on his work. Okonkwo was not a man of thought but of action. But in absence of work,
talking was the next best.
Soon after Ofoedu left, Okonkwo took up his goatskin bag to go.
"I must go home to tap my palm trees for the afternoon," he said.
"Who taps your tall trees for you?" asked Obierika.
"Umezulike," replied Okonkwo.
"Sometimes I wish I had not taken the ozo title," said Obierika. "It wounds my
heart to see these young men killing palm trees in the name of tapping."
"It is so indeed," Okonkwo agreed. "But the law of the land must be obeyed."
"I don't know how we got that law," said Obierika. "In many other clans a man
of title is not forbidden to climb the palm tree. Here we say he cannot climb the tall tree
but he can tap the short ones standing on the ground. It is like Dimaragana, who would
not lend his knife for cutting up dogmeat because the dog was taboo to him, but offered
to use his teeth."
"I think it is good that our clan holds the ozo title in high esteem," said
Okonkwo. "In those other clans you speak of, ozo is so low that every beggar takes it."
"I was only speaking in jest," said Obierika. "In Abame and Aninta the title is
worth less than two cowries. Every man wears the thread of title on his ankle, and does
not lose it even if he steals."
"They have indeed soiled the name of ozo," said Okonkwo as he rose to go.
"It will not be very long now before my in-laws come," said Obierika.
"I shall return very soon," said Okonkwo, looking at the position of the sun.