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their pound。
The drums were still beating； persistent and unchanging。 Their sound was no longer a separate thing from the living village。 It was like the pulsation of its heart。 It throbbed in the air； in the sunshine； and even in the trees； and filled the village with excitement。
Ekwefi ladled her husband's share of the pottage into a bowl and covered it。 Ezinma took it to him in his obi。
Okonkwo was sitting on a goatskin already eating his first wife's meal。 Obiageli； who had brought it from her mother's hut； sat on the floor waiting for him to finish。 Ezinma placed her mother's dish before him and sat with Obiageli。
〃Sit like a woman！〃 Okonkwo shouted at her。 Ezinma brought her two legs together and stretched them in front of her。
〃Father； will you go to see the wrestling？〃 Ezinma asked after a suitable interval。
〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃Will you go？〃
〃Yes。〃 And after a pause she said： 〃Can I bring your chair for you？〃
〃No； that is a boy's job。〃 Okonkwo was specially fond of Ezinma。 She looked very much like her mother； who was once the village beauty。 But his fondness only showed on very rare occasions。
〃Obiageli broke her pot today；〃 Ezinma said。
〃Yes； she has told me about it；〃 Okonkwo said between mouthfuls。
〃Father；〃 said Obiageli； 〃people should not talk when they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong way。〃
〃That is very true。 Do you hear that； Ezinma？ You are older than Obiageli but she has more sense。〃
He uncovered his second wife's dish and began to eat from it。 Obiageli took the first dish and returned to her mother's hut。 And then Nkechi came in； bringing the third dish。 Nkechi was the daughter of Okonkwo's third wife。
In the distance the drums continued to beat。
CHAPTER Six
The whole village turned out on the ilo； men； women and children。 They stood round in a huge circle leaving the center of the playground free。 The elders and grandees of the village sat on their own stools brought there by their young sons or slaves。 Okonkwo was among them。 All others stood except those who came early enough to secure places on the few stands which had been built by placing smooth logs on forked pillars。
The wrestlers were not there yet and the drummers held the field。 They too sat just in front of the huge circle of spectators； facing the elders。 Behind them was the big and ancient silk…cotton tree which was sacred。 Spirits of good children lived in that tree waiting to be born。 On ordinary days young women who desired children came to sit under its shade。
There were seven drums and they were arranged according to their sizes in a long wooden basket。 Three men beat them with sticks； working feverishly from one drum to another。 They were possessed by the spirit of the drums。
The young men who kept order on these occasions dashed about； consulting among themselves and with the leaders of the two wrestling teams； who were still outside the circle； behind the crowd。 Once in a while two young men carrying palm fronds ran round the circle and kept the crowd back by beating the ground in front of them or； if they were stubborn； their legs and feet。
At last the two teams danced into the circle and the crowd roared and clapped。 The drums rose to a frenzy。 The people surged forward。 The young men who kept order flew around； waving their palm fronds。 Old men nodded to the beat of the drums and remembered the days when they wrestled to its intoxicating rhythm。
The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen。 There were only three such boys in each team。 They were not the real wrestlers；… they merely set the scene。 Within a short time the first two bouts were over。 But the third created a big sensation even among the elders who did not usually show their excitement so openly。 It was as quick as the other two； perhaps even quicker。 But very few people had ever seen that kind of wrestling before。 As soon as the two boys closed in； one of them did something which no one could describe because it had been as quick as a flash。 And the other boy was flat on his back。 The crowd roared and clapped and for a while drowned the frenzied drums。 Okonkwo sprang to his feet and quickly sat down again。 Three young men from the victorious boy's team ran forward； carried him shoulder high and danced through the cheering crowd。 Everybody soon knew who the boy was。 His name was Maduka； the son of Obierika。
The drummers stopped for a brief rest before the real matches。 Their bodies shone with sweat； and they took up fans and began to fan themselves。 They also drank water from small pots and ate kola nuts。 They became ordinary human beings again； talking and laughing among themselves and with others who stood near them。 The air； which had been stretched taut with excitement； relaxed again。 It was as if water had been poured on the tightened skin of a drum。 Many people looked around； perhaps for the first time； and saw those who stood or sat next to them。
〃I did not know it was you；〃 Ekwefi said to the woman who had stood shoulder to shoulder with her since the beginning of the matches。
〃I do not blame you；〃 said the woman。 〃I have never seen such a large crowd of people。 Is it true that Okonkwo nearly killed you with his gun？〃
〃It is true indeed； my dear friend。 I cannot yet find a mouth with which to tell the story。〃
〃Your chi is very much awake； my friend。 And how is my daughter； Ezinma？〃
〃She has been very well for some time now。 Perhaps she has e to stay。〃
〃I think she has。 How old is she now？〃
〃She is about ten years old。〃
〃I think she will stay。 They usually stay if they do not die before the age of six。〃
〃I pray she stays；〃 said Ekwefi with a heavy sigh。
The woman with whom she talked was called Chielo。 She was the priestess of Agbala； the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves。 In ordinary life Chielo was a widow with two children。 She was very friendly with Ekwefi and they shared a mon shed in the market。 She was particularly fond of Ekwefi's only daughter； Ezinma； whom she called 〃my daughter。〃 Quite often she bought beancakes and gave Ekwefi some to take home to Ezinma。 Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesied when the spirit of Agbala was upon her。
The drummers took up their sticks and the air shivered and grew tense like a tightened bow。
The two teams were ranged facing each other across the clear space。 A young man from one team danced across the center to the other side and pointed at whomever he wanted to fight。 They danced back to the center together and then closed in。
There were twelve men on each side and the challenge went from one side to the other。 Two judges walked around the wrestlers and when they thought they were equally matched； stopped them。 Five matches ended in this way。 But the really exciting moments were when a man was thrown。 The huge voice of the crowd then rose to the sky and in every direction。 It was even heard in the surrounding villages。
The last match was between the leaders of the teams。 They were among the best wrestlers in all the nine villages。 The crowd wondered who would throw the oth