The pacification of Europe, after June, 1815,
assumed a firm and permanent aspect. The nations evidently
manifested that they were disposed for peace: some agitation of the
waves might be expected, even after the storm had subsided; but the
tendency was, strongly and rapidly, towards settled repose.
It so happened, sir, that I was at that time a member of Congress,
and, like others, naturally turned my attention to the contemplation
of the newly-altered condition of the country, and of the world. It
appeared plainly enough to me, as well as to wiser and more
experienced men, that the policy of the government would
necessarily take a start in a new direction, because new directions
would necessarily be given to the pursuits and occupations of the
people. We had pushed our commerce far and fast, under the
advantage of a neutral flag. But there were now no longer flags,
either neutral or belligerent. The harvest of neutrality had been
great, but we had gathered it all. With the peace of Europe, it was
obvious there would spring up, in her circle of nations, a revived and
invigorated spirit of trade, and a new activity in all the business and
objects of civilized life. Hereafter, our commercial gains were to be
earned only by success in a close and intense competition. Other
nations would produce for themselves, and carry for themselves, and
manufacture for themselves, to the full extent of their abilities. The
crops of our plains would no longer sustain European armies, nor
our ships longer supply those whom war had rendered unable to
supply themselves. It was obvious that under these circumstances,
the country would begin to survey itself, and to estimate its own
capacity of improvement. And this improvement, how was it to be
accomplished, and who was to accomplish it?
We were ten or twelve millions of people, spread over almost half a
world. We were twenty-four states, some stretching along the same
seaboard, some along the same line of inland frontier, and others on
opposite banks of the same vast rivers. Two considerations at once
presented themselves, in looking at this state of things, with great
force. One was that that great branch of improvement, which
consisted in furnishing new facilities of intercourse, necessarily ran
into different states, in every leading instance, and would benefit the
citizens of all such states. No one state therefore, in such cases,
would assume the whole expense, nor was the co-operation of several
states to be expected. Take the instance of the Delaware Breakwater.
It will cost several millions of money. Would Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and Delaware have united to accomplish it at their joint
expense? Certainly not, for the same reason. It could not be done,
therefore, but by the general government. The same may be said of
the large inland undertakings, except that, in them, government,
instead of bearing the whole expense, co-operates with others to bear
a part. The other consideration is, that the United States have the
means. They enjoy the revenues derived from commerce, and the
states have no abundant and easy sources of public income. The
custom houses fill the general treasury, while the states have scanty
resources, except by resort to heavy direct taxes.
Under this view of things, I thought it necessary to settle, at least
for myself, some definite notions, with respect to the powers of
government, in regard to internal affairs. It may not savor too much
of self-commendation to remark, that, with this object, I considered
the constitution, its judicial construction, its contemporaneous
exposition, and the whole history of the legislation of Congress under
it; and I arrived at the conclusion that government had power to
accomplish sundry objects, or aid in their accomplishment, which
are now commonly spoken of as Internal Improvements. That
conclusion, sir, may have been right or it may have been wrong. I am
not about to argue the grounds of it at large. I say only that it was
adopted, and acted on, even so early as in 1816. Yes, Mr. President, I
made up my opinion, and determined on my intended course of
political conduct on these subjects, in the 14th Congress in 1816. And
now, Mr. President, I have further to say, that I made up these
opinions, and entered on this course of political conduct, Teucro
duce. Yes, sir, I pursued, in all this, a South Carolina track. On the
doctrines of internal improvement, South Carolina, as she was then
represented in the other house, set forth, in 1816, under a fresh and
leading breeze; and I was among the followers. But if my leader sees
new lights, and turns a sharp corner, unless I see new lights also, I
keep straight on in the same path. I repeat, that leading gentlemen
from South Carolina were first and foremost in behalf of the
doctrines of internal improvements, when those doctrines first came
to be considered and acted upon in Congress. The debate on the bank
question, on the tariff of 1816, and on the direct tax, will show who
was who, and what was what, at that time. The tariff of 1816, one of
the plain cases of oppression and usurpation, from which, if the
government does not recede, individual states may justly secede
from the government, is, sir, in truth, a South Carolina tariff,
supported by South Carolina votes. But for those votes, it could not
have passed in the form in which it did pass; whereas, if it had
depended on Massachusetts votes, it would have been lost. Does not
the honorable gentleman well know all this? There are certainly
those who do full well know it all. I do not say this to reproach South
Carolina; I only state the fact, and I think it will appear to be true,
that among the earliest and boldest advocates of the tariff, as a
measure of protection, and on the express ground of protection, were
leading gentlemen of South Carolina in Congress. I did not then, and
cannot now, understand their language in any other sense. While this
tariff of 1816 was under discussion in the House of Representatives,
an honorable gentleman from Georgia, now of this house, (Mr.
Forsyth,) moved to reduce the proposed duty on cotton. He failed by
four votes, South Carolina giving three votes (enough to have turned
the scale) against his motion. The act, sir, then passed, and received
on its passage the support of a majority of the representatives of
South Carolina present and voting. This act is the first, in the order
of those now denounced as plain usurpations. We see it daily in the
list by the side of those of 1824 and 1828, as a case of manifest
oppression, justifying disunion. I put it home to the honorable
member from South Carolina, that his own state was not only “art
and part” in this measure, but the causa causans. Without her aid,
this seminal principle of mischief, this root of upas, could not have
been planted. I have already said—and, it is true—that this act
preceded on the ground of protection. It interfered directly with
existing interests of great value and amount. It cut up the Calcutta
cotton trade by the roots. But it passed, nevertheless, and it passed
on the principle of protecting manufactures, on the principle against
free trade, on the principle opposed to that which lets us alone.
Such, Mr. President, were the opinions of important and leading
gentlemen of South Carolina, on the subject of internal
improvement, in 1816. I went out of Congress the next year, and
returning again in 1823, thought I found South Carolina where I had
left her. I really supposed that all things remained as they were, and
that the South Carolina doctrine of internal improvements would be
defended by the same eloquent voices, and the same strong arms as
formerly. In the lapse of these six years, it is true, political
associations had assumed a new aspect and new divisions. A party
had arisen in the south, hostile to the doctrine of internal
improvements, and had vigorously attacked that doctrine. Anti-
consolidation was the flag under which this party fought, and its
supporters inveighed against internal improvements, much after the
same manner in which the honorable gentleman has now inveighed
against them, as part and parcel of the system of consolidation.
Whether this party arose in South Carolina herself, or in her
neighborhood, is more than I know. I think the latter. However that
may have been, there were those found in South Carolina ready to
make war upon it, and who did make intrepid war upon it. Names
being regarded as things, in such controversies, they bestowed on the
anti-improvement gentlemen the appellation of radicals. Yes, sir, the
name of radicals, as a term of distinction, applicable and applied to
those who defended the liberal doctrines of internal improvements,
originated, according to the best of my recollection, somewhere
between North Carolina and Georgia. Well, sir, those mischievous
radicals were to be put down, and the strong arm of South Carolina
was stretched out to put them down. About this time, sir, I returned
to Congress. The battle with the radicals had been fought, and our
South Carolina champions of the doctrine of internal improvements
had nobly maintained their ground, and were understood to have
achieved a victory. They had driven back the enemy with
discomfiture; a thing, by the way, sir, which is not always performed
when it is promised. A gentleman, to whom I have already referred in
this debate, had come into Congress, during my absence from it,
from South Carolina, and had brought with him a high reputation for
ability. He came from a school with which we had been acquainted,
et noscitur a sociis. I hold in my hand, sir, a printed speech of this
distinguished gentleman, (Mr. McDuffie,) “ON INTERNAL
IMPROVEMENTS,” delivered about the period to which I now refer, and
printed with a few introductory remarks upon consolidation; in
which, sir, I think he quite consolidated the arguments of his
opponents, the radicals, if to crush be to consolidate. I give you a
short but substantive quotation from these remarks. He is speaking
of a pamphlet, then recently published, entitled, “Consolidation;”
and having alluded to the question of re-chartering the former Bank
of the United States, he says: “Moreover, in the early history of
parties, and when Mr. Crawford advocated the renewal of the old
charter, it was considered a federal measure; which internal
improvement never was, as this author erroneously states. This latter
measure originated in the administration of Mr. Jefferson, with the
appropriation for the Cumberland road; and was first proposed, as a
system, by Mr. Calhoun, and carried through the House of
Representatives by a large majority of the republicans, including
almost every one of the leading men who carried us through the late
war.”
So, then, internal improvement is not one of the federal heresies.
One paragraph more, sir.
“The author in question, not content with denouncing as
federalists Gen. Jackson, Mr. Adams, Mr. Calhoun, and the majority
of the South Carolina delegation in Congress, modestly extends the
denunciation to Mr. Monroe and the whole republican party. Here
are his words. ‘During the administration of Mr. Monroe, much has
passed which the republican party would be glad to approve, if they
could!! But the principal feature, and that which has chiefly elicited
these observations, is the renewal of the SYSTEM OF INTERNAL
IMPROVEMENTS.’ Now, this measure was adopted by a vote of 115 to
86, of a republican Congress, and sanctioned by a republican
president. Who, then, is this author, who assumes the high
prerogative of denouncing, in the name of the republican party, the
republican administration of the country—a denunciation including
within its sweep Calhoun, Lowndes, and Cheves; men who will be
regarded as the brightest ornaments of South Carolina, and the
strongest pillars of the republican party, as long as the late war shall
be remembered, and talents and patriotism shall be regarded as the
proper objects of the admiration and gratitude of a free people!!”
Such are the opinions, sir, which were maintained by South
Carolina gentlemen in the House of Representatives on the subject of
internal improvements, when I took my seat there as a member from
Massachusetts, in 1823. But this is not all; we had a bill before us,
and passed it in that house, entitled, “An act to procure the necessary
surveys, plans, and estimates upon the subject of roads and canals.”
It authorized the president to cause surveys and estimates to be
made of the routes of such roads and canals as he might deem of
national importance in a commercial or military point of view, or
for the transportation of the mail; and appropriated thirty thousand
dollars out of the treasury to defray the expense. This act, though
preliminary in its nature, covered the whole ground. It took for
granted the complete power of internal improvement, as far as any of
its advocates had ever contended for it. Having passed the other
house, the bill came up to the Senate, and was here considered and
debated in April, 1824. The honorable member from South Carolina
was a member of the Senate at that time. While the bill was under
consideration here, a motion was made to add the following proviso:
—
“Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to
affirm or admit a power in Congress, on their own authority, to make
roads or canals within any of the states of the Union.”
The yeas and nays were taken on this proviso, and the honorable
member voted in the negative. The proviso failed.
A motion was then made to add this proviso, viz:—
“Provided, That the faith of the United States is hereby pledged,
that no money shall ever be expended for roads or canals except it
shall be among the several states, and in the same proportion as
direct taxes are laid and assessed by the provisions of the
constitution.”
The honorable member voted against this proviso also, and it
failed.
The bill was then put on its passage, and the honorable member
voted for it, and it passed, and became a law.
Now, it strikes me, sir, that there is no maintaining these votes but
upon the power of internal improvement, in its broadest sense. In
truth, these bills for surveys and estimates have always been
considered as test questions. They show who is for and who against
internal improvement. This law itself went the whole length, and
assumed the full and complete power. The gentleman’s vote
sustained that power, in every form in which the various
propositions to amend presented it. He went for the entire and
unrestrained authority, without consulting the states, and without
agreeing to any proportionate distribution. And now, suffer me to
remind you, Mr. President, that it is this very same power, thus
sanctioned, in every form, by the gentleman’s own opinion, that is so
plain and manifest a usurpation, that the state of South Carolina is
supposed to be justified in refusing submission to any laws carrying
the power into effect. Truly, sir, is not this a little too hard? May we
not crave some mercy, under favor and protection of the gentleman’s
own authority? Admitting that a road or a canal must be written
down flat usurpation as ever was committed, may we find no
mitigation in our respect for his place, and his vote, as one that
knows the law?
The tariff which South Carolina had an efficient hand in
establishing in 1816, and this asserted power of internal
improvement—advanced by her in the same year, and, as we have
seen, approved and sanctioned by her representatives in 1824,—
these two measures are the great grounds on which she is now
thought to be justified in breaking up the Union, if she sees fit to
break it up.
I may now safely say, I think, that we have had the authority of
leading and distinguished gentlemen from South Carolina in support
of the doctrine of internal improvement. I repeat that, up to 1824, I,
for one, followed South Carolina; but when that star in its ascension
veered off in an unexpected direction, I relied on its light no longer.
[Here the Vice-President said, Does the Chair understand the
gentleman from Massachusetts to say that the person now occupying
the chair of the Senate has changed his opinion on the subject of
internal improvement?] From nothing ever said to me, sir, have I
had reason to know of any change in the opinions of the person
filling the chair of the Senate. If such change has taken place, I regret
it; I speak generally of the state of South Carolina. Individuals we
know there are who hold opinions favorable to the power. An
application for its exercise in behalf of a public work in South
Carolina itself is now pending, I believe, in the other house,
presented by members from that state.
I have thus, sir, perhaps not without some tediousness of detail,
shown that, if I am in error on the subject of internal improvements,
how and in what company I fell into that error. If I am wrong, it is
apparent who misled me.
 I go to other remarks of the honorable member—and I have to
complain of an entire misapprehension of what I said on the subject
of the national debt—though I can hardly perceive how any one could
misunderstand me. What I said was, not that I wished to put off the
payment of the debt, but, on the contrary, that I had always voted for
every measure for its reduction, as uniformly as the gentleman
himself. He seems to claim the exclusive merit of a disposition to
reduce the public charge; I do not allow it to him. As a debt, I was, I
am, for paying it; because it is a charge on our finances, and on the
industry of the country. But I observed that I thought I perceived a
morbid fervor on that subject; an excessive anxiety to pay off the
debt; not so much because it is a debt simply, as because, while it
lasts, it furnishes one objection to disunion. It is a tie of common
interest while it lasts. I did not impute such motive to the honorable
member himself; but that there is such a feeling in existence I have
not a particle of doubt. The most I said was, that if one effect of the
debt was to strengthen our Union, that effect itself was not regretted
by me, however much others might regret it. The gentleman has not
seen how to reply to this otherwise than by supposing me to have
advanced the doctrine that a national debt is a national blessing.
Others, I must hope, will find less difficulty in understanding me. I
distinctly and pointedly cautioned the honorable member not to
understand me as expressing an opinion favorable to the
continuance of the debt. I repeated this caution, and repeated it more
than once—but it was thrown away.
On yet another point I was still more unaccountably
misunderstood. The gentleman had harangued against
“consolidation.” I told him, in reply, that there was one kind of
consolidation to which I was attached, and that was, the
consolidation of our Union; and that this was precisely that
consolidation to which I feared others were not attached; that such
consolidation was the very end of the constitution—the leading
object, as they had informed us themselves, which its framers had
kept in view. I turned to their communication, and read their very
words,—“the consolidation of the Union,”—and expressed my
devotion to this sort of consolidation. I said in terms that I wished
not, in the slightest degree, to augment the powers of this
government; that my object was to preserve, not to enlarge; and that,
by consolidating the Union, I understood no more than the
strengthening of the Union and perpetuating it. Having been thus
explicit; having thus read, from the printed book, the precise words
which I adopted, as expressing my own sentiments, it passes
comprehension, how any man could understand me as contending
for an extension of the powers of the government, or for
consolidation in the odious sense in which it means an accumulation,
in the federal government, of the powers properly belonging to the
states.
I repeat, sir, that, in adopting the sentiments of the framers of the
constitution, I read their language audibly, and word for word; and I
pointed out the distinction, just as fully as I have now done, between
the consolidation of the Union and that other obnoxious
consolidation which I disclaimed; and yet the honorable gentleman
misunderstood me. The gentleman had said that he wished for no
fixed revenue—not a shilling. If, by a word, he could convert the
Capitol into gold, he would not do it. Why all this fear of revenue?
Why, sir, because, as the gentleman told us, it tends to consolidation.
Now, this can mean neither more or less than that a common
revenue is a common interest, and that all common interests tend to
hold the union of the states together. I confess I like that tendency; if
the gentleman dislikes it, he is right in deprecating a shilling’s fixed
revenue. So much, sir, for consolidation.
As well as I recollect the course of his remarks, the honorable
gentleman next recurred to the subject of the tariff. He did not doubt
the word must be of unpleasant sound to me, and proceeded, with an
effort neither new nor attended with new success, to involve me and
my votes in inconsistency and contradiction. I am happy the
honorable gentleman has furnished me an opportunity of a timely
remark or two on that subject. I was glad he approached it, for it is a
question I enter upon without fear from any body. The strenuous toil
of the gentleman has been to raise an inconsistency between my
dissent to the tariff, in 1824 and my vote in 1828. It is labor lost. He
pays undeserved compliment to my speech in 1824; but this is to
raise me high, that my fall, as he would have it, in 1828 may be the
more signal. Sir, there was no fall at all. Between the ground I stood
on in 1824 and that I took in 1828, there was not only no precipice,
but no declivity. It was a change of position, to meet new
circumstances, but on the same level. A plain tale explains the whole