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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 01:10:59 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 01:10:59 -0800 |
| commit | 07e8d557320db920e6920bf1fdb6925ebcf3630e (patch) | |
| tree | f3c7a97e3f83850d9c4029f9a976704349070eaf /old/52444-h/52444-h.htm | |
| parent | 58128386d47cede19e4256e5695b624866d2f265 (diff) | |
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diff --git a/old/52444-h/52444-h.htm b/old/52444-h/52444-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 0af0916..0000000 --- a/old/52444-h/52444-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10988 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Stories of the Gorilla Country, by Paul Du Chaillu. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2{ - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - line-height: 2; -} - -h1 {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} - -h2 {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 1em;} - - -p { - margin-top: .75em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .75em; - } - - .p2 {margin-top: 2em;} - .p4 {margin-top: 4em;} - .p6 {margin-top: 6em;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: small; - text-align: right; - /* not bold */ - font-weight: normal; - /* not italic */ - font-style: normal; - /* not small cap */ - font-variant: normal; -} /* page numbers */ - -.figcenter {margin: auto; - text-align: center; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em;} - -.figcenter6 {margin: auto; - text-align: center; - margin-top: 6em; - margin-bottom: 2em;} - -.caption p -{ - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - margin: 0.25em 0; -} - - -.center {text-align: center;} -.right {text-align: right;} -.medium {font-size: medium;} -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} -.i2 {margin-left: 2em; padding-right: 2em;} -.i4 {margin-left: 4em; padding-right: 2em;} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - - - -hr.tb {width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} -hr.chap {width: 25%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} - - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.box {margin: auto; - margin-top: 2em; - border: 1px solid; - padding: 1em; - background-color: #F0FFFF; - width: 25em;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left; padding-right: 1.5em;} - .tdrb {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} - .tdc {text-align: center; padding-top: 1.5em;} - - -@media handheld -{ - body - { - margin: 0; - padding: 0; - width: 90%; - } - - .box { - width: 75%;} - - hr.tb - { - width: 10%; - margin-left: 47.5%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - } - - hr.chap - { - width: 20%; - margin-left: 42.5%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - } - - -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Gorilla Country, by Paul Du Chaillu - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Stories of the Gorilla Country - Narrated for Young People - -Author: Paul Du Chaillu - -Release Date: June 30, 2016 [EBook #52444] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE GORILLA COUNTRY *** - - - - -Produced by Carlos Colón, Princeton Theological Seminary -Library and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<p class="box">Transcriber's Notes:<br /> -<br /> - - -Blank pages have been eliminated.<br /> -<br /> -Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the -original.<br /> -<br /> -A few typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="front"><img src="images/front.png" width="600" -height="375" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption"> -GORILLA HUNTING.<br /> -<a href="#XXXII">CHAP. XXXII.</a> -</div></div> - - - - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii"></a></span></p> - - -<h1>STORIES<br /> -<span class="medium">OF THE</span><br /> -GORILLA COUNTRY</h1> - -<p class="center">NARRATED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE</p> - -<p class="center p4">BY<br /> -PAUL DU CHAILLU<br /> -AUTHOR OF "DISCOVERIES IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA"<br /> -ETC., ETC.</p> - -<p class="center p4">NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION</p> - -<p class="center p4">LONDON<br /> -SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY<br /> -<i>Limited</i><br /> -St. Dunstan's House<br /> -<span class="smcap">Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C.</span><br /> -1893<br /> -[<i>All rights reserved</i>]</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv"></a></span></p> -<p class="center p6">LONDON: -PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LD.,<br /> -ST. JOHN'S HOUSE, CLERKENWELL ROAD, E.C.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v"></a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" summary="contents"> - -<tr> - <td class="tdrb smcap" colspan="2">Page</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl"><a href="#I">PRELIMINARY CHAPTER</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">1</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#II">CHAPTER II.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Arrival on the coast—A king and his palace—Dancing and - idol-worship</td> - <td class="tdrb">8</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#III">CHAPTER III.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">A week in the woods—A tornado—The leopards prowling about—I - kill a cobra and a scorpion—Fight with a buffalo—Hunting for - wild boars—A leopard takes a ride on a bull—Sick with the fever</td> - <td class="tdrb">13</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">A village on the seashore—Lying in wait for a leopard</td> - <td class="tdrb">23</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#V">CHAPTER V.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">The Bay of Corisco—The mangrove trees—The wonderful flocks of -birds—What I found in the pouch of a pelican—How an old king -is buried, and the new king crowned</td> - <td class="tdrb">29</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">An old man killed for witchcraft—My journey to the country of -the cannibals—Starting on the route</td> - <td class="tdrb">37</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span><a href="#VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Our journey through the wilderness continued—A rebellion in -camp—Nothing to eat—I shoot a fish and miss an elephant—I -kill a big snake and the others eat him—My first sight of -gorillas</td> - <td class="tdrb">47</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">I arrive among the cannibals—Their spears, bows, and -battle-axes—They take me for a spirit—Their king shakes when -he sees me—I give him a looking-glass—It astonishes him</td> - <td class="tdrb">59</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">An elephant hunt</td> - <td class="tdrb">67</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#X">CHAPTER X.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Life among the cannibals—Curious musical instruments—Cooking -utensils—A blacksmith's bellows and anvil—Cannibal diet</td> - <td class="tdrb">75</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Journey to Yoongoolapay—Hunting with nets—The terrible -Bashikonay ants</td> - <td class="tdrb">83</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Returning to the coast—Caverns and waterfalls in the -highlands—Crossing a river on mangrove roots—Stirring up a big -snake—A mutual scare</td> - <td class="tdrb">89</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Cape Lopez and an open prairie once more—King Bango and his -three hundred wives—His five idols—Slave barracoons—The -corpse and the vultures</td> - <td class="tdrb">97</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Slave barracoons—A big snake under my bed—A slave-ship off the -coast</td> - <td class="tdrb">103</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Going into the interior—Sleeping with the king's rats—The -chimpanzee—Kill a gazelle—Too cold to sleep—The grey -partridge</td> - <td class="tdrb">109</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">The hippopotamus—A speck of war—Reach Ngola—A Sunday -talk—The black man's God and the white man's God—How King -Njambai punished his wife—We build an olako in the woods</td> - <td class="tdrb">117</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">An unsuccessful hunt for elephants—I take aim at a buffalo—A -leopard in the grass near us—We shoot the leopard and her -kitten—Great rejoicing in camp—Who shall have the tail?—A -quarrel over the brains—The guinea hens—The monkeys</td> - <td class="tdrb">125</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Alone in camp—Hunting for elephants—Aboko kills a rogue—I cut -another python in two—We shoot some wild boars—A buffalo -hunt—Return to Sangatanga—King Bango sick</td> - <td class="tdrb">133</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">A jolly excursion party—A race for the fishing banks—The -Oroungou burial-ground</td> - <td class="tdrb">143</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XX">CHAPTER XX.</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Our camp at Point Fetish—An African watering-place—Fishing, -but not bathing—The sharks—Curing mullets, etc.—Turning -turtles—Bird shooting—A leopard springs upon us</td> - <td class="tdrb">149</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Bound for the interior—A sea voyage—A tornado—We reach the -Fernand-Vaz—Sangala wishes to detain me—A night -alarm—Prospect of a war—Arrayed for battle—A compromise—My -Commi friends</td> - <td class="tdrb">157</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">I build a village, and call it Washington—I start for the -interior—My speech on leaving—The people applaud me -vociferously, and promise to be honest—We reach Aniambia—The -"big king," Olenga-Yombi—A royal ball in my honour—The -superstitions of the natives—A man tossed by a buffalo</td> - <td class="tdrb">169</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Capture of a young gorilla—I call him "Fighting Joe"—His -strength and bad temper—He proves untameable—Joe -escapes—Recaptured—Escapes again—Unpleasant to handle—Death -of "Fighting Joe"</td> - <td class="tdrb">179</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">The hippopotamus—A duel—Shooting on the river—Nearly -upset—A night-hunt on land—My companion fires and -runs—Appearance and habits of the hippopotamus</td> - <td class="tdrb">189</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Visit of King Quengueza—I promise to visit him—The kindness of -the Commi—The dry season of the Fernand-Vaz—Plenty of birds -and fishes—The marabouts—The eagles—A bad wound</td> - <td class="tdrb">199</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Another expedition to Lake Anengue—Difficult passage up the -river—The crocodiles—King Damagondai and his troubles—I -buy an mbuiti, or idol</td> - <td class="tdrb">207</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">A visit to King Shimbouvenegani—His royal costume—Hunting -crocodiles—How they seize their prey—The nkago—The ogata</td> - <td class="tdrb">215</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">The nshiego mbouvé—Bald-headed apes—Their houses in the -trees—Lying in wait for them—We kill a male—The shrieks of -his mate—Description of the animal—Farewell to Shimbouvenegani</td> - <td class="tdrb">221</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">War threatened—Oshoria arms his men—We bluff them off, and -fall sick with fever—The <i>mbola ivoga</i>, or end of mourning -time—A death and burial—Finding out the sorcerer—The village -deserted—I become Viceroy at Washington</td> - <td class="tdrb">227</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Hunting in the woods—The mboyo wolf—We catch another young -gorilla—He starves to death</td> - <td class="tdrb">237</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Going to unknown regions—Quengueza sends his son as a -hostage—I take him along with me—Reception by the king—Our -speeches—Quengueza afraid of a witch—An incantation scene</td> - <td class="tdrb">241</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Gorilla hunting—My companions, Mombon, Etia, and Gambo—Etia -kills a large gorilla—-We make up a large party—Camp stories -about gorillas—We capture a young gorilla—Her untimely death</td> - <td class="tdrb">247</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Voyage up the river—We build a village near -Obindji—Quengueza's plan for keeping the Sabbath—Kindness of -the natives—A trial by ordeal</td> - <td class="tdrb">253</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">The kooloo-kamba—The gouamba, or meat-hunger—Exploring the -forest—Gorilla hunting—Within eight yards of a large -gorilla—He roars with rage and marches upon us</td> - <td class="tdrb">259</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">We go up the river to N'calai Boumba—A severe attack of -fever—The tender care of the natives for me—Anguilai accuses -his people of bewitching me—I go out and quiet him—A boy cut -to pieces for witchcraft—A useful idol—The ebony trees</td> - <td class="tdrb">265</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="2"><a href="#XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.</a></td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl">Hunting for food—We kill a female nshiego mbouvé—A young -nshiego with a white face—He becomes my pet Tommy—His -affection for me—His stealing pranks—Tommy gets drunk—His -behaviour at meals—His sudden death—Conclusion</td> - <td class="tdrb">271</td> -</tr> - -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p class="p6"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p> - -<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> - - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" summary="contents"> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#front">Gorilla Hunting</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">Frontispiece</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#King">My Reception by the King</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">3</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Leopard">Enticing the Leopard</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">23</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Birds">Flocks of Birds</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">29</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Mbousha">Scene with the Mbousha</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">37</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Snake">Killing the Snake</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">47</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Glass">King astonished at Looking-Glass</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">59</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Elephant1">Entrapping the Elephant</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">67</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Work">Fan Blacksmiths at Work</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">75</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Handja">The Handja</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">78</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Hunting1">Net-Hunting</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">83</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Falling">Mangrove Swamp. Tumbling and Falling</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">89</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Ground">Slave Barracoons. Burial Ground</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">97</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Slaves">Embarking Slaves</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">103</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Gazelle">The Gazelle</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">109</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Dinner">After Dinner</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">117</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#One">A Leopard and her Young One</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">125</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Elephant2">Aboko kills a Rogue Elephant</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">133</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Fishing">Fishing</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">143</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Sunrise">Turning Turtles just before Sunrise</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">149</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span><a href="#Tornado">Our Schooner caught in a Tornado</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">157</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Dancing">African Ball. King Olenga-Yombi Dancing</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">169</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Gorilla">Capturing a Young Gorilla</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">179</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Home">Hippopotami at Home</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">189</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Pelicans">Marabouts, Storks, and Pelicans</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">199</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Me">The King Receives Me</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">207</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Hunt">A Crocodile Hunt</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">215</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Mbouve">The Nshiego Mbouvé</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">221</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Mourning">Expiration of Mourning</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">227</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Hunting2">Wolf Hunting</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">237</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Scene">An Incantation Scene</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">241</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Ordeal">A Trial by Ordeal</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">253</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#us">The Gorilla Marches upon us</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">259</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Mbuiti">Meeting the Mbuiti</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">265</td> -</tr> - -<tr> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#Face">A Young Nshiego Mbouvé with a White Face</a></td> - <td class="tdrb smcap">272</td> -</tr> - -</table> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo1.png" width="200" -height="138" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></span></p> -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo2.png" width="600" -height="125" alt="" title="" /></div> - - - -<h2>Stories of the Gorilla Country.</h2> - - -<h2 id="I">PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.</h2> - - -<p>I had passed several years on the African Coast -before I began the explorations recorded in my -first book. In those years I hunted, traded -with the natives, and made collections in natural -history.</p> - -<p>In such a wild country as Africa one does not go far -without adventures. The traveller necessarily sees -what is strange and wonderful, for everything is -strange.</p> - -<p>In this book I have attempted to relate some of the -incidents of life in Africa for the reading of young -folks. In doing this I have kept no chronological -order, but have selected incidents and adventures here -and there as they seem to be fitted for my purpose.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -I have noticed that most intelligent boys like to read -about the habits of wild animals, and the manners and -way of life of savage men; and of such matters this -book is composed. In it I have entered into more -minute details concerning the life of the native inhabitants -than I could in my other books, and have -shown how the people build their houses, what are -their amusements, how they hunt, fish, eat, travel, and -live.</p> - -<p>Whenever I am at a friend's house the children ask -me to tell them something about Africa. I like -children, and in this book have written especially for -them. I hope to interest many who are yet too young -to read my larger works.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo3.png" width="200" -height="122" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a></span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="King"><img src="images/king.png" width="550" -height="430" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">MY RECEPTION BEFORE THE KING.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="II">CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">ARRIVAL ON THE COAST—A KING AND HIS PALACE—DANCING -AND IDOL-WORSHIP.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Some years ago a three-masted vessel took me -to a wild country on the West Coast of Africa -near the Equator.</p> - -<p>It was a very wild country indeed.</p> - -<p>As we came in sight of the land, which was covered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -with forest, canoes began to start from the shore -towards us; and, as we neared the land, we could see -the people crowding down on the beach to look at the -strange sight of a vessel.</p> - -<p>The canoes approached the vessel in great numbers. -Some of them were so small that they looked like mere -nutshells. Indeed, some of the men paddled with -their feet; and one man carried his canoe ashore on -his shoulder.</p> - -<p>At last, the natives came on board, and what funny -people they were! I could not discern one from -another; they seemed to me all alike.</p> - -<p>What a queer way of dressing they had too! You -would have laughed to see them. Some had only an -old coat on. Others had an old pair of trousers which -probably had belonged to some sailor; these wore no -shirt or coat. Some had only an old ragged shirt, and -some again had nothing on except an old hat. Of -course none of them had shoes.</p> - -<p>How they shouted and hallooed as they came about -the vessel! They seemed to speak such a strange -language. No one on board appeared to understand -them. They made so great a noise that I thought I -should become deaf.</p> - -<p>One of them had a fowl to sell; another brought -an egg or two; and another a few bunches of -plantains.</p> - -<p>Our captain knew the coast; for he had long been an -African trader, though he had never been at this place -before.</p> - -<p>The ship cast anchor. It was not far from a river -called Benito.</p> - -<p>I left the vessel and went ashore with some others. -As I landed I was surrounded immediately by crowds -of natives, who looked so wild and so savage that I -thought they would kill me at once.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> - -<p>I was led to the village, which stood not far from the -sea, and was hidden from view by the very large trees -and the great forest that surrounded it. On one side -of the village was a prairie.</p> - -<p>I shall always remember this village. It was the first -African village I had ever seen; and it was unlike those -built in Southern Africa.</p> - -<p>Don't think for a moment that I am going to speak -to you of stone or wooden houses. No! These wild -people lived in queer little huts, the walls of which were -made of the bark of trees, and were not more than four -or five feet high. The top of the roof was only about -seven or eight feet from the ground. The length of -these huts was about ten or twelve feet, and they were -seven or eight feet wide. There were no windows, -and the door was very small. They immediately took -me to one of these houses, and said they gave it to me. -They meant that it was mine as long as I would -stay with them. It belonged to the son of the -king.</p> - -<p>So I went in. But where was I to sit down?</p> - -<p>There was no chair to be seen.</p> - -<p>Patience, thought I. These people had probably -never seen a chair in their lives. It was so dark -I could not see at first. By and by I saw how the hut -was furnished. There were some calabashes to hold -water, and two or three cooking pots. There were -some ugly-looking spears, an axe, and two or three -large and queer-looking knives, which could sever the -head of a man at one blow. Of course I looked for a -bed: I need not tell you there was none; but, instead, -there were some sticks to lie upon. The very look of -this sleeping-place made me shudder; I thought of -snakes, scorpions, and centipedes. The dark hut seemed -the very place for them. Shortly after the king's son -came. If I remember well, his name was <i>Andèké</i>. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> -told me that his father, the king, was ready to receive -me.</p> - -<p>The king ready to receive me!</p> - -<p>This was a great announcement. I must dress.</p> - -<p>But how?</p> - -<p>There was no washing-basin to wash myself in; -besides, I had forgotten my soap.</p> - -<p>I was glad I had no beard at that time; for I do not -know how I could have shaved.</p> - -<p>In short, I resolved to go and see his majesty as I -was.</p> - -<p>The sun being very warm, I took my umbrella with -me. The people conducted me to the royal -palace.</p> - -<p>What do you suppose a palace to be in the Benito -country? The king's palace was made of the same -material (bark of trees) as the houses I have just -described to you; and it was only about twice -as big.</p> - -<p>As I entered I went towards the king, who was -seated on a stool. Another empty stool was by his -side.</p> - -<p>I may say that Apourou—such was the king's -name—did not come up to my ideas of a king. -In fact, I should have laughed at him had I -dared.</p> - -<p>His costume was composed of a red soldier's coat, -and he wore a little bit of calico round his waist. -That was all. You must understand he had no -shirt.</p> - -<p>He was a tall, slim negro, with grey hair, and had -large scars on his face, and his whole body was covered -with tattoos. He wore large earrings. He was smoking -a big ugly pipe.</p> - -<p>He looked at me, and I looked at him.</p> - -<p>The room was full of people, and the king had several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -of his wives around him. The queen was there. Would -you believe it? in that country a man marries as many -wives as he chooses!</p> - -<p>The king looked at me for a long time without -saying a word. Finally he opened his mouth, -clapped his hands, and said I was a funny-looking -<i>fellow</i>.</p> - -<p>He next said he was very glad to see me, and would -take care of me. Then he touched my hair, and said -I must give him some. He would like to have -me remain with him always. At this the people -shouted, "We want the <i>ntangani</i> to stay with -us!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>What do you think he did next?</p> - -<p>He quietly proposed to me that I should get -married to some of his countrywomen; and added -that whomsoever I should choose would become my -wife.</p> - -<p>The suggestion was received by all the people with -a tremendous grunt of approval, to show that they -thought just as their king. Then they shouted, "The -girl he likes he shall marry!"</p> - -<p>I said, "I don't want to get married, I am -too young." I did not want to tell him that -I would not, for all the world, marry one of his -people.</p> - -<p>It was getting very warm in the hut, and there was -a strong odour. The people were packed so closely -together that they reminded one of herrings in a -barrel, and you must remember I said the house had -no windows.</p> - -<p>Then the king presented me with one fowl, two -eggs, and one bunch of plantain; and as I went away -he said I had better give him my umbrella. But I -went off as if I had not heard what he said. I thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -it was rather too much for a king to ask a stranger to -give up his umbrella. I had just begun to learn what -African kings were.</p> - -<p>The people followed me everywhere; I wish I could -have understood their language. One man could talk -English, and I am going now to give you a specimen -of his English.</p> - -<p>When he thought I must be hungry, he said, "Want -chop? Want chop?" When he saw that I could -not understand what he meant, he made signs with his -hands and mouth, which at once explained to me that -he had asked me if I wanted to eat. I said, "Yes;" -and after a while, some cooked plantains, with some -fish, were brought to me. I did not care for the -plantains; it was the first time I had ever tasted -them.</p> - -<p>After my meal, I walked through the street of the -village and came to a house, in the recess of which I -saw an enormous idol. I had never in all my life seen -such an ugly thing. It was a rude representation of -some human being, of the size of life, and was made of -wood. It had large copper eyes, and a tongue of iron, -which shot out from its mouth to show that it could sting. -The lips were painted red. It wore large iron earrings. -Its head was ornamented with a feather cap. Most of -the feathers were red, and came from the tails of grey -parrots, while the body and face were painted red, -white, and yellow. It was dressed in the skins of wild -animals. Around it were scattered skins of tigers and -serpents, and the bones and skulls of animals. Some -food also was placed near, so that it might eat if it -chose.</p> - -<p>It was now sunset; and night soon set in over the -village. For the first time in my life I stood alone in -this dark world, surrounded by savages, without any -white people near me. There was no light in the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> -street, and only the reflection of the fires could be seen -now and then. How dismal it was!</p> - -<p>I looked at my pistols and my guns, and was glad to -find that they were in good order.</p> - -<p>By-and-by the people began to come out of their -huts; and I saw some torches lighted, and taken -towards the large <i>mbuiti</i> as they call the idol, and there -placed on the ground. The large drums or tom-toms -were also carried there; and the women and men of -the village gathered around. The tom-toms beat; -and, soon after, I heard the people singing. I went to -see what was the matter.</p> - -<p>What a sight met my eyes!</p> - -<p>The men had their bodies painted in different -colours. Some had one cheek red and the other -white or yellow. A broad white or yellow stripe -was painted across the middle of the chest and -along both the arms. Others had their bodies -spotted. Most ugly they looked! The women wore -several iron or brass rings around their wrists and -ankles.</p> - -<p>Then the singing began, and the dancing! I had -never seen such dancing before. It was very ungraceful. -The drummers beat on the tom-toms -with all their might. As they became warm with -exertion their bodies shone like seals, so oily were -they.</p> - -<p>I looked and looked, with my eyes wide open; -I was nearly stunned with the noise. As the women -danced and sung, the brass and iron rings which -they wore struck against each other, and kept -time with the music and the beating of the tom-toms.</p> - -<p>But why were they all there dancing and screeching -around the idol?</p> - -<p>I will tell you.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -They were about to start on a hunting expedition, -and they were asking the idol to give them good luck -in their sport.</p> - -<p>When I found it was to be a hunting expedition, I -wanted to go at once with these savages, though I was -only a lad under twenty years old.</p> - -<p>I retired to my hut with a valiant heart; I was -going to do great things.</p> - -<p>If you had been in my place, boys, would you not -have felt the same? Would you have left the gorillas -alone? I am sure you all shout at once, "No! -no!" Would you have let the elephants go unmolested -in the forest? "Certainly not," will be -your answer.</p> - -<p>And what about the chimpanzee, and the big -leopards who carry away so many people and eat them, -the huge buffaloes, the wild boars, the antelopes, and -the gazelles?</p> - -<p>Would you have left the snakes alone?</p> - -<p>Perhaps you are all going to say "Yes" to that; -and I think you are right, for many of these snakes are -very poisonous, and they are numerous in these great -forests; for the country I am telling you about is -nothing but an immense jungle. When a man is -bitten by one of these snakes he often dies in -a few minutes. There is also to be found in these -woods an immense python, or boa, that swallows -antelopes, gazelles, and many other animals. I shall -have a good deal to tell you about them by-and-by.</p> - -<p>So I resolved that I would try to see all these -native tribes; that I would have a peep at the -cannibals; that I would have a good look also at the -dwarfs.</p> - -<p>I am sure, that if any one of you had been with me -on that coast, you would have said to me, "Du<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -Chaillu, let us go together and see all these things, -and then come back home and tell the good folks all -we have seen."</p> - -<p>Yes, I am certain that every one of you would -have felt as I did.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo4.png" width="175" -height="149" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a> -<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a></span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo5.png" width="600" -height="136" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<h2 id="III">CHAPTER III.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">A WEEK IN THE WOODS—A TORNADO—THE LEOPARDS -PROWLING ABOUT—I KILL A COBRA AND A SCORPION—FIGHT -WITH A BUFFALO—HUNTING FOR WILD -BOARS—A LEOPARD TAKES A RIDE ON A BULL—SICK -WITH THE FEVER.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Now, boys, fancy yourselves transported into the -midst of a very dense and dark forest, where -the trees never shed their leaves all at one -time, where there is no food to be had, except -what you can get with your gun, and where wild -beasts prowl around you at night, while you sleep.</p> - -<p>I found myself in such a place.</p> - -<p>Immediately after we arrived in those gloomy solitudes -we began to build an olako to shelter us from -the rains.</p> - -<p>I must tell you that Benito is a very strange -country. It is situated, as you have seen by the map, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -near the equator. Of course, you know what the -equator is? There, at a certain time of the year, the -sun is directly above your head at noon, and hence it -is the hottest part of the earth. The days and nights -are of the same length. The sun rises at six o'clock in -the morning, and the sunset takes place at six o'clock -in the evening. There is only a difference of a few -minutes all the year round. There is no twilight, and -half an hour before sunrise or after sunset it is dark. -There is no snow, except on very high mountains. -There is no winter. There are only two seasons—the -rainy season and the dry season. Our winter time at -home is the time of the rainy season in Equatorial -Africa, and it is also the hottest period of the year. It -rains harder there than in any other country. No such -rain is to be witnessed either in the United States or -Europe. And as to the thunder and lightning! You -never have heard or seen the like; it is enough to make -the hair on your head stand on end. Then come the -tornados, a kind of hurricane which, for a few minutes, -blows with terrific violence, carrying before it great -trees. How wild the sky looks! How awful to see the -black clouds sweeping through the sky with fearful -velocity!</p> - -<p>So you will not wonder that we busied ourselves in -preparing our shelter, for I remember well it was in -the month of February. We took good care not to -have big trees around us, for fear they might be hurled -upon us by a tornado, and bury us all alive under their -weight. Accordingly we built our olako near the -banks of a beautiful little stream, so that we could get -as much water as we wanted. Then we immediately -began to fell trees. We carried two or three axes with -us, for the axe is an indispensable article in the -forests. With the foliage we made a shelter to keep -off the rain.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - -<p>While the men were busy building the olako, the -women went in search of dried wood to cook our -supper. We had brought some food from the village -with us.</p> - -<p>We were ready just in time. A most terrific tornado -came upon us. The rain poured down in torrents. The -thunder was stunning. The lightning flashed so vividly -and often as nearly to blind us.</p> - -<p>Our dogs had hidden themselves, indeed all animals -and birds of the forest were much frightened, which -was not to be wondered at. How thankful I was to be -sheltered from such a storm! We had collected plenty -of fuel, and our fires burned brightly.</p> - -<p>We formed a strange group while seated around the -fires, the men and women smoking their pipes and -telling stories. We had several fires, and, as they -blazed up, their glare was thrown out through the -gloom of the forest, and filled it with fantastic shadows. -Though tired, everybody seemed merry. We were full -of hope for the morrow. Every one spoke of the -particular animal he wished to kill, and of which he -was most fond. Some wished for an antelope, others -for an elephant, a wild boar, or a buffalo. I confess that -I myself inclined towards the wild boar; and I believe -that almost every one had the same wish, for that -animal, when fat, is very good eating. Indeed, they -already began to talk as if the pig were actually before -them. All fancied they could eat a whole leg apiece, -and their mouths fairly watered in thinking about it. -No wonder they are so fond of meat, they have it so -seldom. Who among us does not relish a good dinner, -I should like to know?</p> - -<p>By-and-by all became silent; one after the other we -fell asleep, with the exception of two or three men who -were to watch over the fires and keep them bright; -for there were plenty of leopards prowling in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -neighbouring forest, and none of us wanted to serve as -a meal for them. In fact, before going to sleep, we -heard some of these animals howling in the far distance. -During the night, one came very near our camp. He -went round and round; and, no doubt, lay in wait to -see if one of us would go out alone; and then he would -have pounced upon the careless fellow. I need not say -we did not give him a chance; and you may be sure -we kept the fire blazing. Finally, we fired a few guns, -and he went off.</p> - -<p>These leopards are dreadful animals, and eat a great -many natives. They are generally shy; but once they -have tasted human flesh, they become very fond of it, -and the poor natives are carried off, one after another, -in such numbers that the villages have to be abandoned.</p> - -<p>The next day we went hunting. I had hardly gone -into the forest when I saw, creeping on the ground -under the dry leaves, an enormous black snake: I -fancy I see it still. How close it was to me! One -step more and I should have just trodden upon it, and -then should have been bitten, and a few minutes after -have died, and then, boys, you know I should have had -nothing to tell you about Africa. This snake was a -cobra of the black variety (<i>Dendrapspis angusticeps</i>). -It is a very common snake in that region; and, as I -have said, very poisonous.</p> - -<p>As soon as the reptile saw me, he rose up, as if ready -to spring upon me, gave one of his hissing sounds, and -looked at me, showing, as he hissed, his sharp-pointed -tongue. Of course, the first thing I did was to make -a few steps backward. Then, levelling my gun, I fired -and killed him. He was about eight feet long. I cut -his head off, and examined his deadly fangs. What -horrible things they were! They looked exactly like -fish bones, with very sharp ends. I looked at them -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -carefully, and saw that he could raise and lower them -at will; while the teeth are firmly implanted in a -pouch, or little bag, which contains the poison. I saw -in the end of the fang a little hole, which communicated -with the pouch. When the snake opens his -mouth to bite, he raises his fangs. Then he strikes -them into the flesh of the animal he bites, and brings a -pressure on the pouch, and the poison comes out by -the little hole I have spoken of.</p> - -<p>I cut open the cobra, and found in his stomach a -very large bird. Andèké packed the bird and snake in -leaves, and, on our return to the camp, the men were -delighted. In the evening they made a nice soup of -the snake, which they ate with great relish.</p> - -<p>I had also killed a beautiful little striped squirrel, -upon which I made my dinner. I felt almost sorry to -kill it, it was such a pretty creature.</p> - -<p>In the evening, as I was siting by the fire, and looking -at the log that was burning, I spied a big ugly black -scorpion coming out of one of the crevices. I immediately -laid upon its back a little stick which I had in -my hand. You should have seen how its long tail flew -up and stung the piece of wood! I shuddered as I -thought that it might have stung my feet or hands, -instead of the wood. I immediately killed it, and the -natives said these scorpions were quite common, -and that people have to be careful when they handle -dry sticks of wood, for these poisonous creatures -delight to live under the dry bark, or between the -crevices.</p> - -<p>A nice country this to live in! thought I, after killing -a snake and a scorpion the same day!</p> - -<p>So when I lay down on my pillow, which was merely -a piece of wood, I looked up to see if there was any -scorpions upon it. I did not see any; but, during the -night, I awoke suddenly and started up. I thought I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -felt hundreds of them creeping over me, and that one -had just stung me, and caused me to wake up. The -sweat covered my body. I looked around and saw -nothing but sleeping people. There was no scorpion -to be found. I must have been dreaming.</p> - -<p>Not far from our camp was a beautiful little prairie. -I had seen, during my rambles there, several footprints -of wild buffaloes; so I immediately told Andèké we -must go in chase of them. Andèké, the son of the -king, was a very nice fellow, and was, besides, a good -hunter—just the very man I wanted.</p> - -<p>So we went towards the little prairie, and lay -hidden on the borders of it, among the trees. By-and-by -I spied a huge bull, who was perfectly unaware of -my presence, for the wind blew from him to me; had -the wind blown the other way, the animal would have -scented me and made off. As it was, he came slowly -towards me. I raised my gun and fired. My bullet -struck a creeper, on its way, and glanced aside, so I -only wounded the beast. Turning fiercely, he rushed -at me in a furious manner, with his head down. I was -scared; for I was, at that time, but a young hunter; I -got ready to run, though I had a second barrel in -reserve. I thought the infuriated bull was too powerful -for me, he looked so big. Just as I was about to make -my escape, I found my foot entangled and hopelessly -caught in a tough and thorny creeper. The bull was -dashing towards me with head down and eyes -inflamed, tearing down brushwood and creepers, which -barred his progress. Turning to meet the enemy, I -felt my nerves suddenly grow firm as a rock. If I -missed the bull all would be over with me. He would -gore me to death. I took time to aim carefully, and -then fired at his head. He gave one loud, hoarse -bellow, and tumbled almost at my feet. In the meantime, -Andèké was coming to the rescue.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> - -<p>I must say I felt very nervous after all was over. -But being but a lad, I thought I had done pretty well. -It was the first direct attack a wild beast had ever -made upon me. I found afterwards, that the bulls are -generally very dangerous when wounded.</p> - -<p>Now I must tell you how this beast looked. He was -one of the wild buffaloes frequently to be met with in -this part of Africa. During the greater part of the -day they hide in the forest. When much hunted they -become very shy. They are generally found in herds of -from ten to twenty-five, though I have found them -sometimes in much greater number.</p> - -<p>This animal (<i>Bos brachicheros</i>) is called by some of -the natives "niaré." It is of the size of our cattle. -It is covered with thin red hair, which is much darker -in the bull than in the cow. The hoofs are long and -sharp; the ears are fringed with most beautiful silky -hair; the horns are very handsome, and bend backward -in a graceful curve. In shape, the buffalo looks -like something between an antelope and a common -cow; and, when seen afar off, you might think these -wild buffaloes were a herd of cattle at home.</p> - -<p>How glad the people were when Andèké and I -brought the news that we had killed a bull! There -was great rejoicing. But I was tired and remained -in the camp; while they went with knives and -swords to cut the buffalo to pieces, and bring in the -flesh.</p> - -<p>What a fine place it was for hunting! The animals -seemed to come down from the mountains beyond, -and remain in the flat woody country along the -seashore.</p> - -<p>There were a great many wild boars. You know we -all wanted one of these. So one night Andèké and I -agreed to go and lie in wait for them on the prairie. -In order to look like Andèké, I blackened my face and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -hands with charcoal, so that in the night the -colour of my face could not be distinguished.</p> - -<p>We started from the camp before dark, and reached -the prairie before night. I stationed myself behind a -large ant-hill not far from the open space. There I -lay; one hour passed—two hours—three hours, and -still neither wild boar nor buffaloes. I looked at -Andèké. He was fast asleep, at the foot of another -ant-hill close by. Once I saw a whole herd of gazelles -pass by; but they were too far from me. Occasionally -a grunt or the cracking of a twig, told me that a -wild boar was not far off. At last everything became -silent, and I fell asleep unconsciously.</p> - -<p>Suddenly I was awakened by an unearthly roar—the -yell of a wild beast.</p> - -<p>I rubbed my eyes in a hurry—what could be the -matter?</p> - -<p>I looked round me, and saw nothing. The woods -were still resounding with the cry that had startled me. -Then I heard a great crash in the forest, made by some -heavy animal running away. Then I saw emerge from -the forest a wild bull, on whose neck crouched an -immense leopard. The poor buffalo reared, tossed, -roared and bellowed; but in vain. The leopard's -enormous claws were firmly fixed in his victim's body, -while his teeth were sunk deeply in the bull's neck. The -leopard gave an awful roar, which seemed to make the -earth shake. Then both buffalo and leopard disappeared -in the forest, and the roars, and the -crashing of the trees, soon ceased. All became silent -again.</p> - -<p>I had fired at the leopard, but it was too far off. We -stayed a week here, and I enjoyed myself very much -in the woods. I collected birds and butterflies, killed -a few nice little quadrupeds, and then we returned to -the seashore village. There the fever laid me low on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -my bed of sickness. How wretched I felt! I had -never had the fever before. For a few days my head -was burning hot. When I got better, and looked at -myself in my little looking-glass I could not recognise -myself; I had not a particle of colour left in my -cheeks and I looked as yellow and pale as a lemon. I -got frightened. This fever was the forerunner of what -I had to expect in these equatorial regions.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo6.png" width="175" -height="95" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a> -<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Leopard"><img src="images/leop.png" width="550" -height="515" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">ENTICING THE LEOPARD.</div></div> - - - -<h2 id="IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">A VILLAGE ON THE SEASHORE—LYING IN WAIT FOR A -LEOPARD.</p> - - -<p class="p2">On the promontory called Cape St. John, about a -degree north of the Equator stood a Mbinga -village, whose chief was called Imonga. This -was, I think, in the year 1852. The country around -was very wild. The village stood on the top of a -high hill which ran out into the sea, and formed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -cape itself. The waves there beat with great violence -against a rock of the tertiary formation. It was a -grand sight to see those angry billows white with foam -dashing against the shore. You could see that they -were wearing away the rock. To land there safely was -very difficult. There were only two or three places -where between the rocks a canoe could reach the shore. -The people were as wild as the country round them, -and very warlike. They were great fishermen, and -many of them spent their whole time fishing in their -little canoes. Game being very scarce, there were but -few hunters.</p> - -<p>Imonga, the chief, had a hideous large scar on his -face, which showed at once that he was a fighting man. -Not a few of his men showed signs of wounds which -they had received in battle. Many of these fights or -quarrels took place in canoes on the water, among -themselves, or with people of other villages.</p> - -<p>I do not know why, but Imonga was very fond of -me, and so also were his people. But one thing -revolted me. I found that several of Imonga's wives -had the first joint of their little finger cut off. Imonga -did this to make them mind him; for he wanted his -wives to obey him implicitly.</p> - -<p>The woods around the village were full of leopards. -They were the dread of the people, for they were constantly -carrying off some one. At night, they would -come into the villages on their errands of blood, while -the villagers were asleep. There was not a dog nor a -goat left; and within two months three people had -been eaten by them; the very places could be seen in -the huts where the leopards had entered. They would -tear up the thin thatched palm leaves of the roofs, and -having seized their victims, they would go back through -the hole with a tremendous leap, and with the man in -their jaws, and run off into the forest.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> - -<p>The last man taken uttered a piercing cry of -anguish, which awoke all the villagers. They at once -arose and came to the rescue, but it was too late. They -only found traces of blood as they proceeded. The -leopard had gone far into the woods, and there -devoured his victim. Of course there was tremendous -excitement, and they went into the forest in search of -the leopard; but he could never be found. There -were so many of these savage beasts that they even -walked along the beach, not satisfied with the woods -alone; and when the tide was low, during the night, -the footprints of their large paws could be seen -distinctly marked on the sand. After ten or eleven -o'clock at night, no native could be seen on the seashore -without torches.</p> - -<p>During the day the leopard hides himself either in -the hollow of some one of the gigantic trees, with -which these forests abound, or sleeps quietly on some -branch, waiting for the approach of night. He seldom -goes out before one o'clock in the morning, unless -pressed by hunger, and about four o'clock he goes back -to his lair.</p> - -<p>I was now getting accustomed to face danger. -Killing the buffalo that attacked me had given me -confidence.</p> - -<p>To kill a leopard must be my next exploit.</p> - -<p>I selected a spot very near the sands of the sea, -where I remarked the leopards used to come every -night, when the tide was low. I chose a day when -the moon began to rise at midnight, so that it might -not be so dark that I could not take a good aim at the -leopard, and see what was going on.</p> - -<p>I then began to build a kind of pen or fortress; and -I can assure you I worked very hard at it. Every day -I went into the forest and cut branches of trees, with -which I made a strong palisade. Every stick was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -about six feet high, and was put in the ground about -a foot deep. These posts were fastened together with -strong creepers. My little fortress, for so I must call -it, was about five feet square. This would never -answer; for the leopard might leap inside and take -hold of me. So with the help of some strong branches -all tied strongly together I built a roof. Then I -made loopholes on all sides for my guns, so that -I might fire at the beast whenever he came in -sight.</p> - -<p>I was glad when I had finished, for I felt very tired. -My axe was not sharp, and it had required several -days to complete my work.</p> - -<p>One clear starlight night, at about nine o'clock, I -went and shut myself up in my fortress. I had taken -a goat with me, which I tied a few yards from my -place of concealment. It was quite dark. After I had -tied the goat, I went back and shut myself very -securely inside my stronghold.</p> - -<p>I waited and waited, but no leopard came. The goat -cried all the time. It was so dark that even if the -leopard had come I could not have seen it.</p> - -<p>The moon rose by one o'clock. It was in its last -quarter; and very strange and fantastic it made -everything look. There were the shadows of the tall -trees thrown upon the white sand of the beach, while -in the forest the gloom was somewhat greater. The -sea came rolling on the beach in gentle waves, which, -as they broke, sent up thousands of bright, phosphorescent -flashes. There was a dead silence everywhere, -except when the goat cried, or some wild beast made -the forest resound with its dismal howl. The wind -whispered gently, mournfully through the woods.</p> - -<p>I could not account for it, but now and then a cold -shudder ran through me. I was quite alone, for the -negro I had taken with me was fast asleep.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> - -<p>One o'clock. No leopard. I looked in vain all round -me: I could see nothing.</p> - -<p>Two o'clock. Nothing yet.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, I spied something a long way off on the -beach, so far that I could not make out what it was. It -came slowly towards me. What could it be? I asked -myself. Soon I recognised a big spotted leopard. The -goat, which had seen it, began to cry more loudly. The -big beast came nearer and nearer. He began to crouch. -Then he lay flat on the ground. How his eyes glittered! -They looked like two pieces of bright, burning -charcoal.</p> - -<p>My heart beat. The first thought that came to me -was—Is my house strong enough to resist his attack, -in case I should wound him, or if, perchance, he should -prefer me to the goat, and make an onslaught upon -it?</p> - -<p>The savage beast crawled nearer, and again crouched -down on the ground. I took my gun; and, just as I -was getting ready to fire, he made an immense leap, -and bounded upon the goat. I fired. I do not know -how, but, in the twinkling of an eye, the goat was -seized, and both leopard and goat disappeared in the -dark forest. I fired again, but with no better success. -In the morning, I saw nothing but the traces of the -poor goat's blood.</p> - -<p>I did not return to the village till morning; for I -dared not go outside of my palisade that night. So, the -goat being gone, I concluded I had better light a fire, -to warm myself, and drive away the mosquitoes. I -always carried a box of matches with me. I struck one, -and soon succeeded in making a blaze with the little -firewood I had collected.</p> - -<p>Strange enough I must have looked, inside of -my cage, while the fire sent its glimmering light -around.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> - -<p>Finally, seeing that everything was well secured, I -went to sleep, taking good care to put myself in the -middle of the fort, so that if, by any chance, a leopard -came, he could not get hold of me with his paw. When -I awoke it was broad daylight, and I immediately -started for Imonga's village.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo7.png" width="175" -height="101" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Birds"><img src="images/birds.png" width="550" -height="422" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">FLOCKS OF BIRDS.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="V">CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">THE BAY OF CORISCO—THE MANGROVE TREES—THE -WONDERFUL FLOCKS OF BIRDS—WHAT I FOUND IN THE -POUCH OF A PELICAN—HOW AN OLD KING IS BURIED, -AND THE NEW KING CROWNED.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Now that you have followed me in the Benito -country, and to Cape St. John, I will take -you a little further down the coast to the -Bay of Corisco. There, two rivers empty their waters -into the sea. One of them is called the Muni river, -and the other the Monda.</p> - -<p>I will leave the Muni, for we shall have to come to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -it by-and-by, and will speak to you only of the Monda. -It is throughout a low-banked swampy stream. The -banks are covered with mangrove trees. Every limb -or branch that grows in the water is covered with -oysters—real oysters too; so that at low tide you can -see, in some places for a long distance, immense beds -of this kind of shell-fish.</p> - -<p>The mangroves, on which the oysters grow so -curiously, are very extraordinary trees. The main -trunk, or parent tree, grows to an immense size. From -a single tree a whole forest will grow up in time, for -the branches send down shoots into the ground, which -in their turn take root and become trees; so that, -generally, almost the whole of the mangrove forest -may be said to be knitted together.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants of the country at the mouth of the -river are called Shekiani. They are a very warlike -tribe, and many of them are armed with guns, which -they obtain from the vessels that come here from time -to time to buy bar wood, ivory, or india-rubber.</p> - -<p>I arrived at the mouth of the river, in a small canoe, -manned by several Mbinga men. The canoe was made -of the trunk of a single tree, and had a mat for a sail. -At the mouth of the river, high above the swamps that -surround its banks, are two hills. On the top of one -of these hills, a village was situated. There I stayed. -It was a village of insignificant size.</p> - -<p>At low tide, the high muddy banks of the river are -exposed. So many birds as are there, I never saw elsewhere: -they are to be seen in countless thousands. -The shore, the mud islands, and the water were so -covered with them, that it was really a sight worth -seeing. Here and there flocks of pelicans swam -majestically along, keeping at a good distance from my -canoe. You would probably wish to know what these -pelicans are like. I will tell you. They are large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -birds, and have an enormous bill, under which is a large -pouch, capable of containing several pounds of fish. -They have webbed feet, and their feathers are white. -I wish you could see them looking out for their prey. -How slyly they pry in the water for the fish they are -in search of, and how quickly they pounce upon them -unawares with their powerful beak! In an instant the -fish are killed and stored away in the pouch; and when -this is full, then Master Pelican begins to eat. The -fish are put in the pouch as if it were a storehouse.</p> - -<p>Now and then a string of flamingoes go stretching -along the muddy shore, looking for all the world like a -line of fire. Most beautiful are these flamingoes! and -very singular they appear when not on the wing, but -standing still on their long red legs! They are very -wild, however, and difficult of approach.</p> - -<p>Wherever the mud peeped out of the water, there -were herons, cranes, gulls of various kinds. Scattered -everywhere were seen those beautiful white birds -(<i>Egretta flavirostris</i>). Some of the shore trees were -covered with them, looking like snow in the distance.</p> - -<p>Of course I wished to kill some of these birds. So I -took a tiny little canoe, and covered it with branches -of trees, that the birds might think it was a tree -coming down the stream, as is often the case. Then I -took a Shekiani with me to paddle, and, putting two -guns in the canoe, we made for the pelicans. The sly -birds seemed to suspect something, and did not give -me a chance to approach them for a long time. But, -as you know, in order to succeed in anything, people -must have patience and perseverance. So, after -chasing many, I finally succeeded in approaching one. -He was just in the act of swallowing a big fish, when—bang!—I -fired, and wounded him so that he could not -fly. His wing had been broken by my shot. At the -noise made by firing my gun, the birds flew away by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -thousands. I made for Master Pelican. The chase -became exciting; but at last we succeeded in coming -near him. But how to get hold of him was now the -question. His wing only was broken; and, with his great -beak, he might perhaps be able to cut one of my -fingers right off. I was afraid to spoil his feathers if I -fired again. He became exhausted, and with one of -the paddles I gave him a tremendous blow on the head, -which stunned him. Another blow finished him, and -we lifted him into the canoe.</p> - -<p>I cannot tell you how pleased I was. His pouch was -full of fish. They were so fresh that I resolved to -make a meal out of them.</p> - -<p>I had hardly put the bird at the bottom of the canoe, -when there came flying towards me a flock of at least -two hundred flamingoes. In a moment I had my gun -in readiness. Would they come near enough for me to -get a shot at them? I watched them anxiously. Yes! -Now they are near enough; and—bang! bang!—I -fired the two barrels right into the middle of the flock, -and two beautiful flamingoes fell into the water. -Quickly we paddled towards them. In order to go -faster I took a paddle also, and worked away as well as -I could. They were dead. Both had received shots -in the head.</p> - -<p>We made for the shore. When I opened the pouch -of the pelican—just think of it!—I found a dozen -large fishes inside! They were quite fresh; and I am -sure they had not been caught more than half an hour. -You will agree with me that the pelican makes quick -work when he goes a-fishing.</p> - -<p>In the evening I felt so tired that I went straight to -bed; and I slept so soundly, that if the Shekianis had -chosen, they could have murdered me without my even -opening my eyes.</p> - -<p>This village had a new king; and I wondered if his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -majesty were made king in the same fashion as the -sovereign of the Mpongwe tribe; a tribe of negroes -among whom I have resided, and I will tell you how -their king was made.</p> - -<p>Old King Glass died. He had been long ailing, but -clung to life with determined tenacity. He was a disagreeable -old heathen; but in his last days he became -very devout—after his fashion. His idol was always -freshly painted, and brightly decorated; his fetich, or -"monda," was the best cared for fetich in Africa, and -every few days some great doctors were brought down -from the interior, and paid a large fee for advising the -old king. He was afraid of witchcraft: he thought everybody -wanted to put him out of the way by bewitching -him. So the business of the doctors was to keep off -the witches, and assure his majesty that he would live -a long time. This assurance pleased him wonderfully, -and he paid his doctors well.</p> - -<p>The tribe had got tired of their king. They thought, -indeed, that he was himself a most potent and evil-disposed -wizard; and, though the matter was not -openly talked about there were very few natives indeed -who would pass his house after night, and none who -could be tempted inside, by any slighter provocation -than an irresistible glass of rum. In fact, if he had -not been a great king, he would probably have been -killed.</p> - -<p>When he got sick at last, everybody seemed very -sorry; but several of my friends told me in confidence, -that the whole town hoped he would die; and die he -did. I was awakened one morning, by those mournful -cries and wails with which the African oftener covers -a sham sorrow than expresses a real grief. All the -women of the village seemed to be dissolved in tears. -It is a most singular thing to see how readily the -women of Africa can supply tears on the slightest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -occasion, or for no occasion at all. They will cry -together, at certain times of the day, on mourning -occasions, when a few minutes before they were laughing. -They need no pain or real grief to excite their -tears. They can, apparently, weep at will.</p> - -<p>The mourning and wailing on this occasion lasted six -days. On the second day the old king was secretly -buried, by a few of the most trusty men of the tribe, -very early in the morning, before others were up; or -perhaps at night. Some said he had been buried at -night, while others said he had been buried in the -morning, thus showing that they did not know. This -custom arises from a belief that the other tribes would -much like to get the head of the king, in order that -with his brains they might make a powerful fetich.</p> - -<p>During the days of mourning, the old men of the -village busied themselves in choosing a new king. -This, also, is a secret operation, and the result is not -communicated to the people generally till the seventh -day.</p> - -<p>It happened that Njogoni (fowl), a good friend of -mine, was elected. I do not know that Njogoni had -the slightest suspicion of his elevation. At any rate, -he shammed ignorance very well.</p> - -<p>While he was walking on the shore, on the morning -of the seventh day—probably some one had told him to -go—he was suddenly set upon by the entire populace, -who proceeded with a ceremony which is preliminary -to the crowning. In a dense crowd they surrounded -him, and then began to heap upon him every -manner of abuse that the worst of mobs could imagine. -Some spat in his face. Some beat him with their -fists, not very hard of course. Some kicked him. -Others threw dirty things at him. Those unlucky -cues who stood on the outside and could only -reach the poor fellow with their voices, assiduously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -cursed him, and also his father, and especially his -mother, as well as his sisters and brothers, and all -his ancestors to the remotest generation. A stranger -would not have given a farthing for the life of him -who was presently to be crowned.</p> - -<p>Amid the noise and struggle, I caught the words -which explained all to me; for every few minutes some -fellow, administering a comparatively severe blow or -kick, would shout out, "You are not our king yet; for -a little while we will do what we please with you. By-and-by -we shall have to do your will."</p> - -<p>Njogoni bore himself like a man, and a prospective -king, and took all this abuse with a smiling face. -When it had lasted about half an hour, they took him -to the house of the old king. Here he was seated, -and became again for a little while the victim of his -people's curses and ill-usage.</p> - -<p>Suddenly all became silent, and the elders of the -people rose, and said solemnly (the people repeating -after them), "Now we choose you for our king; we -engage to listen to you, and to obey you."</p> - -<p>Then there was silence; and presently the silk hat, -of "stove-pipe" fashion, which is the emblem of -royalty among the Mpongwe and several other tribes, -was brought in, and placed on Njogoni's head. He -was then dressed in a red gown, and received the -greatest marks of respect from all those who had just -now abused him.</p> - -<p>Then followed six days of festival, during which the -poor king, who had taken the name of his predecessor, was -obliged to receive his subjects in his own house, and was -not allowed to stir out. The whole time was occupied -in indescribable gorging of food, and drinking of bad -rum and palm wine. It was a scene of beastly gluttony -and drunkenness and uproarious confusion. Strangers -came from the surrounding villages. Everything to eat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -and drink was furnished freely, and all comers were -welcome.</p> - -<p>Old King Glass, for whom during six days no end of -tears had been shed, was now forgotten; and <i>new</i> King -Glass, poor fellow, was sick with exhaustion.</p> - -<p>Finally, the rum and palm wine were drank up, the -food was eaten, the allotted days of rejoicing had -expired, and the people went back to their homes.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo8.png" width="175" -height="120" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Mbousha"><img src="images/mbou.png" width="550" -height="421" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">SCENE WITH THE MBOUSHA.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">AN OLD MAN KILLED FOR WITCHCRAFT—MY JOURNEY -TO THE COUNTRY OF THE CANNIBALS—STARTING ON -THE ROUTE.</p> - - -<p class="p2">In the year 1856 I was again in the equatorial -regions. I was in the great forest, on my -way to the cannibal country; yes, the country -where the people eat one another. It was a long -way off, and how was I to get there through the -dense jungle? How was I to find my way in that vast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -African forest? These were the thoughts that troubled -me when I was in the village of Dayoko.</p> - -<p>The village of Dayoko lies not far from the banks of -the Ntambounay river, and is surrounded by beautiful -groves of plantain trees.</p> - -<p>Dayoko is one of the chiefs of the Mbousha tribe, -and a wild and savage set of people they are I can tell -you. But Dayoko became my friend, and said he -would spare me a few men to take me part of the -way.</p> - -<p>These Mbousha people look very much like the -Shekiani I have already described. They are superstitious -and cruel, and believe in witchcraft. I stayed -among them only a few days. I will now tell you what -I saw there.</p> - -<p>In a hut I found a very old man. His wool (hair) -was white as snow, his face was wrinkled, and his limbs -were shrunken. His hands were tied behind him, and -his feet were placed in a rude kind of stocks. Several -negroes, armed to the teeth, stood guard over him, and -now and then insulted him by angry words and blows, -to which he submitted in silence. What do you suppose -all this meant?</p> - -<p>This old man was to be killed for witchcraft!</p> - -<p>A truly horrible delusion this witchcraft is!</p> - -<p>I went to Dayoko, the chief, to try to save the old -man's life, but I saw it was in vain.</p> - -<p>During the whole night I could hear singing all over -the town as well as a great uproar. Evidently -they were preparing for the sacrifice of the old -man.</p> - -<p>Early in the morning the people gathered together -with the fetich-man. His blood-shot eyes glared in -savage excitement, as he went around from man to -man. In his hands he held a bundle of herbs with -which he sprinkled, three times, those to whom he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -spoke. Meantime, there was a man on the top of a -high tree close by, who shouted, from time to time, -"Jocou! Jocou!" at the same time shaking the trees.</p> - -<p>"<i>Jocou</i>" means "devil" among the Mbousha; and -the business of this man was to scare the evil spirit, -and keep it away.</p> - -<p>At last they all declared that the old man was a most -potent wizard, that he had killed many people by -sorcery, and that he must be killed.</p> - -<p>You would like to know, I dare say, what these -Africans mean by a wizard, or a witch? They -believe that people have, within themselves, the power -of killing anyone who displeases them. They believe -that no one dies unless some one has bewitched him. -Have you ever heard of such a horrible superstition? -Hence those who are condemned for witchcraft are -sometimes subjected to a very painful death; they are -burnt by slow fire, and their bodies are given to the -Bashikouay ant to be devoured. I shall have something -to tell you about ants by-and-by. The poor -wretches are cut into pieces; gashes are made over -their bodies and cayenne pepper is put into the -wounds. Indeed it makes me shudder to think of it, -for I have witnessed such dreadful deaths, and seen -many of the mutilated corpses.</p> - -<p>After I witnessed the ceremony, the people scattered, -and I went into my hut, for I was not well. After a -while I thought I saw a man pass my door, almost -like a flash, and after him rushed a horde of silent but -infuriated men towards the river. In a little while, I -heard sharp, piercing cries, as of a man in great agony, -and then all became still as death.</p> - -<p>I came out, and going towards the river was met by -the crowd returning, every man armed, with axe, spear, -knife or cutlass; and these weapons, as well as their own -hands, and arms, and bodies were sprinkled with blood.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - -<p>They had killed the poor old man they called a -wizard, hacked him to pieces, and finished by splitting -open his skull, and scattering the brains into the water. -Then they returned. At night these blood-thirsty -men seemed to be as gentle as lambs, and as cheerful -as if nothing had happened.</p> - -<p>Ought we not to be thankful that we were born in a -civilized country?</p> - -<p>Now came the "grand palaver" over my departure. -I called Dayoko and all the elders of the village -together. When they had all assembled, I told them -I must go into the Fan country inhabited by the -cannibals.</p> - -<p>Dayoko said I should be murdered by the cannibals, -and eaten up, and tried to dissuade me from -going.</p> - -<p>Finally I said that go I would.</p> - -<p>So it was determined that I should go under -Dayoko's protection. Accordingly he gave me two of -his sons to accompany me, and ordered several men to -carry my chests, guns, powder, bullets, and shot. -They were to take me to one of Dayoko's fathers-in-law, -a Mbondemo chief who lived in the -mountains.</p> - -<p>I was going farther and farther from the sea; if the -savages were to leave me and run away in the forest, -what would become of me?</p> - -<p>We started in canoes, ascended the Muni river, and -then paddled up the river called the Ntambounay (you -must not mind these hard names, they are not of my -choice. I must call things by the names the natives -give them).</p> - -<p>After paddling all day, towards sunset we all felt -very tired; for we had gone a long way up the river, -and reached a Shekiani village. I was quite astonished -to meet Shekiani here, but so it happened.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - -<p>I shall always remember this Shekiani village, for -I thought I should be murdered and plundered there. -After we had landed in the village, I was told at once, -that I could not go any further, for the road belonged -to them. I must pay a tribute of six shirts similar to -those I wore, three great-coats, beads, etc., etc. This -would have entirely ruined me.</p> - -<p>I could not sleep at all. Through the whole night a -crowd surrounded my hut, talking, shouting, and singing -in the greatest excitement. My guns and revolvers -were all loaded and I made up my mind not to be -killed without fighting desperately. If I was to die, -I resolved at all events to die like a brave man. All my -party were in my hut except Dayoko's two sons, who -had gone to talk with the Shekiani chief. The Shekiani -chief was a friend of Dayoko, and Dayoko's sons -told him I was their father's stranger-friend.</p> - -<p>At last, things became more quiet; and, towards -morning, the people were still or asleep.</p> - -<p>We left the hut. All was still peaceful. My men -said that Dayoko's sons had a big fetich to avert -war.</p> - -<p>I gave a present to the Shekiani chief, and off we -started. We left our large canoes and took smaller -ones; for we were to go through a very small -stream.</p> - -<p>As we ascended the beautiful river, we could see the -lofty mountains of the interior. A great many islands -studded the stream. From the trees on the banks, the -monkeys looked down at us with astonishment. What -curious creatures they were, with their black faces peeping -out through the dark foliage, and looking as if they -were making grimaces at us. By-and-by we left the -river and made our way along the creeks or through -the woods towards the Mbondemo village. Now and -then we walked freely through the wide openings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -which the elephants had made. The rushing of a herd -of elephants effects quite a clearing in the forest. On -we went, till finally we came to a place where a great -number of large trees had been prostrated. Wherever -we looked, trees were lying on the ground, many of -them of enormous size. As I looked I heard, not far -off, a tremendous crash—a most awful noise. I could -not conjecture what was the matter. It turned out -that a tree had come down; and as it fell, being a huge -one, it crushed a dozen others around it, and each as -it broke gave a great crash, so that the combined effect -was awful to hear.</p> - -<p>We had to go through these fallen trees; and what -tough work it was! I never had seen anything like it. -Now we had to climb on a fallen tree and follow its -trunk; then we had to come down, and were entangled -in its branches or in those of other trees. At other -times we had to creep under them. I was continually -afraid that my gun would be fired off by some creepers -or boughs getting hold of the trigger.</p> - -<p>At last, when my patience was entirely gone, and my -few clothes literally hanging in ribbons about me, my -legs sadly wounded, and my face and hands scratched, -we arrived at the camp of the Mbondemos, situated -almost at the foot of the mountain.</p> - -<p>These mountains were covered with an immense -forest; and so thick were the trees that no open view -could be obtained in any direction. The mountains -ended somewhere in the interior, no one knew where, -but this they knew, that it was near the home of the -Fans, a cannibal tribe, and that elephants were plentiful, -and gorillas were occasionally seen there. This -encampment of the Mbondemos was called an Olako. -There was not a house in the camp, and it was a -romantic scene to look at. Scattered under huge trees, -on the edge of the woods, were leafy shelters, opening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -towards the forest. Under these the people lived. A -few sticks put close together formed their beds. They -contrived to sleep upon them, and I did the same. I -assure you that they were hard enough, and reminded -me that a mattress was a very good thing. Every -family had its fire prepared beside the beds; and -around these fires in the evening they clustered, men, -women, and children.</p> - -<p>The chief of this Mbondemo encampment was called -Mbéné, and I liked him very much. He was very kind -to me, and always tried to furnish me with food. There -was scarcity of provisions, at the time, in the camp of -the Mbondemos. There were no plantain and cassada -fields near, and often I had to go without breakfast or -dinner. The people lived chiefly on the nuts of the -forest, and at that season of the year these were very -scarce.</p> - -<p>Poor Mbéné said they had very little to eat, but -would give me what they could. I had carried with -me a few little crackers, which I found very precious, -more precious than gold, and which I reserved for -time of sickness; but one by one they disappeared. -I looked at them every time I took one; but I -felt so hungry that I could not refrain from eating -them.</p> - -<p>Have you known what hunger is—real craving -hunger? I can assure you it is a dreadful feeling.</p> - -<p>During that time of the year, this people had half -the time nothing to eat but the nut of a kind -of palm.</p> - -<p>This nut was so bitter I could scarcely eat it. It is -shaped like an egg, with rounded ends. To prepare it -for eating, it is divested of its husk, and soaked in -water for twenty-four hours, when it loses part of its -exceedingly bitter taste, and becomes tolerably palatable, -that is, to a starving man. Sometimes hunger will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -make them eat the nut without soaking it. I have -done so myself, when lost in the forest. It is dreadfully -disagreeable.</p> - -<p>Now and then, the women succeeded in getting a few -little fish in the streams, and gave me some. I could -bear a good deal, for I had firmly resolved to go into -the cannibal country.</p> - -<p>These Mbondemos are continually moving their -villages. Mbéné has moved his village three times -within a few years. I asked him why he made these -frequent changes. He said he moved the first time -because a man had died, and the place was "not good" -after that event. The second time he was forced to -move because they had cut down all the palm trees, -and would get no more mimbo (palm wine), a beverage -of which they are excessively fond. They tap the palm, -just as the maple tree is tapped in America, only they -tap the tree at the top. This palm wine has somewhat -of a milky colour; and, when drunk in great -quantity, it intoxicates. The palm trees are very -plentiful all over this part of the country, and it seems -easier for them to move than to take care of the trees -surrounding their settlements, useful as they are to -them; for they furnish not only the wine they love, -but the bitter nut I mentioned before, which often -keeps them from actual starvation. When the tree is -cut down they get what we call the palm cabbage -which grows at the top. When cooked this palm -cabbage is very good.</p> - -<p>A country which has plenty of palm trees, plenty -of game, a good river or rivulet, and plenty of -fish, is the country for a Mbondemo settler or -squatter.</p> - -<p>In these forests there is a vine or creeper which I -might call the traveller's vine. If thirsty you may cut -it, and within less than a minute a tumblerful of water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -will come out of it. This vine hangs about in the -forest, and seemed to me to grow without leaves. What -a capital thing it would be if water were not abundant -in this country! The water procured from it has -hardly any taste, and is perfectly pure and limpid.</p> - -<p>Being unable to endure the continual hunger, I -called Mbéné, and told him that his place had no food -to give, and he must take me to a country where -there was something to eat, and which would be on -my way to the Fan country. Good Mbéné said, -"Spirit, I will try the best I can to take you where -you want to go. I will send some of my people with -you."</p> - -<p>In the meantime, Dayoko's people had all returned -to their village. These forests had no game. I spent -hour after hour scouring the forest, but I could see -nothing, except birds, some of which were extremely -pretty. I am afraid that if I had succeeded in killing -a snake I should have eaten it, as I felt desperately -hungry. I did not like the bitter nuts; so it was -agreed that Mbéné's brother Mcomo, together with -several of his people, should accompany me as far as the -country of the Fan tribe. I could hardly believe such -good news to be true.</p> - -<p>Mbéné's wife always cooked my food. She was a -dear good old woman, and I gave her a fine necklace of -beads when I left. She was delighted with my present. -They were big white porcelain beads of the size of -a pigeon's egg. One day Mbéné succeeded in getting -a fowl for me. His wife cooked it; she made soup, -and put plenty of cayenne pepper into it. I had also -some plantain. How I enjoyed this meal! the more so -that it was probably the last I should get for a good -many days, unless we were unusually lucky, and should -kill some antelopes or elephants on our road to the Fan -country.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> - -<p>Elephant meat is execrable, as you would say on -tasting it. But as you may not have the chance I will -tell you by-and-by how it tastes.</p> - -<p>As much food as possible was collected for our journey, -and at last everything was ready.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo1.png" width="200" -height="138" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Snake"><img src="images/snake.png" width="600" -height="373" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption"> -KILLING THE SNAKE.<br /> -<a href="#VII">CHAP. VII.</a> -</div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a></span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo9.png" width="600" -height="131" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<h2 id="VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS CONTINUED—A -REBELLION IN CAMP—NOTHING TO EAT—I SHOOT A -FISH AND MISS AN ELEPHANT—I KILL A BIG SNAKE, -AND THE OTHERS EAT HIM—MY FIRST SIGHT OF -GORILLAS.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Before we renewed our journey the natives -had done all they could to gather provisions; -but the result was poor enough. By going -to distant villages they had succeeded in getting -a few bunches of plantain.</p> - -<p>Mcomo, Mbéné's brother, backed out. He said he -was not going into the cannibal country to be eaten up. -But I must tell you that Mbéné had some friends -among the cannibals. And he sent with me two of -his sons called Miengai and Makinda, together with -twelve good hunters, and six women who were the -wives of some of the men. The women carried the -provisions, etc.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> - -<p>I took seventy pounds of shot and bullets, nineteen -pounds of powder, ten pounds of arsenic for preserving -the birds and animals I should kill, for I knew -I should probably succeed in getting some new -specimens.</p> - -<p>When all was arranged, when everybody had taken -leave of all his friends, for this was a very great -journey, and they came back half-a-dozen times to take -leave over again, or say something they had forgotten, -when all the shouting and quarrelling about who -should carry the smallest load was over, we at last got -away.</p> - -<p>We had left the camp of Mbéné behind us at a -distance of about five miles when we came to the banks -of a little river called the Noonday, a clear and beautiful -stream. I was ahead of the party with Miengai, and -was waiting for the others to come up before crossing. -As we stood on the banks I spied a fish swimming -along. Immediately the thought came into my mind, -"How nicely that fish would taste if I could get it -and boil it in a pot over the fire!" I fired a charge -of small shot into it; but no sooner had I pulled the -trigger than I heard a tremendous crash on the -opposite bank about six or seven yards off. Small -trees were torn down violently, and then we heard the -shrill trumpetings of a party of frightened elephants. -They were probably sleeping or standing in a dead -silence on the opposite bank in the jungle. I was sorry -I had fired, for after crossing the stream we might have -killed an elephant. Poor Miengai was terribly vexed. -"I am sure," said he, "they had big tusks of -ivory."</p> - -<p>Our party, as soon as they heard the gun, came -up in haste, and asked what was the matter. When -they heard the story they began to lament our not -killing an elephant; for then we should have had meat -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -enough for the whole journey; and they shouted -with one accord: "Elephant meat is so good!"</p> - -<p>This exclamation made me wonder how an elephant -steak would taste.</p> - -<p>On we went, and got fairly into the mountainous -country. The hills became steeper as we advanced. -How tired I felt; for the diet at Mbéné's camp had -not strengthened me. These Mbondemos had a great -advantage over me. They used their bare feet almost -as deftly as monkeys, and hence got their foothold -more easily than I.</p> - -<p>Miengai and I were in advance. All at once he -made me a sign to keep very still. I thought he had -discovered a herd of elephants, or seen the traces of an -enormous leopard. He cocked his gun; I cocked -mine; the other men did the same; and there we -stood in perfect silence, for at least five minutes. -Suddenly Miengai sent a "hurrah" echoing through -the forest. It was immediately answered by shouts -from many voices not very far off, but whose owners -were hidden from us by huge rocks and trees. -Miengai replied with the fierce shout of the Mbondemo -warriors, and was again answered. Thinking we were -going to have a general fight, I looked carefully after -my powder flask and my bullets, and found they were -all right. Going a little farther on, we came in sight -of the encampment of a large party, who proved to be -some of Mbéné's people just returning from a trading -expedition to the interior. Two men of this camp -offered to go with us. Their names were Ngolai and -Yeava. We consented to take them.</p> - -<p>What a journey it was! Nothing but thick woods to -struggle through, hills to climb, rivers to cross, and -nearly all the time it rained; in fact, I was wet from -morning to night. How glad I was when, in the -evening, we had made our camp, and built great fires!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -For my part, I had three fires lit about my bed of -leaves; and in the evening I always hung up my -clothes to dry, so as to have them ready for the next -day.</p> - -<p>One morning my men came to tell me they were -tired, and would not go a step farther unless I gave -them more cloth.</p> - -<p>They seemed in earnest; and I began to question -myself whether they meant to plunder me or to -leave me in these mountains. To be left thus alone -would have been almost certain death. To give them -what they asked was to show them I was afraid of -them. If they knew I was afraid of them I did not -know what they might next do. So I determined to -put on a bold front. Taking my two revolvers in my -hand, I said: "I will not give you any more cloth. -I will not let you leave me, because your father -Mbéné has given you to me to accompany me to the Fan -tribe. You must therefore go with me, or" (here I -motioned with my pistols) "there will be war between -us. But," said I, "this is a very hard road, and at -the end of the journey I will give you something -more."</p> - -<p>This satisfied them, and we again resumed our -journey. Up, and up, and up we struggled, and now we -began to meet with immense boulders. Not the scream -of a bird, or the shrill cry of a monkey, broke the -stillness of the dark solitude. Nothing was heard but -the panting breaths of our party as we ascended the -hills.</p> - -<p>At last we came to an immense mountain torrent, -which rushed down the hillside with fearful force, and -was white with foam. Its course was full of huge -granite boulders, which lay about as though the Titans -had been playing at skittles in that country. Against -these the angry waters dashed as if they would carry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -all before them, and, breaking, threw the milky spray -up to the very tree-tops. As I looked up the torrent -seemed to pour its foaming waters directly down upon -us.</p> - -<p>This was the head of the Ntambounay river which -I had ascended in a canoe, and on the banks of which I -came near being murdered in the Shekiani village. -What a change had taken place in it! Here a canoe -would be dashed into a hundred pieces against the -rocks.</p> - -<p>I was so thirsty and tired that I went to the river's -bank, and drank a few handfuls of the pure, clean cold -water.</p> - -<p>After resting a little while, we continued our course -till we reached the top of a very high mountain, -whence I could see all the country round. How wild -and desolate it looked! Nothing but forest and mountains -stretching away as far as the eye could reach.</p> - -<p>I was sitting under a very large tree, when, -suddenly looking up, I saw an immense serpent coiled -upon the branch of a tree just above me; and I really -could not tell whether he was not about to spring upon -me and entangle me in his huge folds. You may well -believe that I very quickly "stood from under." -I rushed out, and taking good aim with my gun, I shot -my black friend in the head. He let go his hold, -tumbled down with great force, and after writhing convulsively -for a time, he lay before me dead. He -measured thirteen feet in length, and his ugly fangs -proved that he was venomous.</p> - -<p>My men cut off the head of the snake, and divided -the body into as many pieces as there were people. -Then they lighted a fire, and roasted and ate it on -the spot. They offered me a piece; but, though very -hungry, I declined. When the snake was eaten I was -the only individual of the company that had an empty -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -stomach; I could not help reflecting on the disadvantage -it is sometimes to have been born and -bred in a civilized country, where snakes are not -accounted good eating.</p> - -<p>We now began to look about the ruins of the village -near which we sat. A degenerate kind of sugar-cane -was growing on the very spot where the houses had -formerly stood. I made haste to pluck some of this, -and chew it for the little sweetness it had. While -thus engaged my men perceived what instantly threw -us all into the greatest excitement. Here and there -the cane was beaten down or torn up by the roots; -and, lying about, were fragments which had evidently -been chewed. There were also footprints to be seen, -which looked almost like those of human beings. -What could this mean? My men looked at each -other in silence, and muttered, "Nguyla!" (Gorillas!).</p> - -<p>It was the first time I had seen the footprints -of these wild men of the woods, and I cannot tell you -how I felt. Here was I now, it seemed, on the point -of meeting, face to face, that monster, of whose -ferocity, strength, and cunning the natives had told -me so much, and which no white man before had -hunted. My heart beat till I feared its loud pulsations -would alarm the gorilla. I wondered how they looked. -I thought of what Hanno the Carthaginian navigator -said about the wild hairy men he had met on the West -Coast of Africa more than two thousand years ago.</p> - -<p>By the tracks it was easy to know that there must -have been several gorillas in company. We prepared -at once to follow them.</p> - -<p>The women were terrified. They thought their end -had come—that the gorilla would be soon upon them. -So, before starting in search of the monster, we left -two or three men to take care of them and reassure -them. Then the rest of us looked once more carefully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -at our guns; for the gorilla gives you no time to -reload, and woe to him whom he attacks! We were -fortunately armed to the teeth.</p> - -<p>My men were remarkably silent, for they were going -on an expedition of more than usual risk; for the male -gorilla is literally the king of the forest—the king of -the equatorial regions. He and the crested lion of -Mount Atlas are the two fiercest and strongest beasts -of that continent. The lion of South Africa cannot be -compared with either for strength or courage.</p> - -<p>As we left the camp, the men and women left -behind crowded together, with fear written on their -faces. Miengai, Ngolai, and Makinda set out for the -hunt in one party; myself and Yeava formed another. -We determined to keep near each other; so that in -case of trouble, or in a great emergency, we might be at -hand to help one another. For the rest, silence and a -sure aim were the only cautions to be given.</p> - -<p>As we followed the footprints, we could easily see -that there were four or five of them, though none -appeared very large. We saw where the gorillas had -run along on all fours, which is their usual mode of -progression. We could perceive also where, from time -to time, they had seated themselves to chew the canes -they had borne off. The chase began to be very -exciting.</p> - -<p>We had agreed to return to the women and their -guards and consult about what was to be done, after we -had discovered the probable course of the gorilla; and -this was now done. To make sure of not alarming our -prey, we moved the whole party forward a little way, -to some leafy huts, built by passing traders, and which -served us for shelter and concealment. Here we -bestowed the women, whose lively fear of the terrible -gorilla arises from various stories current among the -tribes, of women having been carried off into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -woods by the fierce animal. Then we prepared once -more to set out on our chase, this time hopeful to get -a shot.</p> - -<p>Looking once more to our guns, we started off. I -confess that I was never more excited in my life. For -years I had heard of the terrible roar of the gorilla, of -its vast strength, of its fierce courage when only -wounded. I knew that we were about to pit ourselves -against an animal which even the enormously large -leopards of the mountains fear, which the elephants -let alone, and which perhaps has driven away the lion -out of this territory; for the "king of beasts," so -numerous elsewhere in Africa, is not met with in the -land of the gorilla.</p> - -<p>We descended a hill, crossed a stream on a fallen -log, crept under the trees, and presently approached -some huge boulders of granite. In the stream we had -crossed we could see plainly signs that the animals had -just crossed it, for the water was still disturbed. Our -eyes wandered everywhere to get a glimpse of our -prey. Alongside of the granite blocks lay an immense -dead tree, and about this the gorillas were likely to be.</p> - -<p>Our approach was very cautious; I wish you could -have seen us. We were divided into two parties. -Makinda led one, and I the other. We were to surround -the granite block, behind which Makinda -supposed the gorillas to be hiding. With guns cocked -and ready we advanced through the dense wood, which -cast a gloom, even in midday, over the whole scene. -I looked at my men, and saw that they were even -more excited than myself.</p> - -<p>Slowly we pressed on through the dense bush, dreading -almost to breathe, for fear of alarming the beasts. -Makinda was to go to the right of the rock, while I -took the left. Unfortunately he and his party circled -it at too great a distance. The watchful animals saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -him. Suddenly I was startled by a strange, discordant, -half human, devilish cry, and beheld four -young and half-grown gorillas running towards the -deep forest. I was not ready. We fired, but hit -nothing. Then we rushed on in pursuit; but they -knew the woods better than we. Once I caught a -glimpse of one of the animals again; but an intervening -tree spoiled my mark, and I did not fire. We -pursued them till we were exhausted, but in vain. -The alert beasts made good their escape. When we -could pursue no more we returned slowly to our camp, -where the women were anxiously expecting us.</p> - -<p>I protest I felt almost like a murderer when I saw the -gorilla this first time. As they ran on their hind legs, -with their heads down, their bodies inclined forward, -their whole appearance was that of hairy men running -for their lives. Add to all this their cry, so awful, -yet with something human in its discordance, and you -will cease to wonder that the natives have the wildest -superstitions about these "wild men of the woods."</p> - -<p>In our absence the women had made large fires, and -prepared the camp. I changed my clothes, which had -become drenched by the frequent torrents and puddles -we ran through in our eager pursuit. Then we sat -down to our supper, which had been cooked in the -meantime. I noticed that all my plantains were gone—eaten -up. What was to become of us in the great -forest? I had only two or three biscuits, which I kept -in case of actual starvation or sickness.</p> - -<p>As we lay by the fire in the evening before -going to sleep, the adventure of the day was talked -over to those who had not gone with us; and, of -course, there followed some curious stories of the -gorillas. I listened in silence.</p> - -<p>One of the men told a story of two Mbondemo -women who were walking together through the woods, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -when suddenly an immense gorilla stepped into the -path, and, clutching one of the women, bore her off -in spite of the screams and struggles of both. The -other woman returned to the village much frightened, -and told the story. Of course her companion was -given up for lost. Great was the surprise when, a few -days afterwards, she returned to her home.</p> - -<p>"Yes," said one of the men, "that was a gorilla -inhabited by a spirit." This explanation was received -by a general grunt of approval.</p> - -<p>One of the men told how, some years ago, a party -of gorillas were found in a cane-field tying up the -sugar-cane in regular bundles, preparatory to carrying -it away. The natives attacked them, but were routed, -and several killed, while others were carried off -prisoners by the gorillas; but in a few days they -returned home, not uninjured indeed, for the nails of -their fingers and toes had been torn off by their captors.</p> - -<p>Then several people spoke up, and mentioned names -of dead men whose spirits were known to be dwelling -in gorillas.</p> - -<p>Finally came the story that is current among all the -tribes who are acquainted with the habits of the -gorilla, that this animal will hide himself in the lower -branches of a tree, and there lie in wait for people who -go to and fro. When one passes sufficiently near, the -gorilla grasps the luckless fellow with his powerful feet, -which he uses like giants' hands, and, drawing the man -up in to the tree, he quietly chokes him there.</p> - -<p>Hunger and starvation began to tell upon us -severely. When we started I did not calculate on -meeting with gorillas. I had eaten all my sea bread. -There was not a particle of food among us, and no -settlement near us. I began to feel anxious for fear -that we should die. Berries were scarce; and nuts were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -hardly to be found. The forest seemed deserted. -There was not even a bird to kill. To make matters -worse, we had been misled. We were lost—lost in the -great forest!—and we failed to reach a certain settlement -where we had expected to arrive.</p> - -<p>Travelling on an empty stomach is too exhausting to -be very long endured. The third day I awoke feeble, -but found that one of the men had killed a monkey. -This animal, roughly roasted on the coals, tasted -delicious. How I wished we had ten monkeys to eat! -but how glad and grateful we were for that single one.</p> - -<p>Presently, Makinda, looking up, discovered a beehive. -He smoked the bees out, and I divided the honey. -There might have been a fight over this sweet booty -had I not interposed and distributed it in equal shares. -Serving myself with a portion not bigger than I gave -the rest, I at once sat down, and devoured honey, -wax, dead bees, worms, dirt, and all; I was so hungry. -I was only sorry we had not more.</p> - -<p>I had really a hard time getting through the old -elephant tracks, which were the best roads through -the jungle. The men seemed to have lost their way. -We saw no animals, but found several gorillas' tracks.</p> - -<p>At last my men began to talk more cheerfully; they -knew where they were: and, soon after, I saw the -broad leaves of the plantain, the forerunner of an -African town. But, alas! as we approached, we saw no -one coming to meet us; and when we reached the place -we found only a deserted village. But even for this how -thankful I was! Since I left Dayoko I had experienced -nothing but hunger and starvation; and these were -the first human habitations we had met.</p> - -<p>Presently, however, some Mbicho people made their -appearance. They were relatives of Mbéné, and their -village was close by. They gave us some plantains, -but no fowls. I wished very much to get a fowl. I felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -gouamba (which means hunger) for meat, and knew -that a good warm fowl broth would have done me a -great deal of good. We spent the evening in the -houses, drying and warming ourselves. It was much -better than the forest, even if it was only a deserted -town.</p> - -<p>I asked if we should ever reach the cannibal country, -and found that, with the exception of the Mbicho -village near at hand, we were already surrounded on -three sides by Fan villages.</p> - -<p>I was too tired to rest. Besides, I was getting deep -into the interior of Africa, and was in the neighbourhood -of the Fans, the most warlike tribe that inhabited -the country. So I barricaded my hut, got my -ammunition ready, saw that my guns were all right, -and then lay awake for a long time, before I could go -to sleep.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo10.png" width="200" -height="117" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Glass"><img src="images/glass.png" width="550" -height="436" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">KING ASTONISHED AT LOOKING-GLASS.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">I ARRIVE AMONG THE CANNIBALS—THEIR SPEARS, BOWS, -AND BATTLE-AXES—THEY TAKE ME FOR A SPIRIT—THEIR -KING SHAKES WHEN HE SEES ME—I GIVE HIM A -LOOKING-GLASS—IT ASTONISHES HIM.</p> - - -<p class="p2">We were, at last, near the Fan country. We -had passed the last Mbichos village, and -were on our way to the villages of the -<i>man-eaters</i>.</p> - -<p>I remember well the first Fan village I approached. -It stood on the summit of a high hill in the mountains. -All its inhabitants were very much excited when they -perceived we were coming towards it, through the -plantation path; for the trees around the hill had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -cut down. The men were armed to the teeth, as we -entered the village, and I knew not whether hundreds -of spears and poisoned arrows might not be thrown at -me, and I be killed on the spot. What dreadful spears -those cannibals had; they were all barbed. Each -man had several in his hand; and, besides, had a shield -made of elephant's hide, to protect himself with. -Others were armed with huge knives, and horrible-looking -battle-axes, or with bows and poisoned arrows.</p> - -<p>Wild shouts of astonishment, which, for all I knew, -were war-shouts, greeted me as I entered the village. -I must own that I felt not quite at my ease. How -wild and fierce these men looked! They were most -scantily dressed. When they shouted, they showed -their teeth, which were filed to a point, and coloured -black. Their open mouths put me uncomfortably in -mind of a tomb; for how many human creatures each -of these men had eaten!</p> - -<p>How ugly the women looked! They were all -tattooed, and nearly naked. They fled with their -children into their houses, as I passed through the -street, in which I saw, here and there, human bones -lying about. Yes, human bones from bodies that had -been devoured by them! Such are my recollections -of my first entrance into a village of cannibals.</p> - -<p>The village was strongly fenced, or palisaded; and -on the poles were several skulls of human beings and -of gorillas. There was but a single street, about two-thirds -of a mile long. On each side of this were low -huts, made of the bark of trees.</p> - -<p>I had hardly entered the village when I perceived -some bloody remains, which appeared to me to be -human. Presently we passed a woman who was -running as fast as she could towards her hut. She -bore in her hand a piece of a human thigh, just as we -should go to market and carry thence a joint or steak.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> - -<p>This was a very large village. At last we arrived at -the palaver house. Here I was left alone with Mbéné -for a little while. There was great shouting going on -at a little distance, at the back of some houses. One -of them said they had been busy dividing the body of -a dead man, and that there was not enough for all.</p> - -<p>They flocked in presently, and soon I was surrounded -by an immense crowd. Not far from me was a -ferocious-looking fellow. On one arm he supported a -very large shield, made of an elephant's hide, and of the -thickest part of the skin, while in his other hand he -held a prodigious war-knife, which he could have -slashed through a man in a jiffy.</p> - -<p>Some in the crowd were armed with cross-bows, from -which were shot either iron-headed arrows, or the -little, insignificant-looking, but really most deadly -darts, tipped with poison. These are made of slender, -harmless reeds, a foot long, whose sharpened ends are -dipped in a deadly vegetable poison, which these people -know how to make. These poisoned darts are so light -that they would blow away, if simply laid in the -groove of the bow. Hence they use a kind of sticky -gum to hold them.</p> - -<p>The handle of the bow is ingeniously split; and, by -a little peg, that acts as a trigger, the bow-string is -disengaged. The bow is very stiff and strong, and -sends the arrow to a great distance. As you see by the -representation of a Fan bowman, they have to sit -down and apply both feet to the middle of the bow, -while they pull with all their strength on the string to -bend it back.</p> - -<p>These little poisoned arrows are much dreaded by -them, and are very carefully kept in little bags, which -are made of the skin of wild animals.</p> - -<p>Some bore on their shoulders the terrible war-axe. -A single blow of this axe suffices to split a human<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -skull. I saw that some of these axes, as well as their -spears and other ironwork, were beautifully ornamented.</p> - -<p>The war-knife, which hangs by their side, is a terrible -weapon. It is used in hand-to-hand conflict, and -is designed to be thrust through the enemy's body. -There was also another sort of huge knife used by -some of the men in the crowd before me. It was a -foot long, about eight inches wide, and is used to cut -through the shoulders of an adversary. It must do -tremendous execution.</p> - -<p>A few of the men had also a very singular pointed axe, -which is thrown from a distance. When thrown, it strikes -with the point down, and inflicts a terrible wound. -They handle it with great dexterity. The object aimed -at with this axe is the head. The point penetrates to -the brain, and kills the victim immediately.</p> - -<p>The spears were six or seven feet long, and are -ingeniously adapted to inflict terrible wounds. They -are thrown with an accuracy and a force which never -ceased to astonish me. The long, slender staff fairly -whistles through the air; and woe to the man who is -within twenty or thirty yards of their reach.</p> - -<p>Most of the knives and axes were ingeniously -sheathed in covers made of snake or antelope skins, -or of human skin. These sheaths were slung round -the shoulder or neck by cords, which permit the -weapon to hang at the side, out of the wearer's way.</p> - -<p>These Fan warriors had no armour. Their only -weapon of defence is the huge shield of elephant hide, -of which I spoke to you. It is three and a half feet -long, by two and a half feet wide.</p> - -<p>Besides their weapons, many of the men wore a -small knife, as a table-knife, or jack-knife.</p> - -<p>From this description of the men by whom I was -surrounded, you may judge with what amazement I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -looked around me, with my guns in my hands. It -was a grand sight to see such a number of stalwart, -martial, fierce-looking fellows, fully armed, and ready -for any desperate fray, gathered together.</p> - -<p>Finer-looking savages I never saw; and I could -easily believe them to be brave; and the completeness -of their war-like equipments proved that fighting is a -favourite pastime with them. No wonder they are -dreaded by all their neighbours!</p> - -<p>Here was I, at this time only a lad, alone in the -midst of them.</p> - -<p>Presently came the king, a ferocious-looking fellow. -His body was naked. His skin in front was painted -red, and his chest, stomach, and back were tattooed in -a rude but effective manner. He was covered with -charms, and he wore round his neck a necklace made -with leopard's teeth. He was fully armed. Most of -the Fans wore queues; but the queue of Ndiayai, the -king, was the biggest of all, and terminated in two -tails, in which were strung brass rings. His beard was -plaited in several plaits, which contained white beads. -His teeth were filed sharp to a point. He looked like a -perfect glutton of human flesh.</p> - -<p>I looked around me in a cool, impassive manner. -Ndiayai, the king, fairly shook at the sight of me. -He had refused to come and see me, at first, from a -belief that he would die in three days after setting eyes -on me. But Mbéné had persuaded him to come. Ndiayai -was accompanied by the queen, the ugliest woman I -ever saw, and very old. She was called Mashumba. -She was nearly naked, her only covering being a strip -of cloth about four inches wide, made of the soft bark -of a tree, and dyed red. Her body was tattooed in -the most fanciful manner; her skin, from long exposure, -had become rough and knotty. She wore two -enormous iron anklets, and had, in her ears, a pair of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -copper rings, two inches in diameter. I could easily -put my little fingers in the holes through which the -earrings passed.</p> - -<p>The people looked at me, wondered at my hair, but -never ceased to look at my feet. "Look at the strange -being," said they to each other, "his feet are not of -the colour of his face, and he has no toes!"</p> - -<p>Finally, the king said to Mbéné that, when surrounded -by his people, he was not afraid of anybody.</p> - -<p>I could well believe him. When fighting they must -look perfect devils.</p> - -<p>When night came I entered my house, and looked -about to see how I could barricade myself for the -night; for I did not fancy putting myself entirely at -the mercy of these savage Fans. Their weapons had -been sufficient to show me that they were men who -were not afraid to fight. I told Mbéné to send for -Ndiayai. The king came, and I presented him a large -bunch of white beads, a looking-glass, a file, fire-steels, -and some gun-flints. His countenance beamed with -joy. I never saw such astonishment as he exhibited -when I held the looking-glass before his face. At first -he did not know what to make of it, and did not want -to take the glass, till Mbéné told him that he had one. -He put his tongue out, and he saw it reflected in the -looking-glass. Then he shut one eye, and made faces; -then he showed his hands before the looking-glass—one -finger—two fingers—three fingers. He became -speechless, and with all I had given him, he went away -as "happy as a king"; and "every inch a (savage) -king" he was.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards, Mashumba, the queen, thinking -that probably I had something for her, also came and -brought me a basketful of plantains. They were -cooked. At once the idea rushed into my mind, that -perhaps the very same pot that cooked the plantains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -had cooked a Fan's head in the morning; and I began to -have a horrible loathing of the flesh-pots of these people. -I would not have cooked in their pots for the world.</p> - -<p>A little after dark, all became silent in the village. -I barred my little bit of a door as well as I could with -my chest, and, lying down on that dreadful Fan bed, -I placed my gun by my side, and tried hard, but in -vain, to go to sleep. I wondered how many times -human flesh had entered the hut I was in. I thought -of all I had seen during the day, which I have related -to you. The faces of those terrible warriors, and the -implements of war, were before my eyes though it was -pitch dark.</p> - -<p>Was I afraid? Certainly not. What feeling was it -that excited me? I cannot tell you. It was certainly -not fear; for if anyone the next day had offered to -take me back where I came from, I should have declined -the offer. Probably I was agitated by the novel -and horrible sights that had greeted my eyes, and -which exceeded all my previous conceptions of Africa. -Now and then I thought that as these men not only -killed people, but ate them also, they might perhaps -be curious to try how I tasted.</p> - -<p>Hour after hour passed, and I could not get to sleep. -I said my bed was a dreadfully bad one. It was a -frame composed of half a dozen large round bamboos. -I might as well have tried to sleep on a pile of cannonballs. -Finally, I succeeded in going to sleep, holding -my gun tightly under my arm.</p> - -<p>When I got up in the morning, and went out at the -back of the house, I saw a pile of ribs, leg and arm -bones, and skulls, piled together. The cannibals must -have had a grand fight, not long before, and devoured -all their prisoners of war.</p> - -<p>In what was I to wash my face? I resolved at last -not to wash at all.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a> -<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a></span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Elephant1"><img src="images/ele1.png" width="550" -height="419" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">ENTRAPPING THE ELEPHANT.</div></div> - -<h2 id="IX">CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">AN ELEPHANT HUNT.</p> - - -<p class="p2">After a few days the Fans began to get -accustomed to me, and I to them; and we were -the best friends in the world.</p> - -<p>They are great hunters. One day a woman -returning from the plantations brought news, that she -had seen elephants; and that one of the plantain fields -had been entirely destroyed by them. This was an -event of common occurrence in the country; for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -elephants are not very particular, and whatever they -like they take; not caring a bit how much hunger -they may occasion among the poor natives.</p> - -<p>When the news arrived, a wild shout of joy spread -among the villagers. The grim faces of the Fans smiled; -and in doing so, showed their ugly filed teeth. "We are -going to kill elephants," they all shouted. "We are -going to have plenty of meat to eat," shrieked the -women.</p> - -<p>So in the evening a war-dance took place; a war-dance -of cannibals! It was the wildest scene I ever -saw. It was pitch-dark; and the torches threw a dim -light around us, and showed the fantastic forms of -these wild men. Really it was a wild scene. They -were all armed as if they were going to war. How they -gesticulated! What contortions they made! What -a tumult they raised! How their wild shouts echoed -from hill to hill, and died away in the far distance! -They looked like demons. Their skins were painted of -different colours; and, as the dancing went on, their -bodies became warm, and shone as if they had been -dipped in oil.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a deafening shout of the whole assemblage -seemed to shake the earth. Their greatest warrior -(Leopard) came to dance. Leopard was, it appears, the -bravest of them all. He had killed more people in war -than anybody else. He had given more human food -to his fellow-townsmen than many other warriors put -together. Hence they all admired and praised him; -and a song describing his feats of arms was sung by -those who surrounded him. How ferocious he looked! -He was armed to the teeth. He had a spear like one -of those I have already described. A long knife hung -by its side, and the hand that held the shield carried a -battle-axe also. In dancing, he acted at times as if he -were defending himself against an attack; at other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -times, as if he were himself attacking somebody. Once -or twice I really thought he meant to throw his -spear at someone. I could hardly breathe while -looking at him. He appeared actually to be a demon. -Finally he stopped from sheer exhaustion, and others -took his place.</p> - -<p>The next day the men furbished up their arms. -I myself cleaned my guns, and got ready for the -chase; so that, if I could get a chance, I might send a -bullet through an elephant.</p> - -<p>The war-dish was cooked. It is a mixture of herbs, -and is supposed to inspire people with courage. They -rubbed their bodies with it, and then we started. -There were about five hundred men. After leaving -the village we divided into several parties. Each party -was well acquainted with the forest, and knew just -where to go. The march was conducted in perfect -silence, so that we might not alarm the elephants. -After proceeding six hours we arrived not far from the -hunting-ground where the elephants were supposed to -be. The Fans built shelters, and these were hardly -finished when it began to rain very hard.</p> - -<p>The next day some Fans went out to explore the -woods, and I joined the party. The fallen trees, the -broken-down limbs, the heavy footprints, and the -trampled underbrush, showed plainly that there had -been many elephants about. There were no regular -walks, and they had strayed at random in the forest.</p> - -<p>When the elephants are pleased with a certain -neighbourhood, they remain there a few days. When -they have eaten all the food they like, and nothing -remains, they go on to some other place.</p> - -<p>The forest here, as everywhere else, was full of -rough, strong, climbing plants, many of which reach to -the top of the tallest trees. They are of every size; -some bigger than a man's thigh, while many are as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -large as the ropes of which the rigging of a ship is -made. These creepers the natives twist together; and, -after working very hard, they succeed in constructing -a huge fence, or obstruction. Of course, it is not -sufficient to hold the elephant; but when he gets -entangled in its meshes, it is strong enough to check -him in his flight, till the hunters can have time to kill -him. When an elephant is once caught, they surround -the huge beast, and put an end to his struggles by -incessant discharges of their spears and guns.</p> - -<p>While the others worked, I explored the forest. Seeing -that the men were careful in avoiding a certain -place, I looked down on the ground, and saw nothing. -Then, looking up, I saw an immense piece of wood -suspended by the wild creepers, high in the air; and, -fixed in it at intervals, I saw several large, heavy, -sharp pointed pieces of iron pointing downwards. The -rope that holds up this contrivance is so arranged that -the elephant cannot help touching it, if he passes -underneath. Then the <i>hanou</i> (such is the name given -to the trap) is loosened, it falls with a tremendous force -on his back; the iron points pierce his body, and -the piece of wood, in falling, generally breaks his -spine.</p> - -<p>I also saw in different places, large, deep ditches, -intended as pitfalls for the elephant. When he runs -away, or roams around at night, he often falls into these -pits, and that is the end of him; for, in falling, he -generally breaks his legs. Sometimes, when the -natives go and visit the pit they have made, they find -nothing but the bones of the elephant and his ivory -tusks.</p> - -<p>The fence that the natives had made must have been -several miles long, and in many places was several rows -deep; and now there were elephant pits beside, and the -<i>hanous</i>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>We were, you must remember, in a mountainous -country; and I could scarcely believe my eyes when I -saw plainly the footprints of this animal where I -myself had to hold to the creepers to be able to -ascend.</p> - -<p>When everything was ready, part of the men went -silently and hid themselves upon the limbs or besides -the trunks of trees near the barrier or "tangle." -Others of us took a circuitous route in an opposite -direction from that in which we had come. After we -had got miles away from the "tangle," we formed a -chain as long in extent as the fence, and moved forward, -forming a semi-circle, with the men ten or twenty -yards apart from each other.</p> - -<p>Presently, all along the line the hunting horns were -sounded, wild shouts were sent up, and, making all the -noise they could, the Fans advanced in the direction of -the "tangle." The elephants were entrapped. Hearing -the noise, of course they moved away from us, -breaking down everything before them in their flight. If -they tried to go to the right, they heard the same wild -shouts; if they tried to go to the left, they heard the -same. There was no other way for them to go but -straight ahead; and there, though they did not know -it, were the tangle, the pits, and the <i>hanous</i>. They -were going to surer death than if they had tried to -break our lines; for then most, if not all of them, would -have escaped. We were too far from each other to -hinder them.</p> - -<p>Onward we pressed, the circle of those giving chase -becoming smaller and smaller, and the crashing of the -underbrush more distinct, as we approached the -elephants in their flight. The men's countenances -became excited. They got their spears in readiness; -and soon we came in sight of the tangles. What an -extraordinary sight lay before me; I could distinguish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -one elephant, enraged, terrified, tearing at everything -with his trunk and feet, but all in vain! The tough -creepers of the barrier in no instance gave way before -him. Spear after spear was thrown at him. The Fans -were everywhere, especially up on the trees, where they -were out of the reach of the elephant. The huge animal -began to look like a gigantic porcupine, he was stuck -so full of spears. Poor infuriated beast! I thought he -was crazy. Every spear that wounded him made him -more furious! But his struggles were in vain. He -had just dropped down when I came close to him; and -to end his sufferings, I shot him through the ear. After -a few convulsions of limb all became quiet. He was -dead.</p> - -<p>Some of the elephants had succeeded in going -through the tangle, and were beyond reach.</p> - -<p>Four elephants had been slain; and I was told that a -man had been killed by one of the elephants, which -turned round and charged his assailants. This man -did not move off in time, and was trampled under foot -by the monstrous beast. Fortunately, the elephant -got entangled; and, in an instant, he was covered with -spears, and terribly wounded. After much loss of -blood he dropped down lifeless.</p> - -<p>I am sure you will agree with me, after the description -I have given of a Fan elephant hunt, that the -men of this tribe are gifted with remarkable courage -and presence of mind.</p> - -<p>They have certain rules for hunting the elephant. -These tell you never to approach an elephant, except -from behind; he cannot turn very fast, and you have, -therefore, time to make your escape. He generally -rushes blindly forward. Great care must also be taken -that the strong creepers, which are so fatal to the -elephant, do not also catch and entangle the hunters -themselves. A man lying in wait to spear an elephant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -should always choose a stout tree, in order that the -infuriated beast, should he charge at it, may not uproot -it.</p> - -<p>The next day, there was a dance round the elephant, -while the fetich-man cut a piece from one of the hind -legs. This was intended for their idol. The meat was -cooked in presence of the fetich-man, and of those who -had speared the elephant. As soon as all the meat had -been cooked they danced round it; and a piece was -sent into the woods for the spirit to feed upon, if he -liked. The next day, the meat was all cut up in small -pieces, then hung up and smoked.</p> - -<p>The cooking and smoking lasted three days, and I -can assure you it is the toughest meat I ever tasted. -Of course, like the Fans, I had no other food; and for -three days I ate nothing but elephant meat. I wish -I could give you a notion how it tastes; but really I -do not know what to compare it with. Beef, mutton, -lamb, pork, venison, make not the slightest approach -to a resemblance: and as for poultry, such a comparison -would be positively aggravating!</p> - -<p>The proboscis being one of the favourite morsels, a -large piece of it was given to me. The foot is another -part reputed to be a great dainty, and two feet were -sent me, together with a large piece of the leg for a -roast.</p> - -<p>But the meat was so tough that I had to boil it for -twelve hours; and then I believe it was as tough as -ever; it seemed to be full of gristle. So, the next day, -I boiled it again for twelve hours; all my trouble, -however, was unavailing, for it was still hopelessly -tough! I may say, that the more I ate of elephant -meat the more I got to dislike it. I do not think -I shall ever hanker after elephant steak as long as -I live. I wonder if you boys would like it? I wish I -had some, and could induce you to taste of it. I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -inclined to think you would agree with me, and never -desire to renew your acquaintance with it.</p> - -<p>How glad I was when I returned to Ndiayai village; -and no wonder, for we had rain every day in the woods. -As for the poor man who had been killed by the -elephant, his body was sent to another clan to be -devoured; for the cannibals do not eat their own -people.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo8.png" width="175" -height="120" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Work"><img src="images/work.png" width="550" -height="418" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">FAN BLACKSMITHS AT WORK.</div></div> - -<h2 id="X">CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">LIFE AMONG THE CANNIBALS—CURIOUS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS—COOKING -UTENSILS—A BLACKSMITH'S BELLOWS -AND ANVIL—CANNIBAL DIET.</p> - - -<p class="p2">After we reached Ndiayai, I went back to -my little hut, and found everything I had left -there. I had hidden my powder and shot in -different places, and had dug holes in which to hide -my beads.</p> - -<p>The news had spread among the surrounding -cannibal villages that the spirit, as they called me, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -still in the village of Ndiayai, and the people flocked -to see me. Among those who came to see me, was a -chief of the name of Oloko. He gave me the long war -knife, of which you have seen a drawing, and explained -to me how it had several times gone right through a -man.</p> - -<p>Mbéné went away for a while, and left me entirely -alone with these cannibals. During his absence I -studied the habits of these strange people; and you -may be sure that wherever I went I kept my eyes wide -open.</p> - -<p>By the way, I see I have omitted to give a description -of the town of King Ndiayai. It was a very large -town, composed of a single street. When I say a large -town, I do not mean, of course, that it could bear any -comparison as to size with London, Paris, or New York. -I mean that it was a large town for this part of Africa. -It contained five or six hundred men. The houses -were quite small, and were all made of the bark of -trees; none of them had windows. They were nearly -all of the same size.</p> - -<p>Strange to say, these Fans seemed to be very fond -of music, and very funny instruments they make use -of. To hear some of their music would make you laugh. -They have not the slightest idea of what we consider -harmony in sound; but they evidently have a great -liking for music after their own notion. It is very -much the same with their dancing. They have not the -slightest idea of the dances in use with us, such as -waltzes, galops, polkas, or quadrilles; and I am sure -if they were to see us dancing in our fashion, they -would laugh quite as much as you would laugh if you -could see them capering in their uncouth style.</p> - -<p>Like all the savage tribes of Africans, they are very -fond of the tom-tom, or drum. Those drums are of -different sizes, but many are from four to six feet in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -length, and about ten inches in diameter at one end, -but only six or seven at the other. The wood is -hollowed out quite thin, and skins of animals are -stretched tightly over the ends. The drummer holds -the tom-tom slantingly between his legs; and, with -two sticks, he beats furiously upon the larger end of -the drum, which is held uppermost. Sometimes they -beat upon it with their hands. The people form a -circle round the tom-tom, and dance and sing, keeping -time with it. They often invited me to hear them.</p> - -<p>But now I am going to speak to you of a far more -curious instrument. It is called by these cannibals -the handja; and I never saw it except among their -tribes.</p> - -<p>Ndiayai was very fond of hearing the handja, and I -often went to his shed to hear someone play upon it. -Sometimes, on these occasions, Ndiayai would come -out surrounded by Queen Mashumba and some of his -other wives, and listen for an hour or two to the music -of the handja.</p> - -<p>I give you a representation of the handja (<i>see</i> p. 78), -so you will understand better when I describe it to -you.</p> - -<p>It consists of a light reed frame, about three feet -long, and eighteen inches wide, in which are set, and -securely fastened, a number of hollow gourds. The -handja I saw contained seven gourds. These gourds -are covered by strips of a hard, red wood, found in the -forest. These gourds and cylinders, as you see, are -of different sizes, so graduated that they form a -regular series of notes. Each gourd has a little hole -which is covered with a skin thinner than parchment. -And what kind of skin do you think it was? It was -the skin of the very large spider which abounds in that -country, and from which I should not care to receive -a bite, it is so poisonous.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> - -<p>The performer sits down, with the frame across his -knees, and strikes the strips lightly with a stick. There -are two sticks, one of hard wood, the other of much -softer wood. The instrument is played on the same -principle as a chime of bells, or an instrument used in -France, and which, perhaps, some of you have seen, -composed of a series of glasses. The tone of the handja -is very clear and good, and though their tunes were -rude, they played them with considerable skill.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="Handja"><img src="images/handja.png" width="550" -height="317" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">THE HANDJA.</div></div> - -<p>The Fans work iron better than any tribe I met -with. They are very good blacksmiths. Their warlike -habits have made iron a very necessary article to -them. It is very plentiful in their mountainous -country.</p> - -<p>Before you is a picture of two Fan blacksmiths. -Look at the curious bellows they have. It is made of -two short, hollow cylinders of wood, surmounted by -skins, very well fitted on, and having an appropriate -valve for letting in the air. As you see, the bellows-blower -is on his knees, moving down these coverings -with great rapidity. There are two small wooden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -pipes, connected with two iron tubes which go into the -fire.</p> - -<p>The anvil, as you see in the picture, is a solid piece -of iron. The sharp end is stuck into the ground; and -the blacksmith sits alongside his anvil, and beats his -iron with a singular-looking hammer, clumsy in form, -and with no handle; in fact it is merely made of a heavy -piece of iron.</p> - -<p>The blacksmiths sometimes spend many days in -making a battle-axe, knife or spear. They make, also, -their own cooking utensils and water-jugs. These are -of the shape you see in the picture before you. They -also make their own pipes, for they are great smokers. -Some of their pipes are not at all ungraceful in shape.</p> - -<p>Besides the water-jug, they frequently use the calabash, -as a vessel to carry water in; and some of their -calabashes are really pretty, and very nicely ornamented. -Some of the spoons, with which they eat -their human broth, are very beautiful. They are made -of various woods, and sometimes of ivory.</p> - -<p>It is quite sickening to think what horrible people -these Fans are! Such inveterate cannibals are they, -that they even eat the poor wretches who die of disease. -As I was talking to the king one day, some -Fans brought in a dead body, which they had bought -or bartered for, in a neighbouring town, and which was -to be divided among them. I could see that the man -had died of some disease; for the body was very lean. -They came round it with their knives; and Ndiayai -left me to superintend the distribution. I could not -stand this; and when I saw them getting ready, I left -the spot, and went to my hut. Afterwards, I could -hear them growing noisy over the division of their -horrid spoil.</p> - -<p>In fact, the Fans seem to be perfect ghouls. Those -who live far in the interior practise unblushingly their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -horrid custom of eating human flesh. It appears they -do not eat the dead of their own family, but sell the -corpse to some other clan, or make an agreement that -when one of their number dies they will return the -body in exchange.</p> - -<p>Until I saw these things I could not believe a story -I had often heard related among the Mpongwe tribe, -which is as follows: A party of Fans once came down -to the seashore to view the ocean. While there, -they actually stole a freshly-buried body from the -cemetery, and cooked and ate it. Another body was -taken by them and conveyed into the woods, where -they cut it up, and smoked the flesh. These acts -created a great excitement among the Mpongwes.</p> - -<p>But you must not think that the Fans are continually -eating human flesh. They eat it when they can -get it, but not every day. They kill no one on purpose -to be eaten.</p> - -<p>One day Ndiayai took me to an Osheba town, the -king of which tribe was his friend; and let me tell you -that the Oshebas were also great man-eaters, like the -Fans, whom they greatly resemble in appearance. The -chief of that Osheba village was called Bienbakay.</p> - -<p>The Fans are the handsomest and most resolute-looking -set of negroes I have ever seen in the interior. -Eating human flesh does not seem to disagree with -them, though I have since seen other Fan tribes whose -men had not the fine appearance of these mountaineers. -Here, as everywhere else, the character of the country -doubtless has much to do with the matter of bodily -health and growth. These cannibals were living among -the mountains, and had come from still higher mountain -regions, and this accounts for their being so robust -and hardy.</p> - -<p>The strangest thing in connection with the Fans, -next to their hideous cannibalism, is their constant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -encroachments upon the land westward. Year by year -they have been advancing nearer to the sea. Town -after town has been settled by them on the banks of -the Gaboon river. In fact, they seem to be a conquering -race, driving every other tribe before them.</p> - -<p>The colour of these people is dark brown rather than -black. They feed much upon manioc and the plantain. -They have also two or three kinds of yams, -splendid sugar-cane, and squashes, all of which they -cultivate with considerable success. Manioc seemed -to be the favourite food. Enormous quantities of -squashes are raised, chiefly for the seeds, which, when -pounded and prepared in their fashion, are much -prized by them, and I confess I relished this food -myself. At a certain season, when the squash is ripe, -their villages seem covered with the seeds, which -everybody spreads out to dry. When dried they are -packed in leaves, and placed over the fireplaces in the -smoke, to keep off an insect which also feeds upon -them. They are all suspended by a cord, for, besides -being infested by insects, they are subject to the -depredations of mice and rats, both of which are fond -of them.</p> - -<p>The process of preparation is very tedious. A portion -of the seeds is boiled, and each seed is divested of its -skin; then the mass of pulp is put into a rude wooden -mortar and pounded, a vegetable oil being mixed with -it before it is cooked.</p> - -<p>While on the subject of the food of the cannibals, I -ought to mention that they do not sell the bodies of -their chiefs, kings, or great men; these receive burial, -and remain undisturbed. It is probable also that they -do not eat the corpses of people who die of special -diseases.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a> -<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Hunting1"><img src="images/hunti.png" width="550" -height="424" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">NET-HUNTING.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XI">CHAPTER XI.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">JOURNEY TO YOONGOOLAPAY—HUNTING WITH NETS—THE -TERRIBLE BASHIKONAY ANTS.</p> - - -<p class="p2">On my way to the seashore from the cannibal -country, I had a good deal of trouble. I had -taken quite another route to come back; -Mbéné and his people left me on the banks of -a river called the Noya, at the village of a chief called -Wanga. From there I pushed my way towards Yoongoolapay, -a village, whose chief is called Alapay. But -before reaching that place, we came one evening to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -village called Ezongo. The inhabitants, seeing our -heavy loads, turned out with the greatest amount of -enthusiasm to receive me. Their ardour cooled somewhat -when they learned the contents of my packages, -for they were the birds and animals I had collected. -The rascally chief, thinking I must place a great value -on things I had gone so far to get, determined to -detain me till I paid a heavy price to get away; and -for a while things looked as if I should have a good -deal of trouble. The king, urged on by his people, -who seemed to be a greedy set of rascals, insisted on -his price, which would have left me empty-handed.</p> - -<p>At last my Mbicho guides from the Noya tried to -settle the matter. They were wise enough to get the -king to come to me with them alone. I gave the -rascal a coat and an old shirt, and I told him, what was -literally true, that I was very poor, and could not pay -what his people wanted. After this palaver he went -out at once and harangued the turbulent extortioners.</p> - -<p>So I passed on safely to the village of my old friend, -King Alapay, whom I had known before, and who was -very glad to see me again. He asked me to stay some -days; and being really worn out with constant exposure, -much anxiety, and frequent annoyance, I determined -to do so. His village is charmingly situated upon a -high hill, which overlooks the surrounding country, -and has a beautiful stream skirting its base. Moreover, -I found the people very kind, peaceable, and -hospitable.</p> - -<p>A considerable number of independent Mbicho -villages lay within a circuit of a few miles, the inhabitants -of which lived in great harmony with one another, -having prudently intermarried to such a degree that -they really constitute a large family. I was made -welcome among them all, and spent some very pleasant -days in hunting with these kind-hearted people, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -particularly in that kind of sport called by them -<i>asheza</i>, or net-hunting, a practice very common -among the bakalai, who called it <i>ashinga</i>.</p> - -<p>This singular sport is very much practised in this -part of Africa; and, as it is generally successful, it is -a local amusement, and brings out the best traits of -the natives. I was always very fond of it.</p> - -<p>The ashinga nets are generally made of the fibres of -the bark of a kind of tree, which are twisted into stout -cords. They are from sixty to eighty feet long, and -four to five feet high; and every well-to-do village -owns at least one. But, as few villages have enough -nets to make a great spread, it generally happens -that several unite in a grand hunt, and divide the -proceeds, the game caught in any particular net falling -to the share of its owners.</p> - -<p>The first day we went out, the people of half a -dozen villages met together at an appointed place, -the men of each bringing their nets. Then we set out -for a spot about ten miles off, where they had a clearing -in the dense woods, which had been used before, and -was one of their hunting-grounds. We moved along in -silence, so as not to alarm the animals which might be -near our ground. The dogs—for dogs are used in this -hunt—were kept still, and close together.</p> - -<p>Finally, we arrived on the ground, and the work of -spreading the toils began. Each party stretched a -single net, tying it up by creepers to the lower -branches of trees. As all worked in the same direction, -and each took care to join his net to that of his neighbour, -in a very short time we had a line of netting -running in a wide half circle, and at least half a mile -long.</p> - -<p>This done, a party went out on each side, to guard -against the chance of escape, and the rest of us were -ready to beat the bush. We started at about a mile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -from the nets, and, standing about fifty yards from -each other, we advanced gradually, shouting and -making all the noise we could, at the same time keeping -our arms in readiness to shoot or spear down anything -which might come in our way.</p> - -<p>Though this very spot had been frequently used for -net-hunting, and was therefore better cleared than -the neighbouring woods, yet we were obliged to -proceed almost step by step. Nearly every native -carried, besides his gun, a heavy cutlass or bill, with -which it was necessary literally to hew out a way, -the vines and creepers making a network which only -the beasts of the forest could glide through without -trouble.</p> - -<p>As we advanced, so did the men that guarded the -flanks; and thus our party gradually closed round the -prey. Presently we began to hear shouts, but we could -see nothing; and I could only hold my gun in readiness -and pray that my neighbours might not shoot me -by mistake; for they are fearfully reckless when on a -chase.</p> - -<p>The dogs had for some time been let loose. At last -we came in sight of the nets. We had caught a -gazelle of very minute size, called <i>ncheri</i>. It is a very -graceful little animal, and would make a pretty pet, -though I have never seen one tamed. A large antelope -also was brought to bay, and shot before I came -up; and another antelope, being shot at and missed, -rushed forward and got entangled in the net.</p> - -<p>Having drawn this cover, we gathered up the nets -and went off with the dogs, who enjoyed the sport -vastly, to try another place. After walking about -three-quarters of an hour we again spread our nets. -Here we had better luck, catching a considerable -number of antelopes, gazelles, and some smaller -animals. It was pretty busy work for us. Nearly all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -the animals got very much entangled, and the more -they tried to get through the nets the more they -became bewildered.</p> - -<p>Before breaking up, all the game caught was laid -together, that all might see it. And now I had an -opportunity to notice the curious little sharp-eared -dogs, about a foot high, which had been so useful in -driving the animals into our toils. They stood looking -at their prizes with eager and hungry eyes. These -dogs often go and hunt for themselves; and it is no -unusual thing for half-a-dozen dogs to drive an antelope -to the neighbourhood of their village, when their -barking arouses the hunters, who come out and kill -their quarry.</p> - -<p>It was almost dark when we returned to the village -of Alapay. One antelope was put aside for me, being -a peculiar species which I wanted to stuff; and the -rest of the meat was immediately divided. The -villagers were delighted at our luck. We were all very -hungry, and cooking began at once. I could hardly -wait for the dinner, which was one worthy of an -emperor's palate. It consisted of plantain, cooked in -various ways, and venison of the tenderest sort, -stewed in lemon-juice, and afterwards roasted on -charcoal.</p> - -<p>I was glad to go to bed early, for I felt very tired. I -had travelled during the day very nearly thirty miles.</p> - -<p>But I had scarcely got sound asleep when I was -fairly turned out of the house by a furious attack of -the Bashikonay ants. They were already upon me -when I jumped up, and I was bitten by them terribly. -I ran out into the street, and called for help and -torches. The natives came out, the lights were struck, -and presently I was relieved. But now we found that -the whole village was attacked. A great army of ants -was pouring in on us, attracted doubtless by the meat -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -in the houses, which they had smelt afar off. My -unfortunate antelope had probably brought them to -my door. All hands had to turn out to defend themselves. -We built little cordons of fires, which kept -them away from places they had not entered, and in -this way protected our persons from their attacks. -We scattered hot ashes and boiling water right and -left; and towards morning, having eaten everything -they could get at, they left us in peace. As was to be -expected, my antelope was literally eaten up—not a -morsel left.</p> - -<p>The vast number, the sudden appearance, and the -ferocity of these frightful creatures never ceased to -astonish me. On this occasion they had come actually -in millions. The antelope on which they fed was a -vast mass of living ants, which we could not approach; -and it was only when many fires were lighted that -they were forced from their onward and victorious -course, which they generally pursue. Then, however, -they retreated in parties with the greatest regularity, -vast numbers remaining to complete the work of -destruction. Little would I give for the life of a man -who should be tied up to a tree when these ants pass -that way and attack him; in two or three hours -nothing would be left of him but the bare bones.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo4.png" width="175" -height="149" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Falling"><img src="images/fall.png" width="550" -height="422" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">MANGROVE SWAMP. TUMBLING AND FALLING.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XII">CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">RETURNING TO THE COAST—CAVERNS AND WATERFALLS -IN THE HIGHLANDS—CROSSING A RIVER ON MANGROVE -ROOTS—STIRRING UP A BIG SNAKE—A MUTUAL SCARE.</p> - - -<p class="p2">I left the good villagers of Yoongoolapay, -and pursued my way to the seashore. On the -route we came to a high ridge, or plateau. -This was the highest land I had seen between -the Moonda and the Mani, and it is probable that, if it -had not been for the trees, I should have seen the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -ocean very well. Along this ridge were strewn some of -the most extraordinary boulders I ever saw. These -immense blocks of granite covered the ground in every -direction. Several of them were between twenty and -thirty feet high, and about fifty feet long.</p> - -<p>Near the largest of these granite masses a huge rock -rose some forty or fifty feet out of the ground. I saw -an opening in the solid rock, leading to a fine large -cavern. It had no doubt been made by the hands of -man; it was not of natural formation, for the entrance -had evidently been cut out of the solid rock by human -beings; and now it was much used by the natives as a -house to stop in over night when they were travelling -to and fro. Its vast opening admits such a flood of -sunlight and air that it is not likely to be used as a -lair for wild beasts. We saw the remains of several -fires inside, but I am bound to say we saw also the -tracks of leopards and other dangerous beasts on the -outside, for which reason I did not care to sleep there.</p> - -<p>While exploring the cavern I thought several times -I heard a trickling, which was almost like the noise of -rain, and which I had not noticed before, probably on -account of the great shouting of my men. But when -we got out I was surprised to find not a cloud in the -sky. Turning for an explanation to Alapay, he led me -along a path, and as we went forward the trickling -noise gradually grew into the sound of rushing waters. -Presently we came to the edge of a steep declivity, -and here I saw before and around me a most charming -landscape, the centre of which was a most beautiful -waterfall. A little stream, which meandered along the -slope of the plateau, and which had hitherto escaped -our view, had here worn its way through a vast granite -block which barred its course. Rushing through the -narrow and almost circular hole in this block, it fell in -one silvery leap perpendicularly forty or fifty feet. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -lower level of the stream ran along between high, steep -banks covered with trees, the right bank being quite -abrupt. It was a miniature Niagara. Clear, sparkling, -and pure as it could be, the water rushed down to its -pebbly bed—a sight so charming that I sat down for -some time and feasted my eyes upon it.</p> - -<p>I then determined to have a view from below. After -some difficult climbing we got to the bottom, and -there beheld, under the fall, a large hole in the perpendicular -face of the rock, which evidently formed -the mouth of a cavern. The opening of the cavern -was partly hidden by the waterfall, and was cut through -solid rock. Between the opening and the waterfall -there were a few feet of clear space, so that by going -sideways one could make good his entrance into the -cavern without receiving a shower bath.</p> - -<p>I determined to enter this cavern; but before -venturing I went first and tried to get a peep at the -inside. It was so dark that I could see nothing, so it -was not very inviting. We lit torches; I took my -revolver and gun, and, accompanied by two men, who -also were armed with guns, we entered. How dark it -was! Once inside, we excited the astonishment of a -vast number of huge vampire bats. There were -thousands and thousands of them. They came and -fluttered around our lights, threatening each moment -to leave us in darkness, and the motion of their -wings filled the cavern with a dull thunderous or -booming roar. It really looked an awful place, and the -dim light of our torches gave to every shadow a fantastic -form.</p> - -<p>The cavern was rather rough inside. When we had -advanced about one hundred yards we came to a stream, -or puddle of water, extending entirely across the floor, -and barring our way. My men, who had gone thus far -under protest, now desired to return, and urged me not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -to go into the water. It might be very deep; it might -be full of horrible water snakes; all sorts of wild beasts -might be beyond, and land snakes also. At the word -snake I hesitated, for I confess to a great dread of -serpents in the dark, or in a confined place, where a -snake is likely to get the advantage of a man. A cold -shudder ran through me at the thought that, once in -the water, many snakes might come and swim round -me, and perhaps twist themselves about me as they do -around the branches of trees. So I paused and -reflected.</p> - -<p>While peering into the darkness beyond I thought I -saw two eyes, like bright sparks or coals of fire, -gleaming savagely at us. Could it be a leopard, or -what? Without thinking of the consequences, I -levelled my gun at the shining objects and fired. The -report, for a moment, deafened us. Then came a -redoubled rush of the great hideous bats. It seemed -to me that millions of these animals suddenly launched -out upon us from all parts of the surrounding gloom. -Some of these got caught in my clothes. Our torches -were extinguished in an instant, and, panic-stricken, -we all made for the cavern's mouth. I had visions of -enraged snakes springing after and trying to catch me. -We were all glad to reach daylight once more, and -nothing could have induced us to try the darkness -again. I confess that, though I think it takes a good -deal to frighten me, I did not at all relish remaining -there in entire darkness.</p> - -<p>The scene outside was as charming as that within -was hideous. I stood a long time looking at one of -the most beautiful landscapes I ever beheld in Africa. -It was certainly not grand, but extremely pretty. -Before me, the little stream whose fall over the cliff -filled the forest with a gentle murmur, resembling very -much, as I have said, when far enough off, the pattering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -of a shower of rain, ran along between steep banks, the -trees of which seemed to meet above it. Away down -the valley we could see its course, traced like a silver -line over the plain, till it was lost to our sight in a -denser part of the forest.</p> - -<p>I have often thought of these caverns since I saw -them, and I have regretted that I did not pay more -attention to them. If I had made my camp in the -vicinity, and explored them and dug in them -for days, I think that I should have been -amply rewarded for the trouble. At that time I -did not feel greatly interested in the subject. I had -not read the works of M. Boucher de Perthes and -others, or heard that the bones of animals now extinct -had been discovered in caverns in several parts of -Europe, and that implements made of flint, such as -axes, sharp-pointed arrows, etc., etc., had been found -in such places. If I had excavated I might perhaps -have found the remains of charcoal fires, or other things, -to prove that these caverns had been made by men -who lived in Africa long before the negro. I feel -certain these caverns must have been human habitations. -I do not see how they could have been made -except by the hand of man.</p> - -<p>On my last journey I thought once or twice of going -to them from the Fernand-Vaz, to explore and dig in -them. I thought I might be rewarded for labour by -discovering the bones of unknown beasts, or of some -remains of primitive men.</p> - -<p>These caverns are fortunately not far away from the -sea—I should think not more than ten or fifteen miles—and -are situated between the Muni and the Moonda -rivers. Anyone desiring to explore them would easily -find the way to them. The cavern under the waterfall -would be extremely interesting to explore.</p> - -<p>The valley itself was a pleasant wooded plain, which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -it seemed, the hand of man had not yet disturbed, and -whence the song of birds, the chatter of monkeys, and -the hum of insects came up to us, now and then, in a -confusion of sounds very pleasant to the ear.</p> - -<p>But I could not loiter long over this scene, being -anxious to reach the seashore. After we set off again we -found ourselves continually crossing or following elephant -tracks, so we walked very cautiously, expecting -every moment to find ourselves face to face with a -herd.</p> - -<p>By-and-by the country became quite flat, the elephant -tracks ceased, and presently, as we neared a -stream, we came to a mangrove swamp. It was almost -like seeing an old friend, or, I may say, an old enemy, -for the remembrances of mosquitoes, tedious navigation, -and malaria which the mangrove tree brought to -my mind were by no means pleasant. It is not very -pleasant to be laid up with African fever, I assure you.</p> - -<p>From a mangrove tree to a mangrove swamp and -forest is but a step. They never stand alone. Presently -we stood once more on the banks of the little stream, -whose clear, pellucid water, had so charmed me a little -farther up the country. Now it was only a swamp, a -mangrove swamp. Its bed, no longer narrow, was -spread over a flat of a mile, and the now muddy water -meandered slowly through an immense growth of mangroves, -whose roots extended entirely across, and met -in the middle, where they rose out of the mire and -water like the folds of some vast serpent.</p> - -<p>It was high tide. There was not a canoe to be had. -To sleep on this side, among the mangroves, was to be -eaten up by the mosquitoes, which bite much harder -than those of America, for they can pierce through -your trousers and drawers. This was not a very pleasant -anticipation, but there seemed to be no alternative, -and I had already made up my mind that I should not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -be able to go to sleep. But my men were not troubled -at all with unpleasant anticipations. We were to cross -over, quite easily too, they said, on the roots which -projected above the water, and which lay from two to -three feet apart, at irregular distances.</p> - -<p>It seemed a desperate venture, but they set out -jumping like monkeys from place to place, and I -followed, expecting every moment to fall in between -the roots in the mud, there to be attacked, perhaps, by -some noxious reptile whose rest my fall would disturb. -I had to take off my shoes, whose thick soles made me -more likely to slip. I gave all my baggage, and guns, -and pistols to the men, and then commenced a journey, -the like of which I hope never to take again. We -were an hour in getting across—an hour of continual -jumps and hops, and holding on. In the midst of it all -a man behind me flopped into the mud, calling out, -"Omemba!" in a frightful voice.</p> - -<p>Now, <i>omemba</i> means snake. The poor fellow had -put his hands on an enormous black snake, and, feeling -its cold, slimy scales, he let go his hold and fell. All -hands immediately began to run faster than before, -both on the right and the left. There was a general -panic, and every one began to shout and make all kinds -of noises to frighten the serpent. The poor animal -also got badly scared, and began to crawl away among -the branches as fast as he could. Unfortunately his -fright led him directly towards me, and a general panic -ensued. Everybody ran as fast as he could to get out -of danger. Another man fell into the mud below, -and added his cries to the general tumult. Two or -three times I was on the point of getting a mud bath -myself, but I luckily escaped. My feet were badly -cut and bruised, but at last we were safe across, and I -breathed freely once more, as soon after I saw the deep -blue sea.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Ground"><img src="images/ground.png" width="600" -height="375" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption"> -SLAVE BARRACOONS. BURIAL GROUND.<br /> -<a href="#XIII">CHAP. XIII.</a> -</div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a> -<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo11.png" width="600" -height="143" alt="" title="" /></div> - - -<h2 id="XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">CAPE LOPEZ AND AN OPEN PRAIRIE ONCE MORE—KING -BANGO AND HIS THREE HUNDRED WIVES—HIS FIVE -IDOLS—SLAVE BARRACOONS—THE CORPSE AND THE -VULTURES.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Cape Lopez is a long sandy arm of land -reaching out into the sea. As you approach it -from the ocean it has the appearance of overflowed -land. It is so low that the bushes and the -trees growing on it seem, from a distance seaward, -to be set in the water.</p> - -<p>The bay formed by Cape Lopez is about fourteen -miles long. Among several small streams which empty -their water into it is the Nazareth river, one of whose -branches is the Fetich river. The bay has numerous -shallows and small islands, and abounds in all sorts of -delicious fish. On the cape itself many large turtles from -the ocean come to lay their eggs. I will tell you by-and-by -what a nice time I had fishing at Cape Lopez; -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -but I have many other things to talk about before I -come to that.</p> - -<p>I arrived at Cape Lopez one evening when it was -almost dark. The next morning I prepared myself for -a visit to King Bango, the king of the country. The -royal palace is set up on a tolerably high hill, and fronts -the seashore. Between the foot of this hill and the -sea there is a beautiful prairie, over which are scattered -the numerous little villages called Sangatanga. I never -tired of looking at this prairie. I had lived so long in -the gloomy forest that it gave me great delight to see -once more the green and sunlit verdure of an open -meadow. I found the royal palace surrounded by a -little village of huts. As I entered the village I was -met by the <i>mafouga</i>, or officer of the king, who conducted -me to the palace. It was an ugly-looking house -of two stories, resting on pillars. The lower story consisted -of a dark hall, flanked on each side by rows of -small dark rooms, which looked like little cells. At the -end of the hall was a staircase, steep and dirty, up -which the mafouga piloted me. When I had ascended -the stairs I found myself in a large room, at one end of -which was seated the great King Bango, who claims -to be the greatest chief of this part of Africa. He -was surrounded by about one hundred of his wives.</p> - -<p>King Bango was fat, and seemed not over clean. -He wore a shirt and an old pair of pantaloons. On his -head was a crown, which had been presented to him by -some of his friends, the Portuguese slavers. Over his -shoulders he wore a flaming yellow coat, with gilt embroidery, -the cast-off garment of some rich man's -lacquey in Portugal or Brazil. When I speak of a crown -you must not think it was a wonderful thing, made of -gold and mounted with diamonds. It was shaped like -those commonly worn by actors on the stage, and was -probably worth, when new, about ten dollars. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -majesty had put round it a circlet of pure gold, made -with the doubloons he got in exchange for slaves. He -sat on a sofa, for he was paralyzed; and in his hand he -held a cane, which also answered the purpose of a -sceptre.</p> - -<p>This King Bango, whom I have described so -minutely, was the greatest slave king of that part of -the coast. At that time there were large slave depôts -on his territory. He is a perfect despot, and is much -feared by his people. He is also very superstitious.</p> - -<p>Though very proud, he received me kindly, for I had -come recommended by his great friend, Rompochombo, -a king of the Mpongwe tribe. He asked me how I -liked his wives. I said, very well. He then said there -were a hundred present, and that he had twice as -many more, three hundred in all. Fancy three -hundred wives! He also claimed to have more than -six hundred children. I wonder if all these brothers -and sisters could know and recognise each other!</p> - -<p>The next night a great ball was given in my honour -by the king. The room where I had been received -was the ball-room. I arrived there shortly after dark, -and I found about one hundred and fifty of the king's -wives, and I was told that the best dancers of the -country were there.</p> - -<p>I wish you could have seen the room. It was ugly -enough; there were several torches to light it; but, -notwithstanding these, the room was by no means -brilliantly illuminated. The king wanted only his wives -to dance before me. During the whole of the evening -not a single man took part in the performance; but -two of his daughters were ordered to dance, and he -wanted me to marry one of them.</p> - -<p>Not far from the royal palace were three curious and -very small houses, wherein were deposited five idols, -which were reputed to have far greater power and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -knowledge than the idols or gods of the surrounding -countries. They were thought to be the great protectors -of the Oroungou tribe, and particularly of -Sangatanga and of the king. So I got a peep inside -the first house. There I saw the idol called Pangeo; -he was made of wood, and looked very ugly; by his -side was his wife Aleka, another wooden idol. Pangeo -takes care of the king, and of his people, and watches -over them at night.</p> - -<p>I peeped also into the second little house. There I saw -a large idol, called Makambi, shaped like a man, and by -his side stood a female figure, Abiala his wife. Poor -Makambi is a powerless god, his wife having usurped -the power. She holds a pistol in her hand, with which, -it is supposed, she can kill anyone she pleases; hence -the natives are much afraid of her; and she receives -from them a constant supply of food, and many -presents (I wonder who takes the presents away). -When they fall sick, they dance around her, and implore -her to make them well; for these poor heathen -never pray to the true God. They put their trust in -wooden images, the work of their own hands.</p> - -<p>I looked into the third house, and there I saw an -idol called Numba. He had no wife with him, being -a bachelor deity. He is the Oroungou Neptune and -Mercury in one—Neptune in ruling the waves, and -Mercury in keeping off the evils which threaten from -beyond the sea.</p> - -<p>As I came away after seeing the king, I shot at a -bird sitting upon a tree, but missed it, for I had been -taking quinine and was nervous. But the negroes -standing around at once proclaimed that this was a -"fetich bird,"—a sacred bird—and therefore I could -not shoot it, even if I fired at it a hundred times.</p> - -<p>I fired again, but with no better success. Hereupon -they grew triumphant in their declarations; while I,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -loth to let the devil have so good a witness, loaded -again, took careful aim, and, to my own satisfaction -and their utter dismay, brought my bird down.</p> - -<p>During my stay in the village, as I was one day out -shooting birds in a grove, not far from my house, I saw -a procession of slaves coming from one of the barracoons -toward the farther end of my grove. As they -came nearer, I saw that two gangs of six slaves each, all -chained about the neck, were carrying a burden -between them, which I knew presently to be the corpse -of another slave. They bore it to the edge of the -grove, about three hundred yards from my house; and, -throwing it down there on the bare ground, they returned -to their prison, accompanied by the overseer, -who, with his whip, had marched behind them.</p> - -<p>"Here, then, is the burying-ground of the barracoons," -I said to myself sadly, thinking, I confess, of -the poor fellow who had been dragged away from his -home and friends; who, perhaps, had been sold by his -father or relatives to die here and be thrown out as -food for the vultures. Even as I stood wrapped in -thought, these carrion birds were assembling, and -began to darken the air above my head; ere long they -were heard fighting over the corpse.</p> - -<p>The grove, which was, in fact, but an African Aceldama, -was beautiful to view from my house; and I had -often resolved to explore it, or to rest in the shade of -its dark-leaved trees. It seemed a ghastly place -enough now as I approached it more closely. The -vultures fled when they saw me, but flew only a little -way, and then perched upon the lower branches of the -surrounding trees, and watched me with eyes askance, -as though fearful I should rob them of their prey. As -I walked towards the corpse, I felt something crack -under my feet. Looking down, I saw that I was already -in the midst of a field of skulls and bones. I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -inadvertently stepped upon the skeleton of some poor -creature who had been lying here long enough for the -birds and ants to pick his bones clean, and for the rains -to bleach them. I think there must have been the -relics of a thousand skeletons within sight. The place -had been used for many years; and the mortality in -the barracoons is sometimes frightful, in spite of the -care they seem to take of their slaves. Here their -bodies were thrown, and here the vultures found their -daily carrion. The grass had just been burnt, and the -white bones scattered everywhere, gave the ground a -singular, and, when the cause was known, a frightful -appearance. Penetrating farther into the bush, I -found several great piles of bones. This was the -place, years ago—when Cape Lopez was one of the -great slave markets on the West Coast, and barracoons -were more numerous than they are now—where the -poor dead were thrown, one upon another, till even -the mouldering bones remained in high piles, as monuments -of the nefarious traffic. Such was the burial-ground -of the poor slaves from the interior of Africa.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo8.png" width="175" -height="120" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Slaves"><img src="images/slaves.png" width="550" -height="421" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption"> -EMBARKING SLAVES.</div></div> - -<h2 id="XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">SLAVE BARRACOONS—A BIG SNAKE UNDER MY BED—A -SLAVE SHIP OFF THE COAST.</p> - - -<p class="p2">One day I passed by an immense enclosure, -protected by a fence of palisades about twelve -feet high, and sharp-pointed at the top. -Passing through the gate, which was standing -open, I found myself in the midst of a large collection -of shanties, surrounded by shady trees, under which -were lying, in various positions, a great many negroes. -As I walked round, I saw that the men were fastened,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -six together, by a little stout chain, which passed -through a collar secured about the neck of each. Here -and there were buckets of water for the men to drink; -and they being chained together, when one of the six -wanted to drink, the others had to go with him.</p> - -<p>Then I came to a yard full of women and children. -These could roam at pleasure through their yard. No -men were admitted there. These people could not all -understand each other's language; and you may probably -wish to know who they were. They were -Africans belonging to various tribes, who had been -sold, some by their parents or by their families; others -by the people of their villages. Some had been sold -on account of witchcraft; but there were many other -excuses for the traffic. They would find suddenly that -a boy or girl was "dull," and so forth, and must be sold. -Many of them came from countries far distant.</p> - -<p>Some were quite merry; others appeared to be very -sad, thinking that they were bought to be eaten up. -They believed that the white men beyond the seas -were great cannibals, and that they were to be fattened -first and then eaten. In the interior, one day, a chief -ordered a slave to be killed for my dinner, and I barely -succeeded in preventing the poor wretch from being -put to death. I could hardly make the chief believe -that I did not, in my own country, live on human -flesh.</p> - -<p>Under some of the trees were huge caldrons, in -which beans and rice were cooking for the slaves; and -others had dried fish to eat. In the evening they were -put into large sheds for the night. One of the sheds -was used as a hospital.</p> - -<p>In the midst of all this stood the white man's house—yes, -the white man's house!—and in it were white -men whose only business was to buy these poor creatures -from the Oroungou people!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> - -<p>After I had seen everything, I left the barracoon—for -that is the name given to such a place as I have just -described. I wandered about, and it was dark before -I returned to the little bamboo house which the king -had given me. I got in, and then, striking a match -carefully, I lighted a torch, so that I might not go to -bed in darkness. You may smile when I say bed, for -my couch was far from bearing any resemblance to our -beds at home, with mattresses and pillows, and sheets -and blankets. Travellers in equatorial Africa are utter -strangers to such luxuries.</p> - -<p>After I had lighted the torch, I cast my eyes round -to see if anything had been disturbed; for a thief, so -disposed, could easily break into these houses. I -noticed something glittering and shining under my -akoko, or bedstead. The object was so still that I did -not pay any attention to it; in fact, I could not see it -well by the dim light of the torch. But when I -approached the bed to arrange it, I saw that the glitter -was produced by the shining scales of an enormous -serpent, which lay quietly coiled up there within two -feet of me. What was I to do? I had fastened my -door with ropes. If the snake were to uncoil itself and -move about, it might, perhaps, take a spring and wind -itself about me, quietly squeeze me to death, and -then swallow me as he would a gazelle. These were -not comforting thoughts. I was afraid to cry out for -fear of disturbing the snake, which appeared to be -asleep. Besides, no one could get in, as I had barricaded -the only entrance, so I went quietly and -unfastened the door. When everything was ready for -a safe retreat, I said to myself, "I had better try to -kill it." Then, looking for my guns, I saw, to my -utter horror, that they were set against the wall at the -back of the bed, so that the snake was between me and -them. After watching the snake intently, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -thinking what to do, I resolved to get my gun; so, -keeping the door in my rear open, in readiness for a -speedy retreat at the first sign of life in the snake, I -approached on tip-toe, and, in a twinkling of an eye, -grasped the gun which was loaded heavily with large -shot. How relieved I felt at that moment! I was no -longer the same man. Fortunately, the snake did not -move. With my gun in one hand I went again towards -the reptile, and, fairly placing the muzzle of the gun -against it, I fired, and then ran out of the house as fast -as I could.</p> - -<p>At the noise of the gun there was a rush of negroes -from all sides to know what was the matter. They -thought some one had shot a man, and run into my -house to hide himself; so they all rushed into it, -helter-skelter; but I need not tell you they rushed out -just as fast, on finding a great snake writhing about on -the floor. Some had trodden upon it and been -frightened out of their wits. You have no idea how -they roared and shouted; but no one appeared disposed -to enter the house again, so I went in cautiously -myself to see how matters stood, for I did not intend -to give undisputed possession of my hut so easily to -Mr. Snake. I entered and looked cautiously around. -The dim light of the torch helped me a little, and -there I saw the snake on the ground. Its body had -been cut in two by the discharge, and both ends were -now flapping about the floor. At first I thought these -ends were two snakes, and I did not know what to make -of it; but as soon as I perceived my mistake, I gave a -heavy blow with a stick on the head of the horrible -creature, and finished it. Then I saw it disgorge a -duck—a whole duck—and such a long duck! It looked -like an enormous long-feathered sausage. After eating -the duck, the snake thought my bedroom was just the -place for him to go to sleep in and digest his meal; for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -snakes, after a hearty meal, always fall into a state of -torpor. It was a large python, and it measured—would -you believe it?—eighteen feet. Fancy my -situation if this fellow had sprung upon me and coiled -round me! It would soon have been all over with me. -I wonder how long it would have taken to digest -me, had I been swallowed by the monster!</p> - -<p>One fine day, while walking on the beach of this -inhospitable shore, I spied a vessel. It approached -nearer and nearer, and at last ran in and hove-to a few -miles from the shore. Immediately I observed a gang -of slaves rapidly driven down from one of the barracoons. -I stood and watched. The men were still in -gangs of six, but they had been washed, and each had -a clean cloth on. The canoes were immense boats, -with twenty-six paddles, and about sixty slaves each. -The poor slaves seemed much terrified. They had -never been on the rough water before, and they did not -know what that dancing motion of the sea was. Then -they were being taken away, they knew not whither. -As they skimmed over the waves and rolled, now one -way, now another, they must have thought their last -day had come, and that they were to be consigned to a -watery grave.</p> - -<p>I was glad that these poor creatures could not see -me, for I was hidden from their view by trees and -bushes. I felt ashamed of myself—I actually felt -ashamed of being a white man! Happily, such scenes -are rarely if ever witnessed nowadays, and the slave -trade will soon belong to the past.</p> - -<p>Two hours afterwards, the vessel, with a cargo of six -hundred slaves, was on her way to Cuba.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a> -<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Gazelle"><img src="images/gaz.png" width="550" -height="419" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption"> -THE GAZELLE.</div></div> - - - -<h2 id="XV">CHAPTER XV.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">GOING INTO THE INTERIOR—SLEEPING WITH THE KING'S -RATS—THE CHIMPANZEE—KILL A GAZELLE—TOO COLD -TO SLEEP—THE GREY PARTRIDGE.</p> - - -<p class="p2">After this I went again to visit King Bango, -and was announced to his Majesty by his great -mafouga. I had an important object in -paying this visit. I wished to ask the king to -permit me to go into the interior and to spare me -some people to show me the way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> - -<p>Bango liked me, though I had declined to marry one -of his beautiful daughters. So he granted my request, -and gave me twenty-five men, some of whom were -reputed great hunters in that country. They had -killed many elephants and brought all the ivory to -their king. They were the providers of the royal table, -and passed their lives in the hunt and in the forest.</p> - -<p>We made great preparations for the chase, for game -was said to be plentiful. We were to encamp many -days in the forest, and to have a jolly time, and a -hard time, too, for the hunter's life is not an easy one. -I was invited by the king to sleep in his palace, so -that the next day I might start early; so I was led to -my bedroom by the great mafouga. It was so dirty -and gloomy that I wished myself fast asleep under a -tree in the forest. I looked around, thinking that perhaps -the king wanted to get rid of me, and had invited -me there to have me murdered; but finding nothing -suspicious, I concluded that old King Bango had -never entertained such ideas, and I felt vexed at -myself for having such thoughts on my mind. Then -I extinguished the light and lay down on the royal -couch. I had scarcely lain down when I began to -hear a strange noise. At first I did not know what it -meant. The noise in the room increased. What could -it be? I tried to see through the darkness, but could -distinguish nothing. Just then I felt something getting -under my blanket. Confounded, I jumped up, not -knowing what it might be. It was an enormous rat. -As soon as I got up, I heard a perfect scrambling of -rats going back where they came from, and then all -became silent. I lay down on the bed again and tried -to sleep, but in vain, on account of the assaults and -gambols of the rats, of which there was a prodigious -number. They seemed inclined to dispute possession -of my room with me. They were continually on my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -bed, and running over my face. I soon got quite -enough of the royal palace. I wished I had never come -into it. But it was an excellent place for getting up -early. No sooner had the morning twilight made its -appearance than I rose and called my men together; -and, though we could hardly see, we set out at once on -the march.</p> - -<p>I went in advance with Aboko, my head man, and -Niamkala, the next best man, at my side. Both these -men were great hunters, and had spent the principal -part of their lives in the woods. They seemed really -like men of the woods, so very wild were their looks. -Aboko was a short, somewhat stout man; very black, -and extremely muscular, very flat-nosed, and with big -thick lips. His eyes were large and cunning, and -seemed to wander about; his body bore marks of -many scratches from thorny trees and briars; his legs -displayed great strength. Niamkala, on the contrary, -was tall and slender, not very dark; he had -sharp piercing eyes, and seemed to be continually looking -after something. Both were first-rate elephant -hunters.</p> - -<p>Aboko, Niamkala, and I became great friends, for -we were all three hunters, and loved the woods.</p> - -<p>Our way led through some beautiful prairies, each -surrounded by dark forests, and seeming like natural -gardens planted in this great woody wilderness. The -country was really lovely. The surface was mostly -rolling prairie, with a light sandy soil. The highest -hills often broke into abrupt precipices, on which we -would come suddenly; and if any of us had tumbled -down to the bottom, he would never have been heard -of again. The woods are the safe retreat of the elephant. -Great herds of buffaloes are found there, also -antelopes, which go out into the great grass fields by -night to play and feed. Leopards are also abundant.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> - -<p>I was much pleased to be able to travel in an open -space, and not always through the dark forest The -breeze fanned our faces as we went onward. Presently -we saw the footprints of huge elephants and of wild -buffaloes. Friend Aboko now warned us to look sharp, -for we were sure to see game. Sure enough, he had -hardly spoken when we saw a bull standing, deer-like, -upon the edge of the wood, watching us, I suppose, -and no doubt greatly puzzled to make out what kind -of animals we were. He stood for some minutes, safe -out of range, and then turned into the woods, evidently -not liking our appearance. We ran around to intercept -him; and I waited at one pass in the woods, -for Aboko to go clear around and drive the bull -towards me.</p> - -<p>I was waiting, when suddenly I saw something approaching -me out of the deep gloom of the forest. I -thought it was Aboko coming towards me, and I waited -anxiously for news. I did not say a word for fear of -frightening the game that might be near us. The -object came nearer and nearer to me, till I thought I -could recognise Aboko's dark face distinctly through -the foliage. I stood with my gun resting on the -ground, when suddenly I heard a shrill scream, and -then what I thought to be Aboko turned and ran back -into the woods, showing a broad, big hairy body. It -was one of the wild men of the woods—the chimpanzee—and -a big one it was, I assure you.</p> - -<p>How glad I was to have seen this wild man of the -woods! For a few minutes I felt so astonished that I -did not move. His black face certainly did look very -much like that of an African, so much so that, as I -have already said, I took the chimpanzee to be Aboko.</p> - -<p>By-and-by the real Aboko made his appearance. -This time there was no illusion, and we had a good -laugh over my mistake. I felt quite vexed that I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -not shot the chimpanzee. I should have liked so -much to look at the animal closely. But I felt it was -almost like shooting a man.</p> - -<p>We left the woods, and started once more for the -interior. We had not been long on our way when I -spied a gazelle right in the middle of the prairie. How -could one approach it without being seen? for the -grass was short. We wanted very much to kill it, for -we had not killed anything yet; and what were we to -have for our dinner and supper? No one likes to go -without dinner, especially when working hard. Aboko, -Niamkala, and I held a council. We lay down flat on -the ground for fear of being seen; and finally it was -agreed that I should go towards the gazelle with my -long range gun and shoot it if I could. So I started. -I almost crawled, now and then raising my head just -to the level of the grass, to see if the animal was still -there. When I thought I was near enough, I quietly -lay down flat on the ground and rested my gun on an -ant-hill that looked like a mushroom. Taking careful -aim at the unsuspicious animal I fired, and down it -tumbled, to my great delight. Aboko and Niamkala, -who had been watching afar off, came rushing and -shouting, their faces beaming with joy. The prospect -of a good dinner cheered them up.</p> - -<p>Others of the party soon joined us. The gazelle was -cut upon the spot, and we continued our journey till we -came to a beautiful little stream, which was too deep -to be forded. A huge tree had been felled, and we -crossed to the other side on it, though it was hard -work. I assure you I thought once or twice I should -have tumbled into the water.</p> - -<p>At sunset we stopped, quite tired out. We made our -camp in the midst of the prairie in order to have the -nice grass to lie upon. It was the dry season, and we -were not afraid of getting wet. The people went into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -the nearest forest and collected an immense quantity -of firewood, not a difficult task, as so many dead limbs -were lying on the ground.</p> - -<p>We lighted a great many large fires, which blazed -up fiercely, for the wind blew hard. The country -around was illuminated, and the glare of our fires must -have been seen a long way off. We took our dinner -and supper at the same time. I roasted my own share of -the gazelle myself; I put a piece of stick through the -flesh and laid the skewer across two forked sticks, -which I fixed in the ground on each side of the fire. -I longed for some lard to baste the roasting meat, but -I was thankful for the good dinner I had, and I enjoyed -it thoroughly. I had a little bit of salt to eat -with it, and also some nice cayenne pepper.</p> - -<p>My men also seemed to enjoy their meal very much, -for they had meat to their heart's content; and these -negroes are very gluttonous generally. It was laughable -to see how lazily we lay around on the grass by -our fires; some were smoking, others tried to sleep, -while others told stories; but we all tried to warm ourselves, -and kept continually adding fuel to the already -bright fires.</p> - -<p>The night was clear and almost frosty. The stars -shone brilliantly above our heads, and it was bright -moonlight. It became so windy and cold that we regretted -we had not encamped by the forest, where we -should have been sheltered from the wind. It was too -cold to sleep, even with my blanket; and my poor -men, who had no blankets, were shivering around the -fires.</p> - -<p>So at two o'clock in the morning I ordered the men -to get up. A couple of hours' sharp walking brought -us to a thick wood, and there we were sheltered. -We quickly made up one very large fire, big enough -for all of us, and stretched ourselves pell-mell around<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -it for a short nap. We were so tired that we soon fell -asleep, not caring for leopards or anything else. We -were awakened by the cry of the grey partridge -(<i>Francolinus squamatus</i>), called <i>quani</i> by the natives.</p> - -<p>I will now say a word about these partridges. Unlike -our partridges, they perch on trees. When evening -comes, the old cock perches himself first, and calls the -flock together. They all settle near each other. In -the morning, before daylight, they begin to cluck; -and it was this noise that we heard. They do not sleep -on the ground, like our partridges, because there are -too many snakes crawling about, and too many carnivorous -animals.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo10.png" width="200" -height="117" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a> -<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Dinner"><img src="images/dinner.png" width="550" -height="426" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption"> -AFTER DINNER.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">THE HIPPOPOTAMUS—A SPECK OF WAR—REACH NGOLA—A -SUNDAY TALK—THE BLACK MAN'S GOD AND THE -WHITE MAN'S GOD—HOW KING NJAMBAI PUNISHED HIS -WIFE—WE BUILD AN OLAKO IN THE WOODS.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Sunrise found us under way again; and -before us lay a fine stretch of prairie, on the -farther borders of which were quietly grazing -several herds of buffaloes, which, as we approached -them, quickly ran into the woods. While they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -remained in sight they gave the country a civilized -appearance; it looked like a large grazing farm in June, -with cattle, and hay almost ready for harvest; a fine, -quiet, old-country picture here in the wilds of Africa, -that reminded me so much of home scenes that I -felt happy and elated.</p> - -<p>We pushed on rapidly in order to travel as far as -possible before the heat of the day should set in. We -came to a large pool or lakelet; and, while looking at -the water, I suddenly saw something strange coming -out from under its surface. It was a hippopotamus—the -first I had seen. I thought it was a log of wood; then -I fancied it was the head of a horse; for certainly, from -a distance, the head of a hippopotamus looks like that -of a horse. Then I heard a great grunt, and down went -the head under the water. Suddenly a number of the -animals made their appearance; there were at least a -dozen of them. They began sporting in the water, -now popping their huge heads out and snorting, and -then diving to the bottom and remaining there for -some time.</p> - -<p>I watched them for a while, and then I took my gun, -intending to send a bullet into the head of one and -haul him ashore; but Aboko said they would sink to -the bottom. Not wishing to kill one of these creatures -for nothing, I took Aboko's advice, and we went away.</p> - -<p>We had not met a single human being since we left -Sangatanga till now. As we journeyed, I saw in the -distance what I at first took to be a herd of buffaloes, -but soon perceived it was a caravan of natives coming -in our direction. Immediately we looked at our guns; -for in this country there is no law, and every man's -hand is against his brother. We saw that they, too, -prepared for an encounter; that most of them hid in -the grass, watching. Four fellows came towards us to -reconnoitre, and to ask if it was peace or war, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -suddenly they got a glimpse of me, and I do not know -how, but they at once saw, from the fact of my being -there, that there would be no war. They shouted to -their companions to come and see the Otangani.</p> - -<p>They were Shekianis, who, as I have said, are a very -warlike people, and this part of the country, I was told, -was thickly inhabited by them. We left them in the -midst of their wonders, and travelled as fast as we -could, for we wanted to reach a village of their tribe, -named Ngola, whose chief was a friend of King Bango, -and was his vassal, having married one of his -daughters.</p> - -<p>At last, after much travelling, we reached the -village of Ngola. As we approached, and as soon as -the women caught sight of me, they ran screaming -into the houses. Njambai, the chief, received us very -kindly, and gave me a house to live in.</p> - -<p>Ngola was a very pretty village, and the house I lived -in belonged to Shinshooko, the brother of the chief. -You will agree with me that Shinshooko had a funny -name. He was a worthy fellow, and tolerably honest, -too, for he gave me the key of one of his doors—(I -wonder where he got the old padlock that was on it)—and -he recommended me to shut my door every time -I went away, as the people might steal something.</p> - -<p>Sunday came; I remained in the village. They all -understood the Oroungou language so I could speak -to them. I told them there was no such thing as -witchcraft, and that it was very wrong to accuse people -of it and kill them; that there was only one God, who -made both the whites and the blacks, and we should -all love Him. This elicited only grunts of surprise and -incredulity. They all shouted that there were two -gods,—the God of the <i>Ntangani</i> (white men) and the -God of the <i>Alombai</i> (black men). The God of the -black men had never given them anything, while the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -God of the white men had sent them guns, -powder, and many other fine things. Then Shinshooko -remarked, "You have rivers of <i>alongon</i> (rum) flowing -through your land. When I go to Sangatanga I taste -it at King Bango's; how much I should like to live on -the banks of such rivers!" They would not believe -that we had only rivers of water like theirs; and that -we ourselves made our powder, and guns, and rum also.</p> - -<p>I stayed for a few days in the village of Ngola, where -the people were very kind to me. One day I heard a -woman crying out, as if she were in great pain. Asking -what was the matter, a man told me the king was -punishing one of his wives; and others said that, if I -did not go to her help, she might be killed. I hurried -to the king's house, and there, in front of the verandah, -a spectacle met my eyes, which froze my blood with -horror. A woman was tied by the middle to a stout -stake driven into the ground. Her legs were stretched -out and fastened to other smaller stakes, and stout -cords were bound round her neck, waist, ankles, and -wrists. These cords were being twisted with sticks; -and when I arrived the skin was bursting from the -terrible compression. The poor woman looked at me. -The king was in a perfect rage; he himself was the -chief executioner. His eyes were blood-shot, and his -lips were white with foam. I had to be careful in -expostulating with the king, for fear that he might kill -her at once, in a fit of rage. I walked up, and, taking -him by the arm, I asked him for my sake to release the -poor woman, and not to kill her. He seemed to -hesitate; he did not answer, and went into his house. -I threatened to leave if he did not release her. Finally -he consented, and said: "Let her loose yourself; I -give her to you."</p> - -<p>How glad I was! I rushed out immediately and -began to untie the savage cords, and to cut them away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> -with my knife. The poor creature was covered with -blood. I sent her to my house and took care of her. I -learned that she had stolen some of her husband's beads.</p> - -<p>After this, I left the Shekiani village of Ngola and -went on my journey with my friends, Aboko and -Niamkala. We travelled on, till, on reaching a place in -the midst of a forest, not far from a little lake, we -determined to build an olako; for I liked the country -so much that I did not want to leave it. There were -a great many wild animals in the neighbourhood, and -we thought the place was likely to afford us good sport, -especially as the lake would draw beasts down to its -banks to drink. We were not only near water, but we -had a wide stretch of forest and prairie-land about us. -We worked very hard that day, building and arranging -our encampment, in such a way as to make everything -comfortable and secure. Of course we selected the -prettiest part of the forest, and where there were many -tall and shady trees. We first cut the underbrush from -under the trees, and also many of the vines or creepers, -which looked very singular as they hung down over our -heads. Then we collected a great number of large -leaves, which are called by some tribes <i>shayshayray</i> -and <i>guaygayrai</i>, to roof our sheds with. After this -we proceeded to cut a number of small sticks, seven or -eight feet long, and began to construct our habitations. -Then we cut branches of trees to shield us from the -wind, and collected a great quantity of firewood, for -we had made up our minds to keep ourselves warm. -After we had arranged and lighted the fires, our camp -looked quite like a little village. It was very romantic -and beautiful. I had arranged my own shelter very -nicely; and it was first in the row. To be sure, my -bed was rather hard, being composed of sticks and leafy -branches; while for a pillow I had merely a piece of -wood.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the midst of our work, ten slaves of Njambai -came, laden with provisions, which the good fellow had -sent after me. After doing a hard day's work, I think -we deserved to rest comfortably in the evening. We -began cooking our dinner; and a right good dinner it -was. My men had monkey and buffalo-meat; but I -had a nice fat fowl, which my friend Njambai had sent -me.</p> - -<p>Before dinner I warned my men to be honest, and -keep their fingers at home. They were good fellows, -but I found that all savages will steal. So I threatened -to kill the first man I caught meddling with my property, -and told them I would shoot without mercy; -"and then," said I, with great sternness, "when I -have blown your brains out, I will settle the matter -with your king." To which Aboko coolly replied that -the settlement was not likely to do them any particular -good.</p> - -<p>Of course they all protested that they were honest; -but I knew them better than they knew themselves; I -knew the effect of temptation on them, poor fellows! -and had more confidence in their faith that I would -kill the thief than I had in their good resolutions.</p> - -<p>When this little matter was settled, they drew -around the blazing fire. By this time, the buffalo-meat -suspended in a huge kettle over the fire was -cooked and ready to be eaten; the monkeys had been -roasted on charcoal; my fowl had been cooked; and -before us was a great pile of roasted plantain. We -enjoyed a hearty meal together; I eating off a plate, -and using a fork, while the black fellows took fresh -leaves for plates, and used the "black man's fork," as -they call their five fingers. After dinner, they drank -a large calabash-full of palm wine that had been -brought from Ngola; and then, to crown their feast, -with the greatest delight of all, I went to one of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -boxes, and, lifting the lid, while the shining black faces -peered at me with saucer-eyes of expectation, I took -out a huge plug of Kentucky tobacco. There was a -wild hurrah of joy from them all. They shouted that -I was their friend; they loved only me; they would go -with nobody else; I was their good spirit; I was -like one of themselves. I distributed the tobacco -among them; and in a few minutes all were lying -about the fire, or seated round it, with their pipes in -their mouths.</p> - -<p>After making the fire burn brightly I, being tired, -went and lay down, as you see me in the picture. My -blanket was the only article of bedding I had; I -wrapped this around me, and rested my head on my -wooden pillow, which I assure you was not of the softest -kind. I felt pleased to see my men so contented. -Their wild stories of hunting adventures, of witchcraft, -and evil spirits well fitted the rude, picturesque surroundings; -and they lay there talking away, till, at -last, I was obliged to remind them that it was one -o'clock, and time to go to sleep, especially as some of -us were to get up very early and go hunting. Then all -became silent, and soon we all fell asleep, except the -men appointed to keep the fires bright, on account of -the leopards, and also to watch that we might not be -surprised by some enemy.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo7.png" width="175" -height="101" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a> -<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="One"><img src="images/one.png" width="550" -height="423" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">A LEOPARD AND HER YOUNG ONE.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">AN UNSUCCESSFUL HUNT FOR ELEPHANTS—I TAKE AIM -AT A BUFFALO—A LEOPARD IN THE GRASS NEAR US—WE -SHOOT THE LEOPARD AND HER KITTEN—GREAT -REJOICING IN CAMP—WHO SHALL HAVE THE TAIL?—A -QUARREL OVER THE BRAINS—THE GUINEA HENS—THE -MONKEYS.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Early the next morning, Aboko and I got up. -Aboko covered himself with his war fetiches, -and also with the fetiches that were to -bring good luck, and give him a steady hand. On -the middle of his forehead was a yellow spot made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -with clay. When he had finished these preparations -we started.</p> - -<p>Our desire was to kill elephants. We saw plenty of -tracks, and we hunted all day long. In many places, -to judge by the tracks, the elephants had been only an -hour or two before ourselves. But we did not see a -single elephant, and I killed only a few monkeys for my -men's dinner, as well as a few birds.</p> - -<p>We were returning to the camp, rather down-hearted, -when I heard the cry of the grey male partridge, -of which I have already spoken, calling for his -mates to come and perch on the tree he had chosen. -We turned back to get a shot, if possible, for they are -fine eating. We were just on the edge of the forest; -and, as I pushed out into the prairie, suddenly I saw -several buffaloes, one of which I made sure of as he -stood a little in advance of the rest, where the grass -was high enough for a stealthy approach. I immediately -put a ball into the barrel that had only shot, so -that I might have my two barrels loaded with bullets. -Then Aboko and I advanced slowly towards the unconscious -bull, which stood a fair mark, and I was about to -raise my gun when Aboko made a quick sign to hold -still and listen. Aboko, at the same time, breathed as -if he were smelling something.</p> - -<p>I did not know why it was that Aboko had -stopped me, but I knew there must be better game -at hand, or some other good reason for his doing -so. Perhaps he had heard the footstep of an -elephant. I looked at his face, and saw that it -appeared anxious.</p> - -<p>As we stood perfectly motionless, I heard, at -apparently a little distance before us, a low purring -sound, which might have been taken, by a careless ear, -for the sound of the wind passing through the grass. -But to Aboko's quick ear it betokened something else.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -His face grew very earnest, and he whispered to me -"Njego" (leopard).</p> - -<p>What were we to do? The noise continued. We -cocked our guns, and moved, slowly and cautiously, a -few steps ahead, to get a position where we thought -we might see over the grass. The leopard might -pounce upon us at any moment. What would prevent -him from doing so if he chose? Certainly not our guns, -for we did not know exactly where the beast was. To -tell you the truth, I did not feel comfortable at all; I -had a slight objection to being carried away in the -jaws of a leopard and devoured in the woods.</p> - -<p>Our situation was far from being a pleasant one. The -leopard comes out generally by night only, and nothing -but extreme hunger will bring him out of his lair in -open day. When he is hungry, he is also unusually -savage, and very quick in his motions.</p> - -<p>We knew the animal was near, but we could not -succeed in getting a sight of him. As the wind blew -from him towards us, I perceived plainly a strong -peculiar odour which this animal gives out; and this -fact proved, still more decidedly, that the leopard could -not be far off. The thought passed through my mind: -Is he watching us? Is he coming towards us—crouching -like a cat on the ground, and ready to spring upon -us when near enough? Do his eyes penetrate the -grass which we cannot see through? If so, is he ready -to spring?</p> - -<p>Meantime our buffalo-bull stood stupidly before his -herd, not twenty yards from us, utterly innocent of -the presence of so many of his formidable enemies—the -leopard, Aboko, and myself.</p> - -<p>Just then we moved a little to one side, and, peering -through an opening in the grass, I beheld an -immense leopard, a female, with a tiny young leopard -by her side. The beast saw us at the same moment, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -having turned her head quickly at some slight noise -we made. She had been watching the buffalo so -intently as not to notice our approach. It seemed to -me as if a curious look of indecision passed over her -face. She, too, had more game than she had looked -for, and was puzzled which to attack first. Her long -tail swished from side to side, and her eyes glared, as -she hesitated for a moment to decide which of the -three—the bull, Aboko, or me—to pounce upon and -make her victim.</p> - -<p>But I saved her the trouble of making up her mind; -for, in far less time than it takes me to tell you what took -place, I had put a ball into her head, which, luckily -for us, relieved her of further care for prey. She -dropped down dead. At the same moment Aboko fired -into the little leopard and killed it. At the noise of -the guns, the buffalo-bull and the herd decamped in -the opposite direction, at a tremendous pace, the bull -little knowing the circumstances to which he owed his -life.</p> - -<p>I felt much relieved, for I had never before been in -quite so ticklish a situation, and I felt no particular -desire ever to be in a similar plight again.</p> - -<p>When we returned to the camp there was a great -excitement as soon as they heard the news that two -leopards had been killed. Aboko carried in the young -leopard on his back; but mine was too heavy, and had -to be left in the field. Guns were fired in rejoicing; -and the big leopard was fetched in. When the people -returned with it to the camp, all shouted, "What an -enormous beast! what an enormous beast! We heard -gun firing," etc., etc.</p> - -<p>In the midst of this noise Niamkala made his -appearance with some of our party, bringing in some -wild boars and a pretty little gazelle which the natives -called <i>ncheri</i>. Of course the wild boars had been cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -up into several pieces, for they were too heavy to carry -whole.</p> - -<p>Niamkala and his party were received with great -cheers. The prospect of a good supper brightened all -their faces, and mine also; and I shouted, "Well -done, Niamkala and boys!"</p> - -<p>Everything was brought to my feet. There was so -much to eat that there was no use in dividing the meat -into equal shares; so I let everyone take as much as -he liked.</p> - -<p>After supper the leopards were hung on a pole -resting on two forked sticks; and then the negroes -danced round them. They sang songs of victory, and -exulted over and abused the deceased leopard (the -mother). They addressed to her comical compliments -upon her beauty (and the leopard is really a most -beautiful animal). They said, "What a fine coat you -have!" (meaning her skin). "We will take that coat off -from you." They shouted, "Now you will kill no -more people! Now you will eat no more hunters! -Now you cannot leap upon your prey! What -has become of the wild bull you were looking after so -keenly? Would you not have liked to make a meal of -Aboko or of Chaillie?" (for they called me Chaillie).</p> - -<p>Thus they sang and danced round till towards morning, -when I made them go to sleep.</p> - -<p>Next morning there was great quarrelling among -my men. What could be the matter? I found that -Niamkala was declaring his determination to have the -end of my leopard's tail, while the rest of the hunters -asserted their equal right to it. Aboko said he did not -care, as he would have the tail of the one he had -killed.</p> - -<p>I skinned the two leopards in the most careful -manner, and gave the end of the tail to Niamkala, and -I promised Fasiko to give him the tail of the next one -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -I should kill. They all shouted, "I hope you will kill -leopards enough to give to each of us a tail!"</p> - -<p>Poor Fasiko looked very down-hearted. When I inquired -why, he said, "Don't you know that when a -man has the end of a leopard's tail in his possession he -is sure to be fortunate in winning the heart of the girl -he wants to marry?"</p> - -<p>I said, "Fasiko, you have one wife, what do you care -for a leopard's tail?"</p> - -<p>He replied, "I want a good many wives."</p> - -<p>The palaver about the tail was hardly over when -another quarrel broke out. This time it was about the -brains. Aboko, Niamkala, and Fasiko each wanted the -whole brain of the animal. The others said they must -have some too; that there was only one end to each tail, -but that the brains could be divided among them all. -For a few minutes a fight seemed imminent over the -head of the leopard.</p> - -<p>I said, "You may quarrel, but no fighting. If you -do you will see me in the fight; and I will hit everybody, -and hit hard too." At the same time I pointed -out to them a large stick lying by my bedside. This -immediately stopped them.</p> - -<p>They all wanted the brain, they said, because, when -mixed with some other charms, it makes a powerful -<i>monda</i> (fetiche), which gives its possessors dauntless -courage and great fortune in the hunt. Happily, I -was able to persuade my three best hunters that they -wanted no such means to bolster up their courage.</p> - -<p>The dispute over the brains being settled, Aboko, in -the presence of all the men, laid the liver before me. -As this had no value or interest for me, since I was -certainly not going to eat the liver of the leopard for -my dinner, I was about to kick it aside, when they -stopped me, and entreated me to take off the gall and -destroy it, in order to save the party from future<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -trouble. These negroes believe the gall of the leopard -to be deadly poison, and my men feared to be -suspected by their friends or enemies at Sangatanga -of having concealed some of this poison. So I took off -the gall, put it under my feet and destroyed it, and -then, taking the earth in which it had been spilled, I -threw it in every direction, for I did not want any of -these poor fellows to be accused of a crime, and lose -their lives by it. I intended to inform the king, on -my return, that we had destroyed the liver. But I -told my men that their belief was all nonsense, and a -mere superstition. They said it was not. As I could -not prove their notion to be false, I stopped the discussion -by saying I did not believe it.</p> - -<p>Having plenty of game, we carried the leopard-meat -a long way off, and threw it away.</p> - -<p>We did not go hunting for two days, but spent our -time in smoking the meat we had on hand. It was -just the sort of weather for hunting, and for living in -the woods. The air was cool and refreshing, for it was -June, and the dry season; but the sky was often -clouded, which prevented the sun from being oppressive. -To add to our pleasure, the forest trees were in -bloom, and many of them were fragrant. The nights -were very cold indeed for this country, the thermometer -going down to sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit. -The wind blew hard, but against that we managed to -protect ourselves. The dews were not nearly so heavy -as they are in the rainy season. The grass was in -great part burned off the prairies.</p> - -<p>Every day we succeeded in shooting more or less -game, among which were antelopes, gazelles, wild boars, -monkeys without number, and guinea fowls. These -guinea fowls were of a beautiful species. In this -country you have never seen any like them.</p> - -<p>My joy was great when I killed this hitherto unknown -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -species of guinea-fowl (<i>Numida plumifera</i>). It is -one of the handsomest of all the guinea-fowls yet discovered. -Its head is naked, the skin being of a deep -bluish-black tinge, and is crowned with a beautiful -crest of straight, erect, narrow, downy feathers, standing -in a bunch close together. The plumage of the -body is of a fine bluish-black ground, variegated with -numerous <i>eyes</i> of white, slightly tinged with blue. -The bill and legs are coloured a blue-black, similar to -the skin of the head.</p> - -<p>This bird is not found near the seashore. It is very -shy, but marches in large flocks through the woods. -At night they perch on trees, where they are protected -from the numerous animals which prowl about.</p> - -<p>I killed several beautiful monkeys called by the -natives <i>mondi</i>. What curious-looking monkeys they -were! Only the stuffed specimen of a young one had -been received in England before this time. The mondi -is entirely black, and is covered with long shaggy hair. -It has a very large body, and a funny little head, quite -out of proportion to the size of the animal. It is a very -beautiful monkey; the hair is of a glossy jet black; -and it has a very long tail. In Africa no monkeys have -prehensile tails; I mean by that, tails which they can -twist round the branch of a tree, and so hang themselves -with the head downwards. That kind of monkey -is only found in South America.</p> - -<p>The mondi has a dismal cry, which sounds very -strangely in the silent woods, and always enabled me -to tell where these monkeys were.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Elephant2"><img src="images/ele2.png" width="600" -height="375" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">ABOKO KILLS A ROGUE ELEPHANT.<br /> -<a href="#XVIII">CHAP. XVIII.</a></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo12.png" width="600" -height="159" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<h2 id="XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">ALONE IN CAMP—HUNTING FOR ELEPHANTS—ABOKO KILLS -A ROGUE ELEPHANT—I CUT ANOTHER PYTHON IN TWO—WE -SHOOT SOME WILD BOARS—A BUFFALO HUNT—RETURN -TO SANGATANGA—KING BANGO SICK.</p> - - -<p class="p2">One fine day I remained in the camp, for I had -been hunting so much that I wanted a day -of rest. All the others had gone to hunt. I -was left alone, and I enjoyed the solitude, everything -around me was so beautiful and quiet. -Nature seemed to smile on all sides. I placed myself -at the foot of a large tree, and wrote in my journals; -and then I thought of the dear friends I had at home, -and wondered if they sometimes thought of me. Then -I called to mind all I had seen in the wonderful -country which I had explored. I could hardly believe -it myself: it seemed like a dream. What extraordinary -people, and what curious beasts, had I not met!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -How many wonderful dangers I had escaped! How -kind God had been in protecting me! How He had -watched over the poor lonely traveller, and taken care -of him during sickness! Thus my heart went up in -gratitude, and I silently implored that the protection -of God might still be granted me.</p> - -<p>Towards sunset, Aboko and Niamkala made their -appearance, and brought a fine young boar with them. -As usual, without saying a word, they came right to -me, and put the dead animal at my feet. Then, seating -themselves and clapping their hands, Aboko began -to tell me what had happened from the time they -started in the morning until the time they returned. -They forgot nothing, even mentioning the tracks of -the animals they had seen. They reported they had -found fresh elephant tracks, and thought the elephants -had made their head-quarters there for a few days. -After hearing this, we immediately resolved that we -would all turn out after elephants on the following -day.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, in the evening, we cleaned and prepared -our guns, and everybody went to sleep early.</p> - -<p>The next morning we started about daybreak, each -of us carrying some provisions. We were to fire no -guns in the forest, for fear of frightening the elephants, -who are very shy in this region. We had taken pains -to load our guns in the most careful manner.</p> - -<p>We hunted all day, but in vain; no elephants were -to be seen. We slept out in the woods, for we were too -far from the camp to return. We felt so tired that -we had only sufficient strength left to enable us to fetch -firewood, and to cut a few branches of trees and lie -down upon them. I had lost or forgotten the matches, -so I had to light the fire with a piece of steel and a -gun-flint. This took a little longer.</p> - -<p>Very soundly we all slept, as you may easily suppose. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -When I awoke in the midst of the night our fires were -almost out; at least they did not blaze up enough to -frighten the wild beasts. Aboko, Niamkala, and -Fasiko were snoring tremendously. One was lying -flat on his back, the other had his legs up, while Fasiko -had his arm extended at full length. By the side of -each was his gun, which touched him in some way, so -that it could not be taken without awaking him. I -believe it was their snoring that had aroused me. They -were so tired, and seemed to sleep so soundly, that I -did not want to wake them, so I went and added fuel -to the fire, which soon began to blaze up again.</p> - -<p>The next day found us again exploring the woods -in every direction. Elephants certainly were not -plentiful; besides they travelled much in search of -their favourite food—a kind of fern, which was not -very abundant. Again I got very tired; but at last, -in the afternoon, we came across our quarry.</p> - -<p>Emerging from a thick part of the forest into a -prairie which bordered it, we saw to our left, just -upon the edge of the wood, a solitary bull elephant. -There we stood still. I wonder what he was thinking -about! I had seen the great beast in menageries, -and also among the Fans, and I have described to you -an elephant hunt in their country, but then there was -great confusion.</p> - -<p>Here, the huge animal stood quietly by a tree, -innocent of our presence; and now, for the first time -in my life, I was struck with the vast size of this -giant of the forests. Large trees seemed like small -saplings when compared with the bulk of this immense -beast which was standing placidly near them.</p> - -<p>What were we to do but to kill him? Though I -felt a sense of pity at trying to destroy so noble an -animal, yet I was very anxious to get the first shot -myself; for it was a "rogue elephant"—that is, an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -elephant unattached.[1] It was an old one, as we could -see by the great size of its tusks. I remembered that -rogue elephants are said to be very ferocious. So much -the better, I thought. I had killed a good deal of -game, and I had ceased to be afraid of any of them, -though I felt that hunting was no child's play.</p> - -<p class="i4 p2">[1] Sir Emerson Tennent ("Ceylon," vol. ii. p. 304) speaks of "the -class of solitary elephants, which are known by the term of <i>Goondapo</i>, -in India, and from their vicious propensities, and predatory habits, -are called Hora, or Rogues, in Ceylon."</p> - -<p class="p2">You must not think that we were standing up all -this time in sight of the elephant. As soon as we had -seen him, we lay down and hid ourselves in the forest, -in such a manner as not to lose sight of him. Then -we held a grand council, and talked over what must be -done to bag the beast.</p> - -<p>The grass was burnt in every direction to the leeward -of him, and we dared not risk approaching him from -the windward for fear he should smell us. What was -to be done? The eyes of my men were fixed upon -me with a keenly inquisitive look. They expected me -to tell them what I thought best to do about the -matter.</p> - -<p>I looked at the country, and saw that the grass was -very short; and, after taking account of all the chances -of approach, I was compelled to admit that I could not -manage to get near the beast myself with any certainty. -I could not crawl on the ground; my clothes -were sure to be seen by the elephant; therefore, as a -sensible hunter, I was reluctantly compelled to resign -in favour of Aboko, who, I thought, was the best man -for the difficult undertaking. His eyes glistened with -pleasure as he thought that now he could show his -skill. Besides, among hunters there is something -pleasant and exciting in knowing that you are about -to rush into danger.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> - -<p>After cocking his musket, Aboko dropped down in -the short grass, and began to creep up to the elephant -slowly on his belly. The rest of us remained where -we had held our council, and watched Aboko as he -glided through the grass for all the world like a huge -boa-constrictor; for, from the slight glimpses we -caught, his back, as he moved farther and farther away -from us, resembled nothing so much as the folds of a -great serpent winding his way along. Finally we could -no longer distinguish any motion. Then all was silence. -I could hear the beating of my heart distinctly, I was -so excited.</p> - -<p>The elephant was standing still, when suddenly the -sharp report of a gun rang through the woods and over -the plain, and elicited screams of surprise from sundry -scared monkeys who were on the branches of a tree -close by us. I saw the huge beast helplessly tottering -till he finally threw up his trunk, and fell in a dead -mass at the foot of a tree. Then the black body of -Aboko rose; the snake-like creature had become a man -again. A wild hurrah of joy escaped from us; I waved -my old hat, and threw it into the air, and we all made -a run for the elephant. When we arrived, there stood -Aboko by the side of the huge beast, calm as if nothing -had happened, except that his body was shining with -sweat. He did not say a word, but looked at me, and -then at the beast, and then at me again, as if to say: -"You see, Chaillu, you did right to send me. Have -I not killed the elephant?"</p> - -<p>The men began to shout with excitement at such -a good shot. "Aboko is a man," said they, as we -looked again at the beast, whose flesh was still quivering -with the death agony. Aboko's bullet had entered -his head a little below the ear, and, striking the brain, -was at once fatal.</p> - -<p>Aboko began to make fetich-marks on the ground<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -around the body. After this was done we took an axe, -which Fasiko had carried with him, and broke the -skull, in order to get out the two tusks, and very large -tusks they were.</p> - -<p>Of course we could not carry off the elephant, so -Aboko and I slept that night near our prize on the -grass and under the tree. Niamkala and Fasiko had -started for the camp to tell the men the news, and -the next morning all the men hurried out. While -quietly resting under the shade of a tree close to the -elephant, I spied them coming. As soon as they recognised -us they shouted, and, when near enough, they -made a spring at Aboko and then at the elephant. All -the cutlasses, all the axes and knives that were in the -camp, had been sharpened and brought out. Then -the cutting up of the elephant took place. He was not -very fat. What a huge beast he was! What a huge -liver he had! What an enormous heart, too!</p> - -<p>The trunk, being considered a choice morsel, was cut -into small pieces. The meat was to be smoked -immediately, and then carried to Sangatanga, to be -sold and given away. Great bargains were looming -before the men's eyes; they were all to get rich by -selling the elephant's meat.</p> - -<p>I never saw men more happy than these poor -fellows were. The negroes believe in eating. Mine -ate nothing but meat, and they ate such quantities of -it that several of them got sick, and I was obliged to -give them laudanum in brandy to cure them. They -almost finished my little stock of brandy.</p> - -<p>The camp was full of meat, and as we had no salt, -the odour that came from it was not particularly agreeable. -Indeed, I had to have a separate shanty built on -one side, and to the windward of the camp. I could -not stand the stench.</p> - -<p>At night the negroes lay around the fires, the jolliest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -of mortals, drinking palm-wine, which they made -regularly from the neighbouring palm-trees, and -smoking tobacco when I was generous enough to -give them some. In fact, they were as honest a set -of negroes as I had met with anywhere, really good -fellows.</p> - -<p>As time passed on you must not think that I did -nothing but kill animals. I rambled through the -forest, and studied everything I saw. Sometimes, -when too far away from the camp, and after a day of -hard hunting, I slept soundly under a tree by the side -of a big fire, with my gun by my side. I thought I -would go hunting one day for wild animals; on -another, for birds; and, when too tired to travel, I -would remain in the camp, sleeping sweetly on my -primitive couch, which consisted of a couple of mats -spread on the bare and soft earth, with a thick blanket -for cover, the foliage of a tree and the blue starlit sky -being my canopy and roof. I had given up sleeping -upon bare sticks, finding it too hard.</p> - -<p>As fresh boar tracks had been seen near the camp, -I could not resist the temptation of having another -hunt after that savage beast. However tired I might -be, I could hardly keep still whenever news came that -game was near us. I was always in the hope of finding -some new animal or something curious to stuff and -bring home, to show what I had done.</p> - -<p>We had not gone far when we heard, to the right -of us, the grunting of some wild boars. As they are -very wild, we jumped hastily behind a fallen tree to -hide ourselves. In our haste to do this, I heedlessly -stepped on something in my path, and, looking down, -found I was running upon an immense serpent, a huge -python, which lay snugly coiled up beside the tree. -Happily, he was in a state of stupefaction, consequent, -probably, on having eaten too heavy a dinner. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -scarcely moved, and did not raise his head. I ran to -Niamkala, and borrowed a kind of heavy cutlass which -he carried with him, and with a blow of this I cut the -python in two pieces, which instantly began to squirm -about in a very snaky and horrible way. During his -death-struggle the monster disgorged the body of a -young gazelle, which was in a half digested condition. -This python was not quite twenty feet long—a pretty -good-sized one, you may judge.</p> - -<p>The noise we made in killing the snake of course -frightened the wild pigs. We pursued them, and -succeeded, by good management, and after a hard -chase of an hour, in coming up with the herd. They -were ten in number, and we managed to bag two. -They were not very large. Besides these pigs, my -hunters carried the two halves of the serpent to the -camp. We were received there with demonstrations of -joy. They made a kind of soup with the boa, and -seemed to relish it very much. I did not taste it, and -can therefore say nothing against it.</p> - -<p>I never saw a country like this for game. There -was so much prairie land that it reminded me of -Southern Africa. The contrast with the great forest, -where I had travelled for days without seeing anything, -was very great.</p> - -<p>For a few days I remained quiet in the camp. The -men had in the meantime been hunting and exploring -in various directions. As they reported that great -herds of buffaloes frequented every night a prairie -situated about ten miles from our camp, I determined -to have a hunt for them. I was very fond of buffaloes, -at least of their meat.</p> - -<p>We set out and left our camp just before sunset. -Our route was through the midst of prairie land, and -by eight o'clock in the evening we reached the forest -beyond. There we hoped to find our game; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -securing for ourselves safe hiding-places in the woods -on the edge of the plain, we lay down and waited. -Now, waiting is generally tedious, but waiting in a -cold night from eight to two o'clock, every moment -expecting that which does not come, is apt to try one's -patience severely. Mine was entirely gone, and I -wished myself comfortably under my blanket in camp, -when suddenly the buffaloes came. Aboko heard them -coming, and presently a herd of about twenty-five -animals emerged from the woods, and scattered -quietly about the grassy plain.</p> - -<p>The moon was going down, and we could see from -our hiding-places the long shadows of the buffaloes, -silently gliding one way or another, but never near -enough to us for a shot. Soon they felt quite at ease, -and began feeding, ever and anon gambling sportively -with one another. Seeing them engaged, we crawled -towards them slowly and with great care. We had -almost got within safe range when a sudden change of -wind discovered us to them. They snuffed up the air -suspiciously, and instantly gathering together, they -disappeared in the woods.</p> - -<p>There was ill luck! My hunters cursed in Shekiani, -and I grumbled in several languages. But there was -still hope. Silently we crawled back to our lair, and -waited patiently for two mortal hours; when at last -two—a bull and a cow—stalked leisurely into the fields -and began to crop the grass. It was now dark. The -moon had gone down, leaving us only the uncertain -light of the stars. We watched the motions of the -buffaloes until we thought we could venture, and -then silently crawled towards them again. This time -we got within range. I chose the bull for my shot, and -Niamkala took the cow, while Aboko was ready to -second me with his gun in case I should not kill my -animal. We fired both at once, and by good luck, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -the light was not enough to afford a chance for a fair -shot, both the animals fell down dead.</p> - -<p>Daylight soon appeared, and we resolved to return to -the camp and send men to bring in the meat, thinking -that no wild beasts would trouble our prizes at such -unseasonable hours. Aboko and Niamkala first cut off -the bushy tails of black glossy hair, and then we made -for the camp, where they showed to our companions -these trophies of our chase. The men made haste, and -reached the place early, but not before the cow was -half eaten by a hungry leopard. The poor leopard who -ventured out so early in the morning must have been -nearly famished. I did not grudge him his meal, -though I should have liked to watch for him and shoot -him, had I thought of his coming, for I had plenty of -friends to whom I could have given his skin on my -return.</p> - -<p>A few days afterwards we broke up our camp, and -loaded ourselves with the birds and beasts I had killed -and prepared, and also with the meat which my men -had smoked; and all the time they were boasting of -how much tobacco and other dainties they would get -for this. They seemed very jolly, though groaning -under their burdens; and I was pleased to see them so -happy. The specimens of the <i>Bos brachicheros</i> were -an inconvenient load, and I was obliged to be very -careful with them.</p> - -<p>When I reached Sangatanga I found that the king -was in worse health than he was when I had left. He -was alarmed, fearing he would die. He remarked that -it was singular he had been taken worse immediately -after my departure; and that, in fact, he grew sick on -the very night when I slept in his house.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Fishing"><img src="images/fish.png" width="550" -height="433" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">FISHING.</div></div> - -<h2 id="XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">A JOLLY EXCURSION PARTY—A RACE FOR THE FISHING -BANKS—THE OROUNGOU BURIAL-GROUND.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Not long after we returned from our hunting -expedition, I prepared to go to Fetich Point -on a fishing excursion. For this purpose it -was necessary to have canoes. I had called on -King Bango since I returned, but, remembering -the rats, I had respectfully declined the hospitality of -his palace. Nevertheless, he remained my friend and -gave me all the men I wanted.</p> - -<p>I not only wanted to fish, but I also wished to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -the burial-ground of the Oroungous, which is not far -from Fetich Point. There were also some enormous -turtles on Fetich Point, I was told, and I wished to -catch some of them.</p> - -<p>My old hunting friend, Fasiko, had got together a -party of forty men. Besides Fetich Point, I was to -visit the Fetich river, and the end of Cape Lopez. -There being no houses whatever there, the women had -prepared for us a great quantity of powdered manioc, -baskets of ground nuts, sweet potatoes, and bunches of -plantain. We had a very large outfit. Fasiko got -together a lot of mats to sleep upon, and kettles to -cook in, and a great quantity of salt, with which to -salt the fish we hoped to catch. We had several fish-nets -made, of the fibre of a vine. We also had fish-hooks; -and I took an enormous hook to catch sharks. -I always had a hatred of sharks, they are such savage -and voracious monsters.</p> - -<p>We had a great number of baskets. The women -carried these to put the fish in. We did not forget -guns; for leopards lurk in the jungle, on the south -side of the cape, and the boa hangs from the trees, -waiting for his prey. If you got up early there, as -everybody at a watering-place should, you can see huge -elephants trotting down along the beach, and cooling -their tender toes in the surf.</p> - -<p>It was a very jolly party, for Cape Lopez is the Cape -May, or Nahant of Sangatanga. The dry season there -answers to our July, when "everybody that is anybody" -is supposed to be "out of town and down by -the seaside."</p> - -<p>Niamkala and Aboko were of the party; for we were -great friends; and wherever I went they wanted to go -with me. They were slaves of King Bango; but we -had shared the same dangers, we had shared the same -pleasures.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> - -<p>At last everything was ready. I embarked in the -biggest canoe, which was manned by sixteen oarsmen. -As usual, there was a good deal of shouting and bustle -before we got off. The sails, made with matting, were -unfurled, and we set out across the bay. We had an -exciting race to see which canoe was the fastest. There -was a stiff <i>breeze</i>; but unfortunately the wind was -nearly in our faces, so that our sails were of little use. -The men worked lustily at their paddles, and as they -paddled they sang their wild canoe songs. The morning -was clear and bright, but in the afternoon the sky -became clouded. We reached Fetich Point a little -before sunset; and the men, who seemed as lively and -jolly as could be, at once cast their net, in a way not -materially different from our mode of using the hand-net, -and made a great haul of fish, the principal part -of which were mullets. How beautiful they looked! -They seemed like silver fish.</p> - -<p>The men went immediately in search of firewood. -We lighted our fires; and, having cooked and eaten -our fish, which were delicious, we prepared for a night's -rest by spreading mats upon the sand. It was terribly -cold; for we were not sheltered from the wind, which -went right through my blanket.</p> - -<p>Not far from Fetich Point is the river Tetica, one -of the tributaries of the Nazareth river. The Nazareth -falls into the bay, through a tangled, dreary, and -poisonous track of back country, consisting of mangrove -swamps, like those I have described on the -Monda river, and where, I daresay, no animals, except -serpents, are to be found. There are no human habitations -there.</p> - -<p>In the morning, I wished to see the Oroungou burial-ground, -before starting for Cape Lopez itself. It lay -about a mile from our camp, towards Sangatanga, from -which it is distant about half a day's pull in a canoe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was only by the promise of a large reward that I -persuaded Niamkala to accompany me. The negroes -visit the place only on funeral errands, and hold it in -the greatest awe, conceiving that here the spirits of -their ancestors wander about, and that they are not -lightly to be disturbed.</p> - -<p>Niamkala and I left the camp, and, following the -seashore, we soon reached the place. It is in a grove -of noble trees, many of them of magnificent size and -shape. As I have said, the natives hold the place in -great reverence.</p> - -<p>The grove is by the sea. It is entirely cleared of -underbrush; and, as the wind sighs through the dense -foliage of the trees, and whispers in their darkened, -somewhat gloomy recesses, there is something awful -about the place. I thought how many lives had been -sacrificed on these graves.</p> - -<p>Niamkala stood in silence by the strand, while I -entered the domain of the Oroungou dead.</p> - -<p>The corpses are not put below the surface. They -lie about beneath the trees, in huge wooden coffins, -many of which are made of trees. By far the greater -number were crumbling away. Some new ones -betokened recent arrivals. The corpses of some had -only been surrounded by a mat. Here was a coffin -falling to pieces, and disclosing a grinning skeleton -within. On the other side were skeletons, already -without their covers, which lay in the dirt beside them. -Everywhere were bleached bones, and mouldering -remains. It was curious to see the brass anklets and -bracelets, in which some Oroungou maiden or wife had -been buried, still surrounding her whitened bones, and -to note the remains of articles which had been laid in -the coffin or put by the side of some wealthy fellow -now crumbling to dust. What do you think these -articles were? Umbrellas, guns, spears, knives, brace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>lets, -bottles, cooking-pots, swords, plates, jugs, glasses, -etc.</p> - -<p>In some places there remained only little heaps of -shapeless dust, from which some copper, or iron, or -ivory ornaments, or broken pieces of the articles I have -just mentioned, gleamed out, to prove that here, too, -once lay a corpse, and exemplifying the saying of the -Bible, "Dust, to dust thou shalt return." I could not -help saying to myself. "Man, what art thou?"</p> - -<p>Suddenly I came to a corpse that must have been -put there only the day before. The man looked asleep, -for death does not show its pallor in the face of the -negro as it does in that of the white man. This corpse -had been dressed in a coat, and wore a necklace of -beads. By his side stood a jar, a cooking-pot, and a -few other articles, which his friend, or his heir, had -put by his side.</p> - -<p>Passing on into a yet more sombre gloom, I came at -last to the grave of old King Pass-all, the brother of -the present king. Niamkala had pointed out to me -the place where I should find it. The huge coffin lay -on the ground, and was surrounded on every side with -great chests, which contained some of the property of -his deceased majesty. Many of them were tumbling -down, and the property destroyed. The wood, as well -as the goods, had been eaten up by the white ants. -Among some of these chests, and on the top of them, -were piled huge earthenware jugs, glasses, mugs, -plates, iron pots, and brass kettles. Iron and copper -rings, and beads were scattered around, with other -precious things which Pass-all had determined to carry -to the grave with him. There lay also the ghastly -skeletons of the poor slaves, who, to the number of one -hundred, were killed when the king died, that he -might not pass into the other world without due -attendance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was a grim sight, and one which filled me with a -sadder feeling than even the disgusting slave barracoons -had given me.</p> - -<p>The land breeze was blowing when I returned, and -we started for the sandy point of the cape. It is a -curious beach, very low, and covered with a short -scrub, which hides a part of the view, while the sand -ahead is undistinguishable at a distance from the -water, above which it barely rises. I was repeatedly -disappointed, thinking we had come to the end, when -in fact we had before us a long narrow sand-spit. -Finally we reached the extreme end, and landed in -smooth water on the inside of the spit.</p> - -<p>The point gains continually upon the sea. Every -year a little more sand appears above the water, while -the line of short shrubs, which acts as a kind of dam -or breakwater, is also extended, and holds the new -land firm against the encroachments of old Neptune.</p> - -<p>Among these shrubs we built our camp, and here -for some days we had a very pleasant and lively time.</p> - -<p>The weather was delightful; we had no rain, it being -the dry season, and we were not afraid of the awful -tornadoes.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo3.png" width="200" -height="122" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Sunrise"><img src="images/sun.png" width="550" -height="428" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">TURNING TURTLES JUST BEFORE SUNRISE.</div></div> - - - -<h2 id="XX">CHAPTER XX.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">OUR CAMP AT POINT FETICH—AN AFRICAN WATERING-PLACE—FISHING, -BUT NOT BATHING—THE SHARKS—CURING -MULLETS, ETC.—TURNING TURTLES—BIRD -SHOOTING—A LEOPARD SPRINGS UPON US.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Our camp presented a very picturesque appearance, -and was unlike the one described a -little while ago, and of which I gave you a -picture. Here each man had built for himself -a cosy shade with mats, which, by the way, are very -beautiful. These mats are about five or six feet in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -length and three feet wide. We made our walls of -them, so that we were sheltered from the wind. Our -houses looked very much like large boxes.</p> - -<p>As usual, the first day was occupied in making everything -comfortable, and in collecting firewood, which it -was not so easy a matter to find, for the shrubs did not -furnish much, and we had to go far to get it; afterwards -it was made the business of the children to -gather brushwood for the fires; and the poor children -had hard work too.</p> - -<p>We built large <i>oralas</i>, or frames, on which to dry -the fish when salted, or to smoke it by lighting a fire -beneath, in which case the oralas were built higher.</p> - -<p>Some had brought with them large copper dishes, -called Neptunes, which looked like gigantic plates, -in which they were to boil down salt water to get -supplies of salt for salting the fish, and to take home -with them. Some of the women were all day making -salt; when made, it was packed securely in baskets, -and placed near the fire to keep it dry.</p> - -<p>Every day we had some new kind of fish to eat, or -to salt down.</p> - -<p>As for myself, as I have said, I had brought along an -immense shark-hook and a stout rope. The hook was -attached to a strong chain two feet long, so that the -teeth of the shark could not cut the line if they should -swallow the piece of meat or the large fish put on the -hook for a bait.</p> - -<p>There were so many sharks swarming in the waters -about the cape that they were often almost washed -upon the beach by the waves. I never saw such an -immense number. The Chinese, who eat sharks' fins, -would find enough here to glut the Canton market. In -truth, I sometimes trembled when in a canoe at the -idea that it might upset, for if that had happened, in -a short time I should have been seized by a dozen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -hungry sharks, been dragged to the bottom of the sea, -and there been devoured. These sharks are certainly the -lions and tigers of the water: they show no mercy. -The very sight of them is horrible, for you cannot -help thinking and saying to yourself, "I wonder how -many people this shark has eaten!" There is a superstition -among sailors that whenever there is a sick -person aboard, the sharks will follow the ship, watching -for the corpse to be thrown overboard.</p> - -<p>I confess I felt a hatred for sharks, and while at Cape -Lopez I killed as many of them as I could. Almost -every day you could have seen me in a canoe near the -shore, throwing my shark-hook into the sea, and after -awhile making for the beach, and calling all the men -together to pull with all our might, and draw in my -victim. One day I took a blue-skin shark. He was a -tremendous fellow. I thought we should never be -able to haul him ashore, or that the line would part. -It took us an hour before we saw him safely on the -beach. Now and then I thought he would get the better -of us, and that we should have to let the line go, or be -pulled into the water. At last he came right up on the -beach, and a great shout of victory welcomed him. -Aboko was ready for him, and with a powerful axe he -gave him a tremendous blow that cut off his tail. Then -we smashed his head, and cut his body into several -pieces, which quivered to and fro for some time. In -his stomach we found a great number of fish. If I -remember correctly, he had six or seven rows of teeth, -and such ugly teeth! I pity the poor man whose leg -should unfortunately get caught between them.</p> - -<p>Hardly a day passed that I did not catch some -sharks, and then for a bait I used to put on my -hook a piece of their own flesh, which, like the cannibals, -they ate apparently without any remorse.</p> - -<p>There is another species of shark, of a grey leaden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -colour, which is shorter and thicker than the blue-skin -shark; it has a broader head, and a much wider -mouth, and is far more voracious. This species is the -most common. It will attack a man in shallow water. -I remember a poor boy who was going to his canoe, -where the water was not up to his knees, when -suddenly, just as he was going to get in, he was seized -by his leg and dragged into the water by one of these -terrible sharks, which had probably been for some -time swimming along the beach watching for prey. In -that country it is dangerous to bathe in the sea, and -I did not attempt to do so. So much for the sharks.</p> - -<p>Every day, on the muddy banks near the mouth of -the Fetich river, we hauled in with our nets a great -quantity of mullets and other fish. These were split -open, cleaned, salted, dried, and smoked, and then -packed away in baskets.</p> - -<p>Sometimes, early in the morning, we went out to -turn turtles. To do this we had to start before daylight. -They came on the beach to lay their eggs in -the sand, which the sea does not reach. There the -heat of the sun hatches them out. I have sometimes -spied these turtles early in the morning coming out of -the water and ascending the beach in a clumsy way, -until they reached the dry spot where they wish to lay -their eggs. After laying them, they manage to cover -them with sand. I should have liked very much to -have seen the young ones come out of the eggs. How -funny the little wee turtles must look! But I have -never been so fortunate.</p> - -<p>One day we caught a turtle which had only three legs; -the fourth had been bitten off, no doubt by a hungry -shark. The wound had got well, and must have been -made long before we caught the turtle.</p> - -<p>Would you like to know how we captured turtles?</p> - -<p>As soon as they see people coming towards them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -they generally make for the water. Then we rush with -all speed upon the unwieldy turtle, and with one jerk -roll it over on its back, where it lies, vainly struggling -to recover its legs. Then we kill it.</p> - -<p>Hundreds of eggs are sometimes found in one turtle. -I was very fond of them when found in the body, -otherwise I did not like them. They made splendid -omelettes.</p> - -<p>The turtles look very curious when they lie fast -asleep on the water. At such times I am told that, -with great care, they may be approached and captured.</p> - -<p>Besides fishing, we had hunting also. South of the -cape was a dense forest, in which might be found most -of the animals that live in African woods. Several -times we saw elephants on the beach, but we shot -none. I killed a great number of sea fowls, which fly -about there in such flocks as almost to darken the air. -They collect in this way in order to feed on the fish -which are so plentiful.</p> - -<p>One evening, as Aboko, Niamkala, and I were returning -from a fruitless hunt in the woods, we fell in with -larger game. Passing along the edge of the forest we -were suddenly startled by a deep growl. Looking -quickly about, we perceived an immense male leopard -just crouching for a spring upon our party. Fortunately -our guns were loaded with ball. No doubt we -had come upon the animal unawares. In a flash we all -three fired into the beast, for there was no time to be -lost. He was already upon the spring, and our shot -met him as he rose. He fell dead and quivering almost -within a foot of Aboko, who may be said to have had a -very narrow escape, for the leopard had singled him out -as his prey. He was an immense animal, and his skin, -which I preserved as a trophy, is most beautifully -shaded and spotted; in fact there is scarcely a more -beautiful animal than the African leopard.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> - -<p>At the mouth of the Nazareth the savage saw-fish is -found. It is no doubt one of the most formidable, and -the most terrible of the animals that live in the water.</p> - -<p>I was quietly paddling in a little canoe, when my -attention was drawn to a great splashing of water a -little way off. I saw at once it was a deadly combat -between two animals. All round the water was white -with foam. The cause of this could not be two -hippopotami fighting, for in that case I should have -seen them.</p> - -<p>I approached cautiously, having first made my two -rifles ready in case of an emergency. At last I came -near enough to see an enormous saw-fish attacking a -large shark. It was a fearful combat; both fought -with desperation. But what could the shark do against -the powerful saw of his antagonist?</p> - -<p>At last they came too near my canoe. I moved off -lest they might attack my canoe, for they would have -made short work of my small, frail boat; and a single -blow of the saw-fish would have disabled me. Each -tooth of the saw must have been two inches long, and -there were, I should say, forty on each side; the saw -was about five feet long. In the end, the saw-fish, more -active than the shark, gave him a terrible blow, making -his teeth go right through the flesh of the shark. -Several such blows were quickly delivered, and all became -still, the foam ceased, and the water resumed its -accustomed stillness. I paddled towards the scene, -when suddenly I saw, at the bottom of the river, what -I recognised to be a great shark; it was dead, and lay -on its back, showing its belly. The body was frightfully -lacerated.</p> - -<p>The saw-fish had killed its antagonist, and left the -field of battle, and only the blood of the shark stained -the water.</p> - -<p>In the bay of Cape Lopez, in the month of July, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -could see whales playing about in every direction, and -sending water high into the air.</p> - -<p>They come at that time of the year with their young; -and the water of the bay being very quiet, they enjoy -there the sea, and the young whales get strong before -they go into the broad ocean. Very pretty it looks to -see them swimming by the side of the big mothers.</p> - -<p>Year after year the whales came, always in July; but -one year the whalers found them out, and made war -upon them; and now, when July comes, they are no -more to be seen, for the whale is very intelligent, and -knows well the places where he is not safe; so they -look out for some other unfrequented bay wherein to -play and train their young.</p> - -<p>Besides the whale, all the year round can be seen -what the sailor commonly calls the <i>bottle-nose</i>, an -enormous fish, not so big as a whale, but nevertheless -of great size. It is of the whale family.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo1.png" width="200" -height="138" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a> -<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Tornado"><img src="images/torn.png" width="550" -height="510" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">OUR SCHOONER CAUGHT IN A TORNADO.</div></div> - - - -<h2 id="XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">BOUND FOR THE INTERIOR—A SEA VOYAGE—A TORNADO—WE -REACH THE FERNAND-VAZ—SANGALA WISHES -TO DETAIN ME—A NIGHT ALARM—PROSPECT OF A -WAR—ARRAYED FOR BATTLE—A COMPROMISE—MY -COMMI FRIENDS.</p> - - -<p class="p2">I have been a great wanderer. On the 5th of -February, 1857, I was on board of a little -schooner, of forty-five tons burden, bound for -the mouth of a river called Fernand-Vaz. From<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -there I expected to penetrate into the interior. -I was on my way to a wild and unexplored region.</p> - -<p>The name of the schooner was the Caroline. She -was full of provisions and goods for the long journey I -had to undertake; for I intended to make a very long -exploration before my return to America. The captain -was a Portuguese negro, Cornillo by name. The crew, -seven in number, were Mpongwes, Mbingos, and Croomen, -not more than two of whom could understand -each other, and not a soul could properly understand -the captain. A fine prospect for the voyage!</p> - -<p>I got aboard at daylight, and should have been glad -to go immediately ashore again; but, by dint of steady -shouting, and a great deal of standing idle, with a -little work now and then, we got the anchor up just -at dusk. The captain did not like to leave port on -Friday. I told him I would take the responsibility. -He asked what good that would do him if he went to -the bottom. It appears that the Portuguese have the -same absurd superstitions as many of the sailors of -other nations.</p> - -<p>No sooner had we got into the swell than our two -black women, and every man on board (except the -captain), got sea-sick. The cook was unable to get the -breakfast next morning; and the men were lying about, -looking like dying fish.</p> - -<p>We set sail from the Gaboon river, and hoped to get -down to the Commi country in five days. But for four -days after starting we had light wind and a contrary -current; and, on the fifth day, we were caught in such -a storm at sea as I hope never to experience again.</p> - -<p>The steering went on so badly when Captain Cornillo -was below, that I was forced to stand watch myself. I -had been steering for four hours, and had been perhaps -one hour in my berth, when I was awakened from a -sound sleep by the captain's voice, giving orders to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -take down the mainsail. I sprang on deck immediately, -knowing there must be at least a heavy squall -coming. But no sooner did I cast my eyes to the leeward -than I saw how imminent the danger was. A -tornado was coming down upon us. The black clouds -which had gathered about the horizon were becoming -lurid white with startling quickness. It seemed almost -as if they were lit up by lightning. The tornado was -sweeping along and in a moment would be upon us. -As yet all was still—still as death. There was not a -breath of wind.</p> - -<p>I turned to see if the mainsail was down, but found -nothing had been done. The captain was shouting -from the wheel; the men were also shouting and running -about, half scared to death; and, in the pitchy -darkness (for I could not see my hands when held close -before my eyes), no one could find the halliards. In -the midst of our trouble the wind came roaring down -upon us. I seized a knife, determined to cut everything -away; but just then somebody let go the halliards, -and, in the nick of time, the mainsail came half-way -down. The tornado was upon us. The jibs flew -away in rags in a moment. The vessel was thrown -upon her beam ends. The water rushed over her deck, -and the men sang out that we were drowning; as, in -fact, we should have been in a very few minutes. -Happily the wind shifted a little; and, by the light of -some very vivid lightning, we seized on the mainsail, -like men that felt it was their last hope, and pulled it -down, holding it so that the wind should not catch it -again. The vessel righted, and in less than twenty -minutes the squall died away, and was succeeded by a -driving rain, which poured down in such torrents that -in a very short time I was drenched to the skin. The -lightning and thunder were something terrific. I was -afraid of the lightning, striking us as the Caroline had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -no lightning-rod, and we had powder enough on board -to blow us all to atoms. The deck was so leaky that -even below I could not get protection from the rain.</p> - -<p>The next morning we had no jibs, and our other sails -were severely damaged. To add to our difficulties, no -one on board, not even our captain, knew where we -were. At that time I knew not how to make astronomical -observations. The captain was in the habit of -bringing up, every day, an old quadrant; but about -the use of it he knew as much as a cow does about a -musket.</p> - -<p>At last we made the land. A canoe came on board, -and we asked where we were. We found that we must -be somewhere near Cape St. Catherine, and therefore a -good many miles south of the mouth of the Fernand-Vaz, -the place where I was bound. So we turned about -to retrace our path. Sailing close in shore, when I -passed the village of Aniambia, or Big Camma, the -natives came with a message from their king, offering -me two slaves if I would stay with him.</p> - -<p>I was immovable, for I had set my heart on going -to the Fernand-Vaz river, of which I heard a good deal, -from my friend Aboko, while in the Cape Lopez regions. -As we approached that river, the vast column of water, -pushing seaward, forced its separate way through the -ocean for at least four or five miles; and the water -there was almost fresh, and seemed a separate current -in the sea.</p> - -<p>At last we came to the mouth of the Fernand-Vaz, -and our fame had gone before us. Some of the -Commi people, the inhabitants of the Fernand-Vaz, had -seen me before at Cape Lopez. The news had spread -that I wanted to settle at the village of a chief called -Ranpano; so, as we passed his seashore village, a canoe -came off to ask me to land; but as the breakers were -rather formidable, I begged to be excused.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> - -<p>Ranpano's men wanted much to hug me; and were -so extravagant in their joy, that I had to order them to -keep their hands off, their shining and oily bodies -having quite soiled my clothes. They went back to -the king to tell him the good news. I kept one of -these men on board for a pilot, being now anxious to -get across the intricate bar, and fairly into the river, -before dark.</p> - -<p>As we sailed along up the river, canoes belonging to -different villages shot out to meet us; and presently -I had a crowd alongside anxious to come on board, and -sufficient almost to sink us. They took me for a slaver -at first, and their joy was unbounded; for there is -nothing the African loves so much as to sell his fellowmen. -They immediately called out their names in -Portuguese: one was Don Miguel, another Don Pedro, -another Don Francisco. They began to jabber away -in Portuguese. Where they had learned this language -I could not tell, unless it were in Sangatanga. I could -not understand them; so I sent my captain to talk -with them. He had some difficulty to persuade them -that I came no such errand as slave-trading. They -insisted that I had, and that the vessel looked exactly -like a slaver. They said we must buy some of their -slaves; they had plenty of them.</p> - -<p>They insisted that I should not go to Ranpano. I -should put up a factory in their place. They belonged -to Elindé, a town just at the mouth of the Fernand-Vaz, -whose king is named Sangala. They praised the -power and greatness of Sangala, and decried poor -Ranpano, until I had to order all hands ashore for the -night, being anxious to get a good quiet sleep to -prepare for the morrow.</p> - -<p>During the night, the men on watch said they heard -the paddling of a canoe coming towards us. What could -it be? Let us be ready. These men might be coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> -to board us and make war. At length the canoe came -within hailing distance; we shouted to them. (I may -say that the Commi speak the same language as the -Oroungou people—the inhabitants of Cape Lopez.) -They came, they said, with a message from King -Sangala. I recognised the voice of the head man in -the canoe to be that of Nchouga. He was brother of -King Bango of Cape Lopez. Bango had accused -Nchouga of bewitching him, whereupon the latter, to -save his life, fled from the country; and having married -one of the daughters of Sangala, he came to his father-in-law -for protection.</p> - -<p>Nchouga was a very cunning fellow; fortunately I -knew him well, and he could not fool me so easily as -he thought. He came to tell me that Sangala was the -master of all the river; that he was a very great king; -that he would not let me go to Ranpano, who was only -a vassal of the great Sangala; therefore, he advised -me as a friend—an old friend—to go ashore at Elindé.</p> - -<p>I could read the cunning rogue. He had been one -of the greatest rascals of Cape Lopez, and his slave -dealings had not improved him. So I sent Nchouga -off; I wanted to go to sleep. He had come out to -test me; they thought I was a green hand at slave-trading.</p> - -<p>Early next morning Sangala sent off a boat for me. -On my arrival at Elindé, which village was about two -miles from the river's mouth, I was conducted to the -best house. Hither presently came King Sangala, who, -in order to nerve himself for the occasion, had got -drunk, and came attended by a great crowd of eager -subjects. He grew very angry when I stated my intention -of passing up the river, and going to Ranpano, -and also into the interior. He declared that I should -not go; he was the big king there and everywhere all -over the world, and I must settle in his town.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> - -<p>I declared that I should go on. Sometimes I wonder -that they did not at once make me a prisoner.</p> - -<p>We had some sharp words, and I explained to his -majesty that I was an old African traveller, and saw -through all his lies; that he was not the big king of -the country, as he said. Then he said I might go -wherever I liked, provided I would have a factory built -in his village.</p> - -<p>I said that I had no factory to build in his village; -but I offered to "dash" him (give him some presents).</p> - -<p>He refused this offer; and now Ranpano, having just -come, assured me that I should be backed up. I told -Sangala I should force my way up. Sangala and all his -people shouted with all their might that there should -be war; Sangala, as he got up to say so, reared and -tumbled down, he was so drunk.</p> - -<p>So I left Sangala. By that time it rained so hard -that no one followed us. It is wonderful how a crowd -is dispersed by a shower of rain.</p> - -<p>A great palaver was looming up; the excitement had -spread over the country. In the meantime I had -succeeded in going to Ranpano's village, situated up -the river, five or six miles above Elindé. Ranpano -gave me as much land as I wanted. My goods must -come to his village; but it seemed that they could not -be brought there without great trouble. Our canoes -would be attacked by Sangala's people. Men would be -killed; and we might be routed, unless we had a powerful -force.</p> - -<p>One morning the war drums beat. All Ranpano's -friends had gathered to help fight Sangala. Canoe -after canoe came in loaded with armed men, with drums -beating, and all hands shouting, and waving their -swords, guns, and spears. All were prepared to assist -Ranpano's white man; all were anxious to burn and -plunder Elindé, ready even to die in the undertaking.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> -There was King Ritimbo, with two canoes and fifty -men; King Mombon, from Sanguibiuri, also had two -canoes; altogether we had no less than twenty big -canoes, and could muster about three hundred men, -most of whom were drunk on <i>mimbo</i> (palm-wine), and -as noisy and as ready for fight as drunkenness will -make an African. The drums were beaten, war songs -were sung, and guns fired, as we paddled down the -river. All hands had their faces painted white, which -is a sign of war; and were covered with fetiches and -other amulets. The white chalk or ochre was a sovereign -protection against danger, and their war fetiches -would prevent them from being killed. I could not -recognise old Ranpano, his body was so daubed with -paint.</p> - -<p>One would have supposed these terrible fellows were -bent upon the most bloody of raids. I wondered -if all this uproar would end in smoke; I thought it -would; nor was I disappointed. As these terrible -warriors approached the village of Elindé they became -less demonstrative. When they came in sight of -Sangala's town, they pushed over to the other shore, -out of the way, and took care to keep the Caroline -between the enemy and themselves. The sight of -Sangala's warriors had wrought a wonderful change in -their warlike feelings. They really began to think -that there might be some fighting.</p> - -<p>We found that Sangala had also gathered his friends, -and had about one hundred and fifty men ready for -the fight, who probably felt about as courageous as my -men did. These fellows were painted more outrageously -than mine, having red as well as white applied in -broad stripes. They looked like so many devils shouting -and firing guns, each side knowing their mutual -lack of courage, and thinking it prudent to scare the -other in advance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> - -<p>My men fired guns, sung, and danced war dances. -I went on board my schooner. One small canoe on -Sangala's side, with two men, who were unarmed, -started from the shore towards us. This of course meant -a palaver; they came on board of the Caroline, where -I was. I sent word to Sangala, pointing to two little -guns we had on deck, that if he stopped me I would -blow his canoes out of the water with grape-shot, -and would then go and bring a man-of-war to finish -him up. I loaded my guns and pistols before them. -I made my men put good charges into their pieces, -and showed Sangala's men the bag of bullets I loaded -them with, and then sent them back, and awaited the -event.</p> - -<p>I spied them with a glass. As soon as they landed -the people surrounded them; there was a grand -palaver.</p> - -<p>Presently, from Sangala, came a small canoe to ask -me ashore. Sangala sent his Konde (chief wife) to be -hostage for my safety. I determined to go ashore, -and, to show these negroes that I had no fear of them, -I took the woman along with me, to her great joy. -Ranpano and his brother kings protested against my -rashness as they thought it. "Why not keep Sangala's -woman on board?" said they. But I told them it was -not the fashion of white people to fear anything. They -looked at me as if to say, "If you are not afraid we -are." All this had its effect upon them, and Ranpano -and his brother kings were evidently impressed, and so -also was old Sangala when he saw me come with his -wife by my side.</p> - -<p>We met on neutral ground outside his town. His -army was drawn up in battle array, and made a fine -savage display, many of the men wearing beautiful -leopard skins about their waists. They came up to us -at full trot, when we were seated, and made as though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -they would spear us all; and, if Sangala had not been -close to me, I should have thought it was to be the end -of us all. Ranpano kept whispering in my ears, "Why -did you not keep Sangala's wife on board?"</p> - -<p>But this advance upon us was only a kind of military -salute. Sangala, this time, had become more gentle; -he was not drunk, and, thinking that perhaps there -might really be a fight, he had become very quiet. -He did not wish to push matters to extremity.</p> - -<p>Presently, Sangala said he would let me pass if I -would give him a barrel of rum, a big one. I refused. -I said I had none. He insisted that they must rejoice -and get drunk. He wanted to get drunk for several -days, and drink rum to his heart's content. At last, -the palaver was settled, and I gave him many presents; -and thereafter King Sangala became one of my best -friends.</p> - -<p>Ranpano was delighted; he hugged Sangala; he -swore eternal friendship, and said that he loved him -with all his heart. Sangala returned these compliments. -We made a sign, agreed upon to our men, that -everything was settled. Immediately they fired guns, -embarked in their canoes, and came over to Sangala's -village. They made a fine display, as all their canoes -came in a line, and they were singing their war songs.</p> - -<p>They were met by Sangala's warriors; and they made -a rush towards each other as if they were to have a -real fight, and then all was over and they laughed over -the palaver, and swore that they would not hurt each -other for the world.</p> - -<p>I need not say how glad I was that everything had -ended so well. Captain Cornillo, when everything -looked black, swore that he never would come again to -this wild country; and the crew said I wanted them -all to be murdered.</p> - -<p>I found these Commi very good people. I took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -ashore canoe after canoe, loaded with goods which -might well tempt these poor negroes sorely. Many of -the things were brought loose to Ranpano's; and yet -not a single thing was stolen, not even the value of a -penny. They were proud that I had come to settle -among them. I was the first white man who had done -so.</p> - -<p>I love these Commi people dearly; and I am sure they -all love me also. They took such great care of me. -Ranpano was a very good king, and he always tried to -please me, and so did his people. Now and then they -did wrong; but these poor people knew no better, and -they were sorry afterwards. Not one would have tried -to do me an injury, and I could sleep with my doors -wide open.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo8.png" width="175" -height="120" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Dancing"><img src="images/dance.png" width="600" -height="373" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">AFRICAN BALL. KING OLENGA-YOMBI DANCING.<br /> -<a href="#XXII">CHAP. XXII.</a></div></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a> -<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo13.png" width="600" -height="133" alt="" title="" /></div> - - - -<h2 id="XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">I BUILD A VILLAGE, AND CALL IT WASHINGTON—I START -FOR THE INTERIOR—MY SPEECH ON LEAVING—THE -PEOPLE APPLAUD ME VOCIFEROUSLY, AND PROMISE TO -BE HONEST—WE REACH ANIAMBIA—THE "BIG KING," -OLENGA-YOMBI—A ROYAL BALL IN MY HONOUR—THE -SUPERSTITIONS OF THE NATIVES—A MAN TOSSED BY A -BUFFALO.</p> - - -<p class="p2">I immediately began building a substantial -settlement, not an <i>olako</i>. I collected from a -kind of palm tree a great many leaves, with -which to cover the roofs of the buildings I -had to construct. I gathered also a great quantity of -branches from the same palm trees, and sticks, and -poles, and all that was necessary to make a house; -and finally I succeeded in building quite a village, -which I called Washington. My own house had five -rooms; it was forty-five feet long by twenty-five wide, -and cost me about fifty dollars. My kitchen, which -stood by itself, cost four dollars. I had a fowl-house,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -containing a hundred chickens (and such nice little -tiny chickens they are in that country) and a dozen -ducks. My goat-house contained eighteen goats, and -funny goats they were. You had to milk a dozen of -them to get a pint of milk. I built a powder-house -separate, for I do not like to sleep every day in a place -where there is powder. I had a dozen huts for my -men.</p> - -<p>This was Washington in Africa, a very different place -from Washington in America.</p> - -<p>At the back of my village was a wide extent of -prairie. In front was the river Npoulounai winding -along; and I could see miles out on the way which -I was soon to explore. The river banks were lined -with the mangrove trees; and, looking up stream, I -could at almost any time see schools of hippopotami -tossing and tumbling on the flats or mud banks.</p> - -<p>I was now ready to explore the country, and go to -Aniambia, where the big king of the country lived. I -bought a splendid canoe, made of large trees, which I -hoped would be serviceable to me in my up-river explorations. -I was now anxious to be off.</p> - -<p>Before starting I called Ranpano and all his people -together, and said that I had perfect confidence in -them; that I was their white man, and had come to -them through much difficulty and many dangers. -(Cheers.) That Sangala's people wanted me, but I -was determined to live with the honest folks of Biagano -(Ranpano's village). (Tremendous applause.) That -I was going away for a few days, and hoped to find -my goods all safe when I came back.</p> - -<p>At this, there were great shoutings of "You can -go! Do not fear! We love you! You are our white -man! We will take care of you!" and so on; amid -which my sixteen men seized their paddles, and shoved -off.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> - -<p>At nine in the evening, the moon rose; and we -pulled along through what seemed a charming scene. -The placid stream was shaded by the immense trees -which overhung its banks; and the silence was broken, -now and then, by the screech of some night-prowling -blast, or, more frequently, by the sudden plunge of a -playful herd of hippopotami, some of which came very -dangerously near us, and might have upset our canoe.</p> - -<p>Towards midnight, my men became very tired, and -we went ashore, at a little village which was nearly -deserted. We could find only three old women, who -were fast asleep and were not particularly anxious to -make us welcome. I was too sleepy to stand upon -ceremonies, and stowed myself away under a rough -shed without walls. I had scarcely lain down, when -there came up, suddenly, one of those fierce tornadoes -which pass over these countries in the rainy season.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, it was a dry tornado. In my half-sleepy -state I did not care to move. As the tornado had unroofed -every other shed as well as mine, nothing would -have been gained by moving, even if it had rained.</p> - -<p>The next morning we paid for our lodging, not in -hard cash, but with some leaves of tobacco, and up the -river we paddled until we reached a village called -Igala Mandé, which is situated on the banks of the -river. In a two hours' walk through grass fields we -found numerous birds. One, in particular, was new to -me, the <i>Mycteria senegalensis</i>. It had such long legs -that it fairly outwalked me. I tried to catch it; but, -though it would not take to its wings, it kept so far -ahead that I did not even get a fair shot at it. This -<i>Mycteria senegalensis</i> is a beautiful bird, and wanders -here through the grass of the prairie.</p> - -<p>There were also great flocks of a beautiful bird, whose -dark golden body-plumage and long snow-white downy -necks make a very fine and marked contrast with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -green grass. Next to these, in point of number, was -the snow-white <i>egretta</i>, which is found in vast flocks -all along this coast.</p> - -<p>At last we came to Aniambia. Olenga-Yombi, the -king, came in from his plantation when he heard the -joyful news that a white man had arrived. I paid -him a state visit. He was a drunken old wretch, surrounded -by a crowd of the chief men of the town. His -majesty had on a thick overcoat, but no trousers; and, -early as it was, he had already taken a goodly quantity -of palm-wine, and was quite drunk. I was invited to -sit at his right hand.</p> - -<p>King Olenga-Yombi was one of the ugliest fellows I -ever met with. He always carried with him a long -stick; and when drunk he struck at his people right -and left, and shouted, "I am a big king!" Happily, -they managed to keep out of his way.</p> - -<p>At nightfall I got a guide, and went out to see if I -could get a shot at something larger than a bird. We -had gone but a little way, when my guide pointed out -to me a couple of bright glowing spots, visible through -a piece of thick brush. The fellow trembled, as he -whispered "Leopard!" But I saw at once that it was -only the light of a couple of fireflies which had got in -proper position to make a tolerable resemblance to the -glowing eyes of the dreaded leopard.</p> - -<p>I did not think much of the bravery of my guide. -What a difference between him and Aboko, Niamkala, -or Fasiko! I wished that I had them with me.</p> - -<p>At two o'clock in the morning we at last heard a -grunting, which announced the approach of a herd of -wild hogs. I lay in wait for them, and I was fortunate -enough to kill the big boar of the pack. The rest -of the herd made off without showing a desire for fight.</p> - -<p>The next day, King Olenga-Yombi held a grand -dance in my honour. All the king's wives, to the num<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>ber -of forty, and all the women in the town and neighbourhood -were present.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, the dance was held out in the street, -and not in a room, as at Cape Lopez. The women were -ranged on one side, the men opposite. At the end of -the line sat the drummers, beating their huge tom-toms, -which make an infernal din, enough to make one -deaf; and, as if for this occasion the tom-toms were -not entirely adequate, there was a series of old brass -kettles, which also were furiously beaten. In addition, -as if the noise was not yet enough, a number of -boys sat near the drummers, and beat on hollow pieces -of wood. What beauty they found in such music I -cannot tell. There was of course singing and shouting; -and the more loudly and energetically the horrid drums -were beaten, and the worse the noise on the brass kettles, -the wilder were the jumps of the male Africans, and -the more disgusting the contortions of the women.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, to beat the tom-tom is not a -labour of love; the stoutest negro is worn out in an -hour; and for such a night's entertainment as this, a -series of drummers was required.</p> - -<p>The people enjoyed it vastly; their only regret was -that they had not a barrel of rum in the midst of the -street, with which to refresh themselves in the pauses -of the dance; but they managed to get just as drunk -on palm-wine, of which a great quantity was served -out.</p> - -<p>The excitement became greatest when the king -danced. His majesty was pretty drunk, and his jumps -were very highly applauded. His wives bowed down -to his feet while he capered about, and showed towards -him the deepest veneration. The drums and kettles -were belaboured more furiously than ever, and the -singing, or rather the shouting, became stentorian.</p> - -<p>Of course I did not think his majesty's party pleasant -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -enough to detain me all night. I retired, but could -not sleep.</p> - -<p>Now I think I have given you a sufficient account of -a ball at Aniambia, and of how his majesty Olenga-Yombi -danced.</p> - -<p>There are two very curious fetich-houses in Aniambia, -which enjoy the protection of two spirits of great power—Abambou -and Mbiuri. The former is an evil spirit, -a kind of devil; the latter, as far as I have been able to -ascertain, is beneficent.</p> - -<p>The little houses where these spirits sometimes condescend -to come and sleep for the night were about six -feet square. In the house of Abambou I saw a fire, -which I was told was never permitted to go out. I saw -no idol, but only a large chest, on the top of which -were some white and red chalk and some red parrot-feathers. -The chalk was used to mark the bodies of -the devout.</p> - -<p>Abambou is the devil of the Commi people. He is a -wicked and mischievous fellow, who often lives near -graves and burial-grounds, and is most comfortably -lodged among the skeletons of the dead. He takes -occasional walks through the country, and, if he gets -angry at anyone, he has the power to cause sickness -and death. The Commi people cook food for him, -which is deposited in lonely places in the woods, and -there they address him in a flattering manner, and ask -him to be good to them, and, in consideration of -their gifts, and of the great care they take of him, to -let them alone. I was present once at a meeting -where Abambou was being addressed in public. They -cried continually: "Now we are well! Now we are -satisfied! Now be our friend, Abambou, and do not -hurt us!"</p> - -<p>The offerings of plantain, bananas, sugar-cane, -ground-nuts, etc., etc., are wrapped in leaves by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -free men, but the slaves lay them on the bare ground. -Sometimes Abambou is entreated to kill the enemies of -him who is making the offering. A bed is made in -Abambou's house, and there he is believed to rest himself -sometimes, when he is tired going up and down -the coast in the forest.</p> - -<p>Mbiuri, whose house I next visited, is lodged and -kept much in the same way as his rival. He is a good -spirit, but his powers are like those of Abambou, as -far as I could make out. Not being wicked, he is less -zealously worshipped.</p> - -<p>These Commi people are full of superstition. They -believe in a third and much-dreaded spirit, called -Ovengua. This is a terrible catcher and <i>eater</i> of men. -He is not worshipped, and has no power over disease; -but he wanders unceasingly through the forests, and -catches and destroys luckless travellers who cross his -path. By day he lives in dark caverns, but at night he -roams freely, and even sometimes gets into the body -of a man, and beats and kills all who come out in the -dark. Sometimes, they relate, such a spirit is met and -resisted by a body of men, who wound him with spears, -and even kill him. In this case the body must be -burned, and not even the smallest bone left, lest a new -Ovengua should arise from it. There are many places -where no object in the world would induce a Commi -negro to go by night, for fear of this dreadful monster.</p> - -<p>They have a singular belief that when a person dies -who has been bewitched, the bones of his body leave -the grave one by one, and form in a single line united -to each other, which line of bones gradually becomes -an Ovengua.</p> - -<p>It is not an easy matter to get at the religious -notions of these people. They themselves have no -well-defined ideas of them, and on many points they -are not very communicative.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> - -<p>I suppose they think that sometimes the Ovengua is -in a man; hence they kill him and burn his body.</p> - -<p>Of course the Commi people, like all other negroes, -are firm believers in witchcraft.</p> - -<p>Not very far from Aniambia, there is a place in the -forest which is supposed to be haunted by the spirit of -a crazy woman, who, some hundreds of years ago, left -her home. They believe that she cultivates her plantation -in some hidden recess in the forest, and that she -often lies in wait for travellers, whom she beats and -kills out of pure malice.</p> - -<p>While at Aniambia I had a great adventure with a -<i>bos brachicheros</i>, which might have ended in a terrible -way. I started out early one day to try and get a shot -at some buffaloes which were said to be in the prairie -at the back of the town. I had been an hour on the -plains with Ifouta, a hunter, when we came upon a bull -feeding in the midst of a little prairie surrounded by -woods, which made an approach easy. I remember -well how beautiful the animal looked. Ifouta walked -round through the jungle opposite to where I lay in -wait; for, if the animal should take fright at him, it -might fly towards me. When he reached the right -position, Ifouta began to crawl, in the hunter's -fashion, through the grass towards his prey. All went -well till he came near enough for a shot. Just then, -unluckily, the bull saw him. Ifouta immediately fired. -It was a long shot, and he only wounded the beast, -which, quite infuriated, immediately rushed upon him. -It was now that poor Ifouta lost his presence of mind. -In such cases, which are continually happening to -those who hunt the <i>bos brachicheros</i>, the proper course -for the hunter is to remain perfectly quiet till the -beast is within a jump of him, then to step nimbly to -one side, and let him rush past. But Ifouta got up -and ran.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> - -<p>The bull ran faster than he, and in a moment had -him on his horns. He tossed him high into the air, -once, twice, thrice, before I could come up; for, as -soon as I saw what had happened, I ran as fast as I -could to the rescue, and my shouts drew the bull's -fury upon myself. He left Ifouta and came rushing -at me, thinking that he would serve me as he had just -served Ifouta. Master Bull was sadly mistaken. I -took a good aim, and down came the bull, to rise no -more.</p> - -<p>Ifouta proved to be considerably bruised; but, on the -whole, he was more scared than hurt. It was fortunate -for him that the horns of these buffaloes slant -backwards a good deal, and are curved.</p> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo10.png" width="200" -height="117" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Gorilla"><img src="images/capt.png" width="550" -height="425" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">CAPTURING A YOUNG GORILLA.</div></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a> -<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a></span></p> - - -<h2 id="XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">CAPTURE OF A YOUNG GORILLA—I CALL HIM "FIGHTING -JOE"—HIS STRENGTH AND BAD TEMPER—HE PROVES -UNTAMEABLE—JOE ESCAPES—RE-CAPTURED—ESCAPES -AGAIN—UNPLEASANT TO HANDLE—DEATH OF "FIGHTING -JOE."</p> - - -<p class="p2">I remember well the day when I first possessed -a live gorilla. Yes, a gorilla that could roar; -a young gorilla alive! He was captured not -far from Cape St. Catherine, and dragged into Washington.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> -My hunters were five in number, and were walking -very silently through the forest, when suddenly the -silence was broken by the cry of a young gorilla for its -mother. Everything was still. It was about noon, and -they immediately determined to follow the cry.</p> - -<p>Soon they heard the cry again. Gun in hand, the -brave fellows crept noiselessly towards a clump of wood -where the baby gorilla evidently was. They knew the -mother would be near; and there was a likelihood that -they might encounter the male also, which they dread -more than they do the mother. But they determined -to risk everything, and, if possible, to take the young -one alive, knowing how pleased I should be, for I had -been long trying to capture a young gorilla.</p> - -<p>Presently they perceived the bush moving; and -crawling a little farther on, in dead silence, scarcely -breathing with excitement, they beheld what had -seldom been seen even by negroes. A young gorilla -was seated on the ground, as the picture shows you, -eating some berries, which grew close to the earth. A -few feet farther on sat the mother, also eating of the -same fruit.</p> - -<p>Instantly they made ready to fire; and none too -soon, for the old female saw them as they raised their -guns, and they had to pull triggers without delay. -Happily, they wounded her mortally.</p> - -<p>She fell on her face, the blood gushing from the -wounds. The young one, hearing the noise of the -guns, ran to his mother and clung to her, hiding his -face and embracing her body. The hunters immediately -rushed towards the two, hallooing with joy. -How much I wished that I had been with them, and -been so fortunate as to assist in the capture of a live -gorilla!</p> - -<p>Their shouts roused the little one, who, by this time, -was covered with blood coming from his mother's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -wounds. He instantly let go of his mother and ran -to a small tree, which he climbed with great agility. -There he sat and roared at them savagely. They were -now perplexed how to get at him. What was to be -done? No one cared to run the chance of being bitten -by this savage little beast. They did not want to -shoot him, for they knew I should never forgive them -for doing so. He would not come down the tree, and -they did not care to climb it after him. At last they -cut down the tree, and, as it fell, they dexterously -threw a cloth over the head of the young monster, -and thus gained time to secure it while it was blinded. -With all these precautions, one of the men received a -severe bite on the hand, and another had a piece taken -out of his leg.</p> - -<p>The little brute, though very diminutive, and the -merest baby in age, was astonishingly strong, and -by no means good-tempered. They found they could -not lead him. He constantly rushed at them, showing -fight, and manifesting a strong desire to take a piece, -or several pieces, out of every one of their legs, which -were his special objects of attack. So they were -obliged to get a forked stick, in which his neck was -inserted in such a way that he could not escape, -and yet could be kept at a safe distance. It must -have been very uncomfortable for him; but it was the -only way of securing themselves against his nails and -teeth, and thus he was brought to Washington.</p> - -<p>The excitement in the village was intense, as the -animal was lifted out of the canoe in which he had -come down the river. He roared and bellowed; and -looked around wildly with his wicked little eyes, giving -fair warning that if he could get at any of us he -would take his revenge. Of course, no one came in his -way.</p> - -<p>I saw that the stick hurt his neck, and immediately -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -set about having a cage made for him. In two hours -we had built a strong bamboo house with the slats -securely tied at such a distance apart that we could -see the gorilla, and it could see out. We made it as -strong as we could, and I was very careful to provide -against every chance of his escaping. In this cage he -was immediately deposited; and now, for the first -time, I had a fair chance to look at my prize.</p> - -<p>As I approached the cage he darted at me; but I -could afford to have a good laugh over him, for I knew -he could not get near enough to bite me. He looked -at me with very savage eyes.</p> - -<p>I named the gorilla Joe—"Fighting Joe." He -was evidently not three years old, but fully able to walk -alone, and possessed, for his age, of very extraordinary -strength. His height was about three feet and six -inches. His hands and face were very black, his eyes -were sunken. The hair on his head was of a reddish-brown -colour. It began just at the eyebrows and came -down the sides of the face to the lower jaw, just as our -beards grow. The whiskers, if we may call them so, -were of a blackish colour. The face was smooth, and -intensely black. The upper lip was covered with short, -coarse hair; I wondered if it was the beginning of a -moustache. I found afterwards that gorillas had no -moustaches. The lower lip had longer hair; and I -wondered also if in time an imperial would grow there. -There were eyelashes too, though these were slight -and thin. The eyebrows were straight. Excepting the -face, and the palms of his hands and feet, his whole -body was covered with hair. On the back, the hair -was of an iron grey, becoming quite dark near the -arms. On the arms, the hair was longer than anywhere -else on the body, as you may see by the -picture.</p> - -<p>After I had looked carefully at the little fellow, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> -knew well that he was safely locked in his cage, I -ventured to approach him to say a few encouraging -words. He stood in the farthest corner; but as I approached, -he bellowed and made a precipitate rush at -me. Though I retreated as quickly as I could, he -succeeded in catching my trousers' legs with the toes -of one of his feet, and then retreated immediately to -the farthest corner. This taught me caution; I must -not approach too near.</p> - -<p>Shall I be able to tame him? I thought I should; -but I was disappointed.</p> - -<p>He sat in his corner, looking wickedly out of his -grey eyes; and I never saw a more morose or ill-tempered -face than this little beast had. I do not -believe that gorillas ever smile.</p> - -<p>Of course I had to attend to the wants of my captive. -My first business in the morning was to attend -on Joe. I sent for some of the forest berries which -these animals are known to prefer, and placed these -and a cup of water within his reach. He was -exceedingly shy, and would neither eat nor drink till I -had removed to a considerable distance.</p> - -<p>The second day I found Joe fiercer than on the first. -He rushed savagely at anyone who stood even for a -moment near his cage and seemed ready to tear us to -pieces. A fine specimen of man-monkey, thought I; -a tiger under the disguise of a gorilla. I wondered -what kind of a cage a full-grown gorilla would require. -I should certainly not care to be his keeper.</p> - -<p>I threw Joe pieces of pine-apple leaves; and I -noticed that he ate only the white part. There seemed -to be no difficulty about his food, as long as it was -gathered from his native woods; but he refused all -other kinds of food. He was very fond of bananas and -ripe plantains.</p> - -<p>The third day Joe was still more morose and savage, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -bellowing when any persons approached, or retiring to a -distant corner to make a rush upon them.</p> - -<p>On the fourth day, while no one was near, the little -rascal succeeded in forcing apart two of the bamboo -sticks which composed his cage and made his escape. -I came up just as his flight was discovered, and immediately -got all the negroes together for pursuit. -Where had he gone? I was determined to surround -the wood and recapture him. Running into my house -to get one of my guns, I was startled by an angry -growl issuing from under my low bedstead. It was -Master Joe; there was no mistake about it; I knew -his growl but too well. Master Joe lay there hid, but -anxiously watching my movements. I cleared out -faster than I came in. I instantly shut the windows, -and called to my people to guard the door. When Joe -saw the crowd of black faces he became furious; and -with his eyes glaring, and every sign of rage in his -little face and body, he got out from beneath the bed. -He was about to make a rush at all of us. He was not -afraid. A stampede of my men took place. I shut the -door quickly, and left Joe master of the premises. -I preferred devising some plans for his easy capture, to -exposing myself and men to his terrible teeth; for the -little rascal could bite very hard, and I did not care to -have a piece taken out of one of my legs. How to -take him was now a puzzling question. He had shown -such strength and such rage already that I did not care, -and none of my men seemed to care, to run the chance -of getting badly beaten in a hand-to-hand struggle, in -which we were pretty sure to come off the worse. -Meantime, peeping through the keyhole, I saw -Master Joe standing still in the middle of the room -looking about for his enemies, and examining, with -some surprise, the furniture. He seemed to think that -he had never seen such things before. I watched with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -fear, lest the ticking of my clock should attract his -attention, and perhaps lead him to an assault upon that -precious article. Indeed, I should have left Joe in -possession, but for a fear that he would destroy the -many little articles of value or curiosity I had hung -about the walls, and which reminded me so much of -America.</p> - -<p>Finally, seeing Joe to be quiet, I despatched some -fellows for a net; and, opening the door quickly, I -threw this over his head. Fortunately we succeeded at -the first throw in effectually entangling the young -monster, who roared frightfully, and struck and kicked -in every direction under the net. So fearfully was he -excited that I thought he would die in a fit of rage. -I took hold of the back of his neck; two men seized -his arms, and another the legs; and, thus held by four -men, we could hardly manage Joe.</p> - -<p>We carried him as quickly as we could to the cage, -which had been repaired, and then once more locked -him in. I never saw such a furious beast in my life as -he was. He darted at everyone. He bit the bamboos -of his cage. He glared at us with venomous and -sullen eyes, and in every motion showed a temper -thoroughly wicked and malicious.</p> - -<p>After this Joe got worse than ever; and as good -treatment only made him more morose and savage, I -tried what starvation would do towards breaking his -spirit. Besides, it began to be troublesome to procure -his food from the woods, and I wanted him to become -accustomed to civilized food, which was placed before -him. But he would touch nothing of the kind. How -was I to bring him to America? I could not put an -African forest on board. As for his temper, after -starving him for twenty-four hours, all I gained was, -that he came slowly up and took some berries from the -forest out of my hand and then immediately retreated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -to his corner to eat them. Daily attentions from me, -for a fortnight more, did not bring me any further -confidence from him than this. He always snarled at -me; and only when very hungry would he take even -his choicest food from my hand.</p> - -<p>At the end of this fortnight I came one day to feed -him, and found that he had gnawed a bamboo to -pieces slily, and again made his escape. Luckily -he had but just gone, for as I looked around I caught -a sight of him making off on all fours, and with great -speed, across the prairie for a clump of trees.</p> - -<p>I at once gave the alarm. I called the men up, and -we gave chase, taking with us all the fishing nets. -He saw us, and, before we could head him off, made for -another clump, which was thicker and larger. This -we surrounded. He did not ascend a tree, but stood -defiantly at the border of the wood. About one -hundred and fifty of us surrounded him. As we moved -up he began to yell, and made a sudden dash upon a -poor fellow who was in advance. The fellow ran, and -tumbled down in affright. By his fall he escaped the -tender mercies of Joe's teeth; but he also detained the -little rascal long enough for the nets to be thrown over -him.</p> - -<p>Four of us bore him again, struggling, into the village. -This time I would not trust him to the cage, but -fastened a small chain round his neck. This operation -he resisted with all his might, and it took us quite an -hour to securely chain the little fellow, whose strength -was something marvellous.</p> - -<p>Ten days after he was thus chained he died quite -suddenly. He had been in good health, and ate -plentifully of his natural food, which was brought every -day from the forest for him. He did not seem to -sicken until two days before his death. He died in -some pain. To the last he continued utterly untame<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>able, -and after his chain was put on he added treachery -to his other vices. He would come sometimes quite -readily to eat out of my hand, but while I stood by -him would suddenly—looking me all the time in the -face to keep my attention—put out his foot and grasp -at my leg. Several times he tore my pantaloons in -this manner. A quick retreat on my part saved my -legs from further injury, but I had to be very careful -in my approaches. The negroes could not come near -him at all without setting him in a rage. He seemed -always to remember that they captured him, and to -think he had experienced rather too hard treatment -at their hands; but he evidently always cherished -towards me also a feeling of revenge.</p> - -<p>After he was chained I filled a half barrel with hay, -and set it near him for his bed. He recognised its -use at once, and it was pretty to see him shake up the -hay and creep into this nest when he was tired. At -night he always shook it up, and then took some hay -in his hands, with which he would cover himself when -he was snug in his barrel. He often moaned, for his -mother perhaps, at night.</p> - -<p>After Joe died I stuffed his body, and brought his -skin and skeleton to New York, where many saw it. -Around his neck, where the chain had been, the hair -was worn off.</p> - -<p>Poor Joe! I wish he had lived and become tame, -so that I could have brought him home with me to -show the children.</p> - -<p>Now poor Joe can be seen stuffed in the British -Museum.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a> -<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Home"><img src="images/hip.png" width="550" -height="424" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">HIPPOPOTAMI AT HOME.</div></div> - -<h2 id="XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">THE HIPPOPOTAMUS—A DUEL—SHOOTING ON THE RIVER—NEARLY -UPSET—A NIGHT-HUNT ON LAND—MY COMPANION -FIRES AND RUNS—APPEARANCE AND HABITS -OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS.</p> - - -<p class="p2">What have we yonder in the water? A flock -of hippopotami! Their bodies look for all -the world like so many old weather-beaten -logs stranded on a mud-bank or a sand-bar.</p> - -<p>Every thing was still. The sun was very hot, and -all nature seemed to repose. I was concealed on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -banks of the river, under a very shady tree, watching -them. Suddenly, not far from me, two huge beasts -rose as by enchantment to the surface of the water -and rushed towards each other. Their vast and hideous -mouths were opened to their utmost capacity, showing -their huge crooked tusks, which gave their mouths a -savage appearance. Their eyes were flaming with rage, -and each of them put forth all his power to annihilate -the other. They seized each other with their jaws; -they stabbed and punched with their strong tusks, -lacerating each other in a frightful manner; they -advanced and retreated; now they were at the top of -the water, and now they sank down to the bottom. -Their blood discoloured the river, and their groans or -grunts of rage were hideous to listen to. They showed -little power of strategy, but rather a piggish obstinacy -in maintaining their ground, and a frightful savageness -of demeanour. The combat lasted an hour. It -was a grand sight. The water around them was sometimes -white with foam. At last one turned about and -made off, leaving the other victorious and master of the -field. A few days after, I killed a hippopotamus, and -its thick hide was lacerated terribly. Doubtless it was -one of the beasts I had seen fighting.</p> - -<p>The hippopotamus is found in most of the rivers of -Africa which empty themselves into the Atlantic or -Indian Ocean, but in none but the Nile of those -which empty themselves into the Mediterranean; and -in the Nile it is only met far up the river. Many as -there were of them on the Fernand-Vaz, they were -more numerous on the Ogobai.</p> - -<p>How much sport I have had with them! How -often have I studied their habits! And now I must -give you some account of my encounters with them.</p> - -<p>About five miles above my little settlement at -Washington there was a place in the river shallow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -enough for them to stand and play around, and there -they remained all day playing in the deep water, -sometimes diving, but for the most part standing on -the shallows, with only their ugly noses or heads -lifted out of the water.</p> - -<p>One fine morning I went towards them. We -approached slowly and with caution to within thirty -yards of them without seeming to attract the slightest -attention from the sluggish animals. One might have -asked himself, "Are they hippopotami or not?" -Stopping there I fired five shots, and, so far as I could -see, I killed three hippopotami. The ear is one of the -most vulnerable spots, and this was my mark every -time.</p> - -<p>The first shot was received with very little attention -by the herd; but the struggles of the dying animal -I had hit, which turned over several times and finally -sank to the bottom, seemed to rouse the others, who -began to plunge about and dive down into deep water. -The blood of my victims discoloured the water all -around, and we could not see whether those who -escaped were not swimming for us.</p> - -<p>Presently the canoe received a violent jar, and, looking -overboard, we perceived that we were in the midst -of the herd. "The hippopotami are coming upon -us!" shouted the men; "they are going to attack -us!" We pulled out of the way as fast as we could, -none of us being anxious to be capsized. It would -have been a comical sight to see us swimming in the -midst of a flock of hippopotami, and some of us, perhaps, -raised up on the back of one as he came to the -surface, or lifted, maybe, with his two crooked tusks in -our body.</p> - -<p>We were soon out of the way, and looking back to -see where were the animals I had killed, I saw -nothing. They had sunk to the bottom, and of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -three, only one was recovered. It was found two days -afterwards on a little island near the river's mouth. -Seeing this, I resolved never to shoot hippopotami -while they are in the water, for I did not want to kill -these animals for nothing; I wanted their skins and -their skeletons to enrich our museums.</p> - -<p>Some time after Joe had died, I determined to go -on a night hunt after hippopotami. These animals -come ashore by night to feed.</p> - -<p>The Fernand-Vaz runs for many miles parallel with -the seashore, separated from the sea by a strip of -sandy prairie. On this prairie the hippopotamus feeds. -He is sometimes called the sea-horse, for when his head -is out of the water it looks from a distance exactly -like the head of a horse. The "walk" of a herd is -easily discernible. It looks very much like a regular -beaten road, only their immense footprints showing -who are its makers. In their track no grass grows. -They always return by the same path they go out on. -This gives the hunter a great advantage.</p> - -<p>I chose moonlight night, and paddled up to the -vicinity of one of these "walks." There Igala, my -hunter, and I set out by ourselves. I had painted my -face with a mixture of oil and soot, which is a prudent -measure for a white hunter in Africa. The beasts -there seem to have a singularly quick eye for anything -white. I made myself look exactly like Igala. We -both had black faces and black hands. I was dressed -in the usual dark suit of clothes for the night; people -there must not go hunting in light-coloured garments. -We chose the windward side of the track, for the hippopotamus -has a very keen scent, and is easily alarmed -at night, feeling, probably, that on land his sluggish -movements, huge bulk, and short legs have their disadvantages.</p> - -<p>We lay down under shelter of a bush and watched. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -As yet none of the animals had come out of the water. -We could hear them in the distance splashing about -in the water, their subdued snort-like roars breaking -in upon the stillness of the night in a very odd way. -It was the only noise we heard—no, I cannot say the -only noise, for the mosquitoes were busily buzzing -around, and feeding upon us, taking advantage, -apparently, of our anxiety to keep perfectly quiet.</p> - -<p>The moon was nearly down, and the watch was getting -tedious, when I was startled by a sudden groan. -Peering into the distance, I saw dimly a huge animal -looking doubly monstrous in the uncertain light. It -was quietly eating grass, which it seemed to nibble off -quite close to the ground.</p> - -<p>There was another bush between us and our prey, -and we crawled up to this in dead silence. Arrived -there, we were but eight yards from the great beast. -How terrible he looked! The negroes who hunt the -hippopotami are sometimes killed; I thought that one -of us might be killed also. The animal, if only -wounded, turns savagely upon his assailants, and experience -has taught the negro hunters that the only -safe way to approach him is from behind. He cannot -turn quickly, and thus the hunter has a chance to -make good his escape. This time we could not get -into a very favourable position; but I determined to -have my shot nevertheless, eight yards being a safe -killing distance, even with so poor a light as we had by -this time.</p> - -<p>We watched the hippopotamus intently, looking at -each other as if to say, "Are you ready?" We then -raised our guns slowly. Igala and I both took aim. -He fired and, without waiting to see the result, ran as -swiftly as a good pair of legs could carry him. I was -not quite ready, but fired the moment after him, and -before I could get ready for running (in which I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> -not Igala's practice) I saw there was no need for it. -The beast tottered for a moment, and fell over with a -booming sound, dead.</p> - -<p>This closed our night's sport, as none of the herd -would come this way while their companion lay there. -So we returned home. Poor Igala remonstrated with -me for not running as he did. It appears that running -was considered one of the chief accomplishments of -the hippopotamus hunter. Our good luck created -great joy in the village, where meat was scarce. The -men went out at daylight and brought the flesh home. -Basket after basket came in, and as each one arrived all -shouted except those who did not eat the hippopotamus. -It is <i>roonda</i> for them. Some of their ancestry -had a long time ago given birth to a hippopotamus, -and if they were to eat any, more births of hippopotami -would come to them, or they would die. These -shouted, "I wish he had killed a bullock instead of -a hippopotamus."</p> - -<p>The meat does not taste unlike beef, but was not so -red. It was rather coarse-grained, and in the case -of this animal it was not fat. It makes a welcome and -wholesome dish. I tried to have some steaks; I must -say they were rather tough, and did not go down -easily. The broth was better, and I enjoyed it very -much. There was something novel in having hippopotamus -soup.</p> - -<p>I have killed a good many hippopotami. It is a very -clumsily-built, unwieldy animal, remarkable chiefly -for its enormous head, whose upper jaw seemed to be -movable, like the crocodile's, and for its disproportionately -short legs. The male is much larger than the -female; indeed, a full-grown male sometimes attains -the bulk, though not the height, of the elephant. In -the larger specimens the belly almost sweeps the -ground as they walk.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> - -<p>The feet are curiously constructed to facilitate walking -among the reeds and mud of the river bottom, and -swimming with ease. The hoof is divided into four -short, apparently clumsy and unconnected toes; and -they are able, by this breadth of foot, to walk rapidly -even through the mud. I have seen them make quick -progress, when alarmed, in water so deep that their -backs were just at the surface.</p> - -<p>The colour of the skin is a clayey yellow, assuming -a roseate hue under the belly. In the grown animal -the colour is a little darker. The skin of an adult -hippopotamus is from one and a half to two inches -thick on the middle of the back. It is devoid of hair, -with the exception of a few short bristly hairs in the -tail, and a few scattered tufts, of four or five hairs each, -near the muzzle.</p> - -<p>All along the Fernand-Vaz there were scattered herds -of hippopotami; and I used to watch them from my -house. I could see them at any time during the day. -After they have chosen a spot, they like to remain -there day after day, and month after month, unless -they are disturbed, or their food becomes scarce. -These animals consort together in herds of from -two to thirty. They choose shallows in the rivers, -where the depth of the water allows them to have -their whole body submerged when standing. There -they remain all day, swimming off into the deep place, -diving for their grassy food, or gambolling in the -waves. From time to time they throw up a stream of -water two or three feet high. This is done with a noise -like blowing, and it is doubtless an effort to get breath. -It is pleasant to watch a herd peacefully enjoying -themselves, particularly when they have two or three -young ones among them. Some of the little fellows -look very small, and are comically awkward. They -chase each other about the shoals or play about their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -dams; and I have often seen them seated on the back -of their mother in the water. How careful their -mothers seemed to be when they were swimming -about, and carrying their young in the way I have -described. It is a sight worth seeing; sometimes the -whole herd of hippopotami will disappear for a long -time under the water.</p> - -<p>They prefer parts of the rivers where the current -is not very swift, and are therefore to be found in all -the lakes of the interior. They prefer to be near grass -fields. They are very fond of a particular kind of coarse -grass which grows on these prairies, and will travel -considerable distances to find it. They always return, -however, before daylight. Their path overland is very -direct. Neither rocks nor swamps nor bushes can prove -formidable obstacles to a water beast of such bulk. I have -seen their path lie through the thickest woods. Unless -much pursued and harassed, they are not much afraid -of man. If troubled by hunters they move their -encampment, or go into countries where they can be -more quiet.</p> - -<p>Some of their favourite grass was growing on a little -plain at the back of my house; and several times I -found hippopotami tracks not more than fifty yards -from the house. They had not feared to come as near -as this; though probably, if the wind had been blowing -towards them, they would have avoided the place.</p> - -<p>They always choose a convenient landing-place, -where the bank has a long and easy incline. This -landing-place they use till they have eaten up all the -provender which can be found in that vicinity. Before -going ashore, they watch for an hour, and sometimes -for two hours, near the landing, remaining very quiet -themselves, and listening for danger. The slightest -token of the hunter's presence, or any other suspicious -appearances on such occasions, will send them away -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> -for that night. If no danger appears they begin to -wander ashore in twos or threes. I never saw more -than three of a herd grazing together; and, during -their stay ashore, they place more dependence on their -ears than on their eyes. I have watched them closely -in many hunts; and I am sure that the beast walks -along with his eyes nearly shut.</p> - -<p>When playing in the water, this animal makes a -noise very much resembling the grunt of a pig. This -grunt it utters also when alarmed by the approach of -man. When enraged, or suddenly disturbed, it utters -a kind of groan—a hoarse sound—which can be heard -at a considerable distance. They are quite combative -among themselves, as you have seen in the case of the -fight I have described.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo8.png" width="175" -height="120" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Pelicans"><img src="images/peli.png" width="600" -height="374" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">MARABOUTS, STORKS, AND PELICANS.<br /> -<a href="#XXV">CHAP. XXV.</a></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a> -<a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo9.png" width="600" -height="131" alt="" title="" /></div> - - -<h2 id="XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">VISIT OF KING QUENGUEZA—I PROMISE TO VISIT HIM—THE -KINDNESS OF THE COMMI—THE DRY SEASON ON -THE FERNAND-VAZ—PLENTY OF BIRDS AND FISHES—THE -MARABOUTS—THE EAGLES—A BAD WOUND.</p> - - -<p class="p2">One fine day I was quietly seated in my bamboo -house, and reading over, for the fiftieth time, -the letters of the dear friends who had not -forgotten me, and were so kind as to remember -me in my wandering life in Africa. My attention was -suddenly drawn away by the singing of numerous voices -coming down the river. Soon afterwards there stood -before me, accompanied by Ranpano, a tall venerable-looking -and slender negro of noble but savage bearing; -he was evidently, I thought, a chief; there was something -commanding about his countenance. He was -not very dark. The people who came with him -showed him great respect. This tall negro was Quengueza, -the great king of the Rembo, and the sovereign<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> -of the whole up-river country of the Rembo and -Ovenga, the head waters of the Fernand-Vaz.</p> - -<p>He came down in considerable state in three canoes, -with three of his favourite wives, and about one -hundred and thirty men.</p> - -<p>My little black boy, Macondai, brought him a chair; -and after he had seated himself I saluted him, according -to the usual custom, by saying "Mbolo." After -a few seconds he said "Ai." Then he paused a little -while, and said "Mbolo," to which I replied "Ai." -This is the usual mode of salutation in the Commi -country, the host beginning first.</p> - -<p>He looked at me and seemed very much astonished. -He said he expected to see a tall and stout man. He -had heard of me as a great hunter. He was now convinced, -he said, that I must have a brave heart to hunt -as I did.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, Quengueza and I could talk together, -the Commi being his native language.</p> - -<p>He told me there were plenty of gorillas and -<i>nshiegos</i> in his country; and that, if I would come, I -should have liberty and protection to hunt and to do -what I pleased. No one would hurt my people, or -Ranpano's people, or myself, or anybody, added he, -with emphasis, that should come with me.</p> - -<p>I liked the old king at first sight; but I little -guessed then that he would afterwards become so fond -of me, and that I should love him so much. Yes, I -shall remember my good friend Quengueza as long as -I live. Though he is a poor heathen, his heart was full -of love for me, and he possessed many manly and -noble qualities.</p> - -<p>I was so much pleased with King Quengueza's visit -that I sent the kind-hearted old fellow off with his -canoes full of presents of iron bars, brass rods, chests, -etc.; and I gave him goods on trust with which to buy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> -me ebony. He promised me great sport, and an introduction -to some tribes of whom these Commi men -of the seashore knew nothing.</p> - -<p>To do him greater honour my people fired a salute -as he started off, with which he was highly delighted, -as an African is sure to be with noise. He did not -go before making me promise to come and see him as -soon as the rainy season arrived.</p> - -<p>The dry season was now setting in. It was the first -I had spent in the Commi country; and I devoted the -whole month of July to exploring the country along -the seashore, between the Fernand-Vaz and the sea.</p> - -<p>There was quite a change. The birds, which were so -abundant during the rainy season, had taken their -leave; and other birds, in immense numbers, flocked in -to feed on the fish, which now leave the seashore and -the bars of the river's mouth and ascend the river to -spawn. Fish, particularly mullet, were so abundant -in the river that two or three times, when I took my -evening airing on the water in a flat upper-river canoe, -enough mullet would leap into the boat to furnish me -a breakfast the next day. The quantity of fish in the -shallow water was prodigious.</p> - -<p>The breakers on the shore, never very light, were -now frightful to see. The coast was rendered inaccessible -by them even to the natives, and the surf -increased to such a degree, even at the mouth of the -river, that it was difficult, and often impossible, to -enter with a canoe. Strong winds from the south -prevailed, and, though the sky was constantly overcast, -not a drop of rain fell. The thermometer fell sometimes -early in the morning to 64° of Fahrenheit, and -I suffered from cold, as did also the poor natives. The -grass on the prairie was dried up or burnt over; the -ponds were dried up; only the woods kept their -resplendent green.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> - -<p>I was often left alone in that great prairie with my -cook and my little boy Macondai, and a dear little -boy he was. I felt perfectly safe among the good -Commi. I always had tried to do right with them, -and I had reaped my reward. They loved me, and -anyone who should have tried to injure me would -have no doubt been put to death or exiled from the -country. I shall always remember my little village -of Washington and the good Commi people. When -perchance I got a chill the whole village was in distress. -No one was allowed to talk loud, and everyone would -call during the day and sit by me with a sad face for -hours without saying a word, and, when they went -away, they all expressed their sorrow to see me ill. -The kind women would bring me wild fruits, or cold -water from the spring, in which to bathe my burning -and aching head; and sometimes tears would drop -from their eyes and run down their kind black faces.</p> - -<p>At this season the negroes leave their villages and -work on their plantations. The women gathered the -crop of ground-nuts which had been planted the preceding -rainy season, while the men cut down the trees -for the plantations of the coming year, or built canoes, -or idled about or went fishing. Some of their farms are -necessarily at some distance off. The sandy prairie -is not fit to cultivate, being, in fact, only a deposit of -the sea, which must have taken an incalculable period -of time to form.</p> - -<p>The birds flocked in immense numbers on the prairies, -whither they come to hatch their young; especially -later in the season, when the ugly marabouts, from -whose tails our ladies get the splendid feathers for -their bonnets, were there in thousands; and I can -assure you they were not very easy to approach. I -believe the marabout is the ugliest bird I ever saw, -and one would never dream that their beautiful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> -feathers are found only under the tail, and can hardly -be seen when the bird is alive.</p> - -<p>Pelicans waded on the river banks all day in prodigious -swarms, and gulped down the luckless fish -which came in their way. I loved to see them swimming -about in grave silence, and every now and then -grabbing up a poor fish with their enormous, long, -and powerful bills. If not hungry, they left the fish -in their huge pouches, till sometimes three or four -pounds of reserved food awaited the coming of their -appetite. This pouch, you see, performed the office -of a pocket, where boys, when not hungry, keep their -apples in reserve.</p> - -<p>On the sandy islands were seen now and then flocks -of the <i>Ibis religiosa</i>, the sacred Ibis of the Egyptians. -They looked exactly like those that are found mummified, -and which have been preserved several -thousand years. They are very curious-looking birds; -the head and neck have no feathers. I have tried to -find their nests, but never succeeded.</p> - -<p>Ducks of various kinds built their nests in every -creek and on every new islet that appeared with the -receding waters. Some of them were of beautiful -plumage.</p> - -<p>Cranes, too, and numerous other water-fowls, flocked -in, and every day brought with it new birds. They -came by some strange instinct, from far-distant lands, -to feed upon the vast shoals of fish which literally -filled the river. I wondered if many of these birds -had come from the Nile, the Niger, the Zambesi—from -the interior of Africa, where no one had ever -penetrated, and from the vast plains of South Africa. -What great travellers some of these birds must be! -I envied them, and often wished I could fly away, -supported by their wings. What countries I should -have seen!—what curious people I should have looked -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> -at!—and how many novel things I should have found -to recount to you!</p> - -<p>Along the trees bordering the river, sometimes -perched on their highest branches, sometimes hidden -in the midst of them, I could see that most beautiful -eagle, the <i>Gypohierax angolensis</i>, called <i>coungou</i> by -the natives. This eagle is of a white and black colour. -He often watches over the water. How quickly his -keen eyes can see through it! and with what rapidity -he darts at his prey! Then, seizing it in his powerful -talons, which sink deep into it, he rises into the air -and goes where he can devour it undisturbed. These -eagles attack large fish. They generally make them -blind, and then gradually succeed in getting them -ashore, though it is hard work for them. They have -a luxurious time on the Fernand-Vaz river during the -dry season, and are very numerous. They build their -nests on the tops of the highest trees, and come back -to them every year. These nests are exactly like -those you have seen, only larger. They keep very -busy when their young begin to eat. The male and -female are then continually fishing. Strange to say, -they are very fond of the palm-oil nuts. In the season, -when these are ripe, they are continually seen -among the palm trees.</p> - -<p>No wonder these eagles grab fish so easily, they -have such claws! One day, as one passed over my -head, I shot him, and, thinking that he was quite -dead, I took him up, when suddenly, in the last -struggle for life, his talons got into my hands. I -could have dropped down from pain. Nothing could -have taken the claws away; one of them went clear -through my hand, and I shall probably keep the mark -of it all my life.</p> - -<p>On the seashore I sometimes caught a bird called -the <i>Sula capensis</i>, which had been driven ashore by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -the treacherous waves to which it had trusted itself, -and could not, for some mysterious reason, get away -again.</p> - -<p>Finally, every sand-bar was covered with gulls, -whose shrill screams were heard from morning till -night, as they flew about greedily after their finny -prey.</p> - -<p>It was a splendid opportunity for sportsmen, and I -thought of some of my friends. As for myself, I -took more delight in studying the habits of the birds -than in killing them, and I assure you I had a very -delightful time. I love dearly the dry season in -Africa. I am sure you would have enjoyed it quite as -much as I did, if you had been there with me.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo7.png" width="175" -height="101" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a> -<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Me"><img src="images/me.png" width="550" -height="412" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">THE KING RECEIVES ME.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">ANOTHER EXPEDITION TO LAKE ANENGUE—DIFFICULT -PASSAGE UP THE RIVER—THE CROCODILES—KING -DAMAGONDAI AND HIS TROUBLES—I BUY AN MBUITI, -OR IDOL.</p> - - -<p class="p2">One fine morning there was a great bustle on -the banks of the river at Washington, where -two canoes were loading. I was about to start -on another expedition. I called King Ranpano and -his people together and gave them charge of my -property; I declared that if anything was stolen during -my absence I should surely punish the thief.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> - -<p>They all protested that I need not even lock the -doors of my house; and I believed them. The -Biagano people loved me, and did not steal from me.</p> - -<p>Then I counted my ten goats in their presence, and -said that I wanted no leopard stories told me when I -came back. At this they shouted and laughed. They -declared that neither they nor the leopards should touch -my goats.</p> - -<p>I counted the fowls, and told them I wanted no -snake stories about them. Another hearty laugh, and -they all shouted that no snakes should gobble up my -fowls. These matters having been satisfactorily -arranged, I started with my canoes and a well-armed -crew.</p> - -<p>I was bound again for Lake Anengue, where I had -been a few months before. It was now the dry season. -We had armed ourselves well, for fear we might be -interrupted, as some people came up this way to make -plantations during the dry season and might dispute our -advance; I determined to let no man bar the road to me.</p> - -<p>The dry season was at its height, and I found the -Npoulounay shallower than before. There was about -fifteen feet less depth of water in the Ogobai during -the dry season than there was in the rainy season. At -this time the river was covered with muddy or sandy -islands, many of which were left dry. The muddy -islands were covered with reeds, among which sported -the flamingo, a bird not seen here in the rainy season.</p> - -<p>We pulled hard all day, and we slept the first night -on a sandy island of the Ogobai river, under our mosquito-nets, -of which I had laid in a store. These nets, -which the natives also use, are made of grass cloth, -which comes from the far interior, and does very well -out doors, where it keeps out the dew as well as the -mosquitoes, and protects the sleeper against the cold -winds which prevail.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> - -<p>The next morning, when I awoke, I saw, for the first -time, a fog in this part of Africa; it was very thick, but -the sun drove it off. I sent out my fishing-net, and in -a few minutes the men caught fish enough for supper -and breakfast.</p> - -<p>After our breakfast of fish and plantain, we paddled -on up the stream. Though we had seen a few villages, -we had not met a single canoe on the water, and -nothing human, except a corpse that came down the -river and ran against our canoe. It was probably the -body of some poor wretch who had been drowned on -account of witchcraft. The hands and feet were tied, -so that when they threw him into the water he could -not swim.</p> - -<p>Finally we entered the Anengue; but this river we -found was entirely changed since May. Then it was -a deep, swift stream. Now its surface was dotted with -numberless black mud islands, on which swarmed incredible -numbers of crocodiles. We actually saw many -hundreds of these disgusting monsters, sunning themselves -on the black mud, and slipping off into the -water to feed. I never saw such a horrible sight. -Many were at least twenty feet long; and when they -opened their frightful mouths they seemed capable of -swallowing our little canoes without trouble. I -wondered what would become of us all if, perchance, -our canoe should capsize.</p> - -<p>I determined to have a shot at these crocodiles, -which seemed no wise frightened at our approach. -Making my men paddle the boat quite near to them, -I singled out the biggest and lodged a ball in his -body, aiming at the joints of his fore legs, where the -thick armour is defective. He tumbled over, and, after -struggling in the water for a moment, sank into the -mud. His companions turned their hideous snaky -eyes down at him, in momentary surprise, but did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -know what to make of it, and dropped back to their -sluggish comfort. I shot another, but he sank also, -and as my men did not like to venture into the black -mud after them, we got neither.</p> - -<p>As we ascended the stream, it branched off in several -places, and became gradually narrower. Crocodiles were -seen everywhere. At length we found ourselves pushing -laboriously along through a deep crooked ditch, -not more than two yards wide, and overhung with tall -reeds, on which a great number of birds balanced themselves, -as though enjoying our dilemma. We found -this time, to my surprise, a tremendous current -running. In May, the water of the lake had overflowed -its shores, and its regular outlets had therefore no great -pressure upon them. Now, this outlet was choked -with water, which rushed through at such a rate that -at some of the turns in the crooked channel we were -actually swept back several times before we could make -our way ahead. At one point, where the true outlets -joined, we could not pass till I made the men smoke -their <i>condouquai</i>, a long reed pipe, which seems to -give them new vigour; I also gave them a sup of my -brandy. This done, they gave a great shout and pushed -through, and in an hour after we emerged into the -lake, but not without tremendous exertions.</p> - -<p>We now lay on our paddles and gazed about us. On -one side the lake is bounded by hills which come close -down to the shore; on the other side the hills recede, -and between them and the water lies a dreary extent -of low marsh, covered with reeds. Several towns were -in sight, all located on the summits of hills.</p> - -<p>The lake, alas! had changed with the season too. -It was still a beautiful sheet of water; but all over its -placid face the dry season had brought out an eruption -of those black mud islands which we had noticed before, -and on these reposed, I fear to say what number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> -crocodiles. Wherever the eye was turned these disgusting -creatures, with their dull leering eyes and -huge savage jaws, appeared in prodigious numbers. -The water was alive with fish, on which I suppose -the crocodiles had fat living; but pelicans and herons, -ducks and other water-birds, also abounded, drawn -hither by the abundance of their prey.</p> - -<p>Paddling carefully past great numbers of crocodiles, -into whose ready jaws I was by no means anxious to -fall, and past several villages, whose people looked at -us with mute amazement, we reached at last the town -of Damagondai. A great crowd was assembled to receive -us, headed by the king himself, who stood on the shore. -Quarters were provided for me by his majesty, who, a -short time after my arrival, presented me with a goat. -He was dressed in the usual middle-cloth of the -natives, and a tarnished scarlet soldier's coat, but was -innocent of trousers. His welcome, however, was not -the less hearty because the pantaloons were absent.</p> - -<p>His town, which contains about fifty huts, lies on -some high ground, at a little distance from the water. -I distributed presents among the grey-beards, and -beads among the women, and thus put them all in -good humour.</p> - -<p>Damagondai, the king, then insisted that I must get -married to at least two or three women. He was -amazed when I declined this flattering proposal, and -insisted upon it that my bachelor life must be very -lonely and disagreeable.</p> - -<p>The king was a tall, rather slim negro, over six feet -high, and well-shaped. In war, or in the chase, he -had the usual amount of courage, but at home he was -exceedingly superstitious. As night came on he -seemed to get a dread of death; and at last began to -groan that some of the people wanted to bewitch him, -in order to get his property and his authority. Finally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> -he would get excited, and begin to curse all witches -and sorcerers. He would say that no one should have -his wives and slaves; and that the people who wanted -to kill him had better beware; the <i>mboundou</i> was -ready.</p> - -<p>Certainly poor Damagondai must have slept on the -wrong side, as I told him afterwards, for the old fellow -began to lecture his wives, telling them to love him -and feed him well, for he had given a great deal of -goods and slaves to their parents for them, and they -were a constant expense to him. To all this the poor -women listened with respect.</p> - -<p>Damagondai and I were very good friends. I really -don't know why, but, wherever I went, these negroes -seem to take a liking to me.</p> - -<p>In the village of Damagondai there was an <i>mbuiti</i>, -"an idol," representing a female figure, with copper -eyes, and a tongue made of a sharp sword-shaped piece -of iron. This explained her chief attribute; she cuts -to pieces those with whom she is displeased. She was -dressed in the Shekiani cloth, covering her from the -neck down. She is said to speak, to walk, to foretell -events, and to take vengeance on her enemies. Her -house is the most prominent one in the whole village.</p> - -<p>She comes to people by night and tells them in their -sleep what is going to happen. In this way, they asserted, -my coming had been foretold. They worship -her by dancing around her and singing her praises, and -their requests. Sometimes a single woman or man -comes alone to prefer a request; and one evening I saw -the whole village engaged in this rite, all dancing and -singing around her. They offer her sugar-cane and -other food, which they believe she eats. I tried to buy -this goddess, but, ugly as she was, Damagondai said -that no amount of money would purchase her. He -insinuated, however, in a very slight way, that for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> -proper price I might obtain the mbuiti of the slaves. -Then a great council took place with the grey-beards -of the village. The slaves were on the plantations. -They agreed to tell them on their return that they -had seen their mbuiti walk off in the woods, and that -she had not returned. I could hear them laugh over -what they thought to be their clever plot.</p> - -<p>I paid them a good price for it. I packed the -mbuiti up, and took her off with me, and her portrait, -an exact likeness, taken in New York from the idol -itself, is found in my book called "Equatorial Africa."</p> - -<p>I have often thought since how much I should have -enjoyed seeing the return of the slaves to the village. -I should like to know if they really believed that their -mbuiti had left them; if so, there must have been -great wailing and mourning for fear that the wrath of -the mbuiti would come upon them.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo10.png" width="200" -height="117" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a> -<a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Hunt"><img src="images/hunt.png" width="550" -height="425" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">A CROCODILE HUNT.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">A VISIT TO KING SHIMBOUVENEGANI—HIS ROYAL -COSTUME—HUNTING CROCODILES—HOW THEY SEIZE -THEIR PREY—THE NKAGO—THE OGATA.</p> - - -<p class="p2">I resolved to embark again on the waters of the -Anengue Lake and make a little journey of -exploration. Damagondai went in the canoe with -me. He was to take me to another king, a friend of his.</p> - -<p>We reached the residence of King Shimbouvenegani, -a king with a long name and a small village. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -had to paddle through very shallow water before -reaching this place.</p> - -<p>When we arrived, the king with the long name was -not at his village. We were told he was at his -<i>olako</i>—a place temporarily erected in the woods when -villagers go out to hunt, or fish, or pursue agriculture.</p> - -<p>They had chosen a charming spot in the woods, just -upon the shores of the lake, which here had abrupt -banks. Their mosquito-nets were hung up under -the trees; every family had a fire built, and from the -pots came a fragrant smell of plantain and fish cooking. -The savour was very pleasant to me, for I was -hungry.</p> - -<p>Presently, Shimbouvenegani came up. He was rejoiced -to see me, and thanked his friend Damagondai -for bringing his white man to visit him.</p> - -<p>The appearance of Shimbouvenegani was comical. -He was between sixty and seventy years of age, and -was quite lean. His only garment was a very dirty -swallow-tailed coat, which certainly must have belonged -to the time of my grandfather. The buttons were -all gone. On his head he wore a broad beaver hat, -which dated nearly as far back as the coat itself. The -fur was entirely worn off, and the hat had a very seedy -appearance. But the king seemed very proud when -he made his appearance. He thought his costume -was just the thing, and he looked loftily around, as -if to say, "Am I not a fine-looking fellow?" And -truly, though his dress did not amount to much according -to our notions, I doubt not it had cost him several -slaves.</p> - -<p>He asked me how I liked his costume, at the same -time taking one of the smaller tails in his hand and -shaking it.</p> - -<p>Presently, some large pots of palm-wine were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> -brought, with which all hands proceeded to celebrate -my arrival. Damagondai and Shimbouvenegani soon -got drunk, and swore to each other eternal friendship, -and Shimbouvenegani promised to give one of his -daughters in marriage to Damagondai.</p> - -<p>Meantime, Damagondai had presented me to his -eldest son, Okabi, who resided in the village of Shimbouvenegani. -Okabi arranged a nice little place for -me, with branches of trees, and made a kind of bed -for me. He then gave me his two wives to take care -of me, and to cook for me.</p> - -<p>I had a very agreeable time in hunting while I was -with Shimbouvenegani. It was during my stay there -that I discovered the <i>nshiego mbouvé</i>, of which I will -speak by-and-by.</p> - -<p>We also had a great crocodile hunt, which pleased -the people very much, as they are extravagantly fond -of the meat. Now and then during my travels, for lack -of something better, I have been obliged to eat crocodiles. -I have tried it in all sorts of ways—steaks, stews, -boiled, and broth; but I must say I was never fond of it.</p> - -<p>They killed more or fewer crocodiles every day at -this village; but the negroes were so lazy that they -were glad to have me go and save them the trouble. -Moreover, the crocodile has not much meat on him; -so that, though some were killed every day, the -village was never sufficiently supplied.</p> - -<p>We went in canoes. These canoes on the Anengue -are of very singular construction. They are quite flat-bottomed, -and of very light draught; many of them -are about fifty feet long, with a breadth of not more -than two feet, and a depth of ten to twelve inches. -They are made of a single tree. They are ticklish -craft. The oarsmen stand up and use paddles seven -feet long, with which they can propel one of these -canoes at a very good rate. They are, of course, easily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -capsized, the gunwale being but a very few inches -above the water; but they do not often tip over. -What surprised me most was the way in which the -negro paddlers stood up at their work all day without -tiring.</p> - -<p>The negroes on the Anengue hunt the crocodile -both with guns and with a kind of harpoon. The -vulnerable part of the animal is near the joints of his -forelegs; and there they endeavour to wound it. -Though so many are killed they do not decrease in numbers, -nor, strange to say, do they seem to grow more -wary. They were to be seen everywhere during the -dry season; when the rainy season comes they disappear.</p> - -<p>As we started out, we saw them swimming in all -directions, and lying on the mud banks sunning themselves. -They took no notice of our canoe at all. As -we were to shoot them we were obliged to look for our -prizes on the shore, for if killed in the water they -sink and are lost. Presently we saw one immense -fellow extended on the bank among some reeds. We -approached cautiously. I took good aim and knocked -him over. He struggled hard to get to the water, -but his strength gave out ere he could reach it, and to -our great joy he expired. We could not think of -taking his body into our canoe, for he was nearly -twenty feet long.</p> - -<p>We killed another which measured eighteen feet. I -never saw more savage-looking jaws; they were -armed with most formidable rows of teeth and looked -as though a man would scarcely be a mouthful for -them.</p> - -<p>We had brought another canoe along, and capsizing -this upon the shore, we rolled the dead monsters into -it and paddled off for the village. Then we returned -to the olako.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> - -<p>During the heat of the day these animals retire to -the reeds, where they lie sheltered. In the morning, -and late in the afternoon, they come forth to seek -their prey. They swim very silently, and scarcely make -even a ripple on the water, though they move along -quite rapidly. The motion of their paws in swimming -is like those of a dog, over and over. They can remain -quite still on the top of the water, where they may be -seen watching for prey with their dull wicked-looking -eyes. When they are swimming the head is the only -part of the body visible; and when they are still, it -looks exactly like an old piece of wood which has -remained long in the water, and is tossing to and fro. -They sleep among the reeds. Their eggs they lay in -the sand on the island, and cover them over with a -layer of sand. It is the great abundance of fish in -the lake which makes them multiply so fast as they -do. The negroes seemed rather indifferent to their -presence.</p> - -<p>On my journey back to Damagondai's I saw an -example of the manner in which the crocodile seizes -upon his prey. As we were paddling along I perceived -in the distance ahead a beautiful gazelle, looking -meditatively into the waters of the lagoon, of which -from time to time it took a drink. I stood up to get -a shot, and we approached with the utmost silence; -but just as I raised my gun to fire a crocodile leaped -out of the water, and, like a flash, dived back again, -with the struggling animal in its powerful jaws. So -quickly did the beast take its prey that, though I -fired at him, I was too late. I did not think my -bullet hit him.</p> - -<p>After hunting on the water, I thought I would have -a few rambles in the forest near the olako. I killed a -beautiful monkey, which the natives call nkago, whose -head is crowned with a cap of bright red, or rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> -brown, hair. The nkagos are very numerous in these -woods.</p> - -<p>While walking in the forest I found, near the water, -the hole or burrow of an ogata. This is a species of cayman, -which lives near the pools, and makes a long hole -in the ground, with two entrances. In this hole it sleeps -and watches for its prey. The ogata is very unlike the -crocodile in its habits. It is a night-roving animal, -and solitary in its ways. It scrapes out its hole with its -paws with considerable labour. It lives near a pool, for -the double reason, I imagine, that it may bathe, and -because thither come gazelles and other animals, for -whom it lies in wait. The negroes told me that they -rush out with great speed upon any wandering animal, -and drag it into the hole to eat it. When the negroes -discover one of these holes they come with their guns, -which are generally loaded with iron spikes, and watch -at one end, while a fire is built at the other entrance. -When it becomes too hot the ogata rushes out, and is -shot. I killed one which proved to be seven feet in -length. It had great strength in its jaws, and its -teeth were very formidable. Like the crocodile, its -upper jaw is articulated, and is raised when the mouth -is opened.</p> - -<p>Sometimes fire is put at both ends of the hole, and -the animal is smoked to death. At other times a trap -is made at the end where there is no fire, and when -the ogata rushes out it is ensnared.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo4.png" width="175" -height="149" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Mbouve"><img src="images/mbouve.png" width="550" -height="534" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">THE NSHIEGO MBOUVÉ.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">THE NSHIEGO MBOUVÉ—BALD-HEADED APES—THEIR -HOUSES IN THE TREES—LYING IN WAIT FOR THEM—WE -KILL A MALE—THE SHRIEKS OF HIS MATE—DESCRIPTION -OF THE ANIMAL—FAREWELL TO SHIMBOUVENEGANI.</p> - - -<p class="p2">AS I was trudging along one day in the woods, -rather tired of the sport, and on the point of -going back to the camp, I happened to look -up at a high tree which we were passing and saw a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> -most singular shelter or home built in its branches. I -immediately stopped and asked Okabi why the hunters -slept in that way in the woods. Okabi laughed, after -looking at me quizzically, and then he told me that no -man had ever built that shelter. He said that it was -made by a kind of man of the woods, called nshiego -mbouvé, an animal which had no hair on the top of its -head. I really thought Okabi was joking. An animal—a -man-monkey—with no hair on the top of his head? -a bald-headed ape? It was now my turn to laugh, for -I did not believe Okabi's story about the bald-headed -animal, though I believed what he said about the -shelter in the tree.</p> - -<p>I saw at once that I was on the trail of an animal -which no civilized man had ever seen before. I no -longer felt tired, but pushed on through the woods -with renewed ardour, and with increased caution, so as -not to alarm our prey. The shelter we had seen was -an old one, which had been abandoned, but we had -a hope of finding another which should be still -occupied.</p> - -<p>We were not disappointed. We soon found two more -shelters. They were about twenty feet from the -ground, and were on two trees, which stood a little -apart from the others, and which had no limbs below -the one on which the nests were placed. This location -for its house is probably chosen by the animals to -secure them at night from beasts and serpents, and -from the falling limbs of surrounding trees. They -build only in the loneliest part of the forest. They are -very shy, and are seldom seen, even by the negroes.</p> - -<p>Okabi, who was an old and intelligent hunter, told -me that the male and female together select the -material for their nest or shelter. It is constructed in -part of the branches of the tree itself, which they -twist in with the boughs of other trees collected by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> -them for the purpose. The shelters I saw had the shape -of an umbrella.</p> - -<p>We concealed ourselves by lying flat on the ground -amidst the bushes near by, and keeping perfectly still. -My patience was sorely tried. Mosquitoes and flies -were continually biting me. Ants now and then were -creeping upon me, and some of them managed to get -under my clothes. Besides, I had some fear of the -bashikonay, or of the white ants, coming to disturb me, -or of snakes creeping upon me. So, as you may -imagine, I was not comfortable, neither had I pleasant -thoughts.</p> - -<p>At length, just at dusk, we heard the loud peculiar -"hew, hew, hew," which is the call of the male to his -mate. I was glad to know I had not waited in vain; -and looking up I saw a nshiego mbouvé sitting under -his nest. His feet rested on the lower branch; his head -reached quite into the little dome of a roof; and his -arm was clasped firmly about the tree trunk. This, I -suppose, is the position in which they sleep. Soon -after his mate came and ascended the tree.</p> - -<p>After gazing till I was tired, I saw that one of the -animals showed signs of being alarmed. Had they -smelt us? had we made a noise that excited their -suspicions? Anyhow, we raised our guns and fired -through the gloom at the one that seemed asleep. I -almost felt sorry for the unfortunate beast, which fell -with a tremendous crash, and died without a struggle. -The other uttered an awful shriek and came down the -tree with the utmost rapidity. I fired but missed the -animal, and in less time than I take to write it the poor -creature had disappeared in the woods.</p> - -<p>I was very hungry, for I had eaten nothing since -breakfast. We built a fire at once, and made our -camp. Then we built several more fires, to prevent an -attack of the bashikonay ants, in case they should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> -come that way. The poor ape was hung up to a limb -out of reach. During the night, I could hear now and -then, in the distance, the piercing shriek of its mate, -which no doubt was calling for the absent one. At last -I fell asleep on my bed of leaves and grass, as pleased -a man perhaps as any in the world.</p> - -<p>The next morning I examined the nshiego mbouvé. -Okabi, pointing to the head triumphantly, exclaimed, -"See, Chaillie, is not the animal bald-headed? Did I -not tell you the truth?" So it was. The nshiego -mbouvé was quite bald; not a hair could be seen on -the top of his head. He was a full-grown specimen, -and measured three feet and eleven inches in height. -His colour was intensely black, and the body was -covered with short, rather blackish hair. On the legs -the hair was of a dirty grey, mixed with black. On -the shoulders and back the hair grew two or three -inches long. This animal was old, and his hair was a -little mixed with grey. The arms also, down to the -wrists, were covered with long black hair. The hair is -much thinner than on the gorilla, and is blacker, -longer, and glossier. The nose, also, is not so prominent. -Though only three feet and eleven inches in height, -the animal had an extremely broad chest, though not -so powerful as that of the gorilla. The fingers, also, -were much longer, and not large; and the hand was -longer than the foot; while the gorilla, like man, has -the foot longer than the hand.</p> - -<p>Some of the teeth were decayed. So the poor -fellow must have had the toothache badly; and I suppose -there were no dentists among the nshiego -mbouvés. I have killed several of these animals. -One of them was a very old one; he had silvery hair; -nearly all his teeth were decayed, and some were missing -which had dropped out with age. He was getting -so infirm that he had not strength enough to pick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> -berries or break nuts; and, when killed, he had only -leaves in his stomach.</p> - -<p>After enjoying myself thoroughly at the olako of -Shimbouvenegani, we returned to the village of Damagondai. -Shimbouvenegani dressed himself again in -state, that is to say, he put on his swallow-tailed coat -and his beaver hat. In this regal costume he accompanied -us to our canoes, and there bid us good-bye.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo3.png" width="200" -height="122" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a> -<a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Mourning"><img src="images/mourn.png" width="550" -height="428" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">EXPIRATION OF MOURNING.</div></div> - -<h2 id="XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">WAR THREATENED—OSHORIA ARMS HIS MEN—WE BLUFF -THEM OFF, AND FALL SICK WITH FEVER—THE MBOLA -IVOGA, OR END OF MOURNING TIME—A DEATH AND -BURIAL—FINDING OUT THE SORCERER—THE VILLAGE -DESERTED—I BECOME VICEROY AT WASHINGTON.</p> - - -<p class="p2">News came that Oshoria, the chief of Guabuirri, -a village situated at the junction of the -Ogobai and Anengue rivers, intended to stop -me on my way back to Washington. It was reported -that he had assembled all his fighting men, and was -bent upon war.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> - -<p>Poor Damagondai was much troubled. He wanted -no war. He sent his brother down with a plate, a -mug, and a brass pan, to propitiate Oshoria. These -were great presents. A plate, a mug, and a pan are -thought to be very valuable in the regions of the -Anengue.</p> - -<p>I was very angry. I had done no harm to the people -of Guabuirri; I had passed their village in peace. -Oshoria wanted to exact tribute for my passage; but -he was not the king of the country, and I determined -to put down Mr. Oshoria.</p> - -<p>We cleaned our guns, and I prepared my revolvers, -and the next morning we set out, without waiting for -the return of the king's brother, greatly to the dismay -of Damagondai and of his peaceful people. But nothing -must stop us. We must return to Washington. My -men swore that they would fight to the death.</p> - -<p>When we came in sight of Guabuirri, I saw that -some of my fellows, who, a short time before, were going -to be so brave, began to show the white feather. I -therefore pointed to my revolver, and told them that -I would blow out the brains of the first man who failed -to fight to the last. They had a great respect for this -wonderful revolver, and they immediately answered, -"We are men."</p> - -<p>So we pulled down the stream and soon came almost -opposite Oshoria's people. I gave orders to make for -the town. On the shore stood about one hundred and -fifty fellows armed with spears and axes, and led by ten -men who had guns. All of them were making a great -noise.</p> - -<p>My men were all well armed, and, if I remember -well, there were only sixteen of us. I had my revolver -in one hand and a double-barrelled gun in the other. -The men all had guns, which were placed beside them -in such a way that the natives on the shore could see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> -them. At this piece of bravado, Oshoria's men became -very civil. They retreated as we approached the landing; -and instead of continuing their war-shouts and -firing at us, they received us peaceably, and shouted to -us not to fire.</p> - -<p>Damagondai's brother hurried down to meet me, and -announced that there was no palaver: I must not kill -anybody. I was then led to where the quarrelsome -Oshoria stood. Looking at him with a stern look, I -reproached him for his conduct, telling him that if -anybody had been killed, the palaver would have been -on his own head. He said he had been vexed that I -did not stop to see him on my way up; and, after -making further excuses, added, "Aouè olomé," "thou -art a man;" an expression used in several ways, either -to designate a smart man or a rascal, or, in the best -sense, a very brave man. I was content to accept it as -an intended compliment.</p> - -<p>I was presented with fruits and fowls, and we were -presently the best of friends. To show them what I -could do in the way of shooting, I brought down a little -bird which sat on a very high tree. They all declared -that I must have a very big shooting fetich; and they -reverenced me greatly.</p> - -<p>The next morning, I left Oshoria, and once more I -glided down the placid waters of the Ogobai. I reached -Washington in safety.</p> - -<p>It was in the month of August, and the malaria of -the Anengue marshes began to tell on me. I fell sick -with dysentery and symptoms of malignant fever. In -three days I took one hundred and eighty grains of -quinine, and thus happily succeeded in breaking the -force of the fever, which was the most dangerous of -the two diseases. I was ill from the 18th to the 31st -of August; and I did not regain my strength till the -9th of September. The Commi waited patiently for -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> -my recovery before they would go through some of -then ceremonies.</p> - -<p>There was to be a <i>mbola ivoga</i> at Biagano, that is, -an end of the mourning time, to be celebrated with -ceremonies and a terrible noise.</p> - -<p>When anyone of importance dies, the clan, or town, -or the relatives, cease to wear their best clothes, and -make it a point to go unusually dirty. No ornaments -whatever, such as earrings or bracelets or beads, are -worn. This is the way they "mourn." Mourning -lasts generally from one year to two years. The ceremonies -at the breaking-up of this mourning are what -I am now about to describe.</p> - -<p>The man who had died left seven wives, a house, a -plantation, several slaves, and other property. All this -the elder brother inherited; and on him, as the heir, -it devolved to give the grand feast. For this feast -every canoe that came brought jars of mimbo, or palm-wine. -Sholomba and Jombouai, the heir, with his -people, had been out for two weeks, fishing, and now -returned with several canoe-loads of dry fish. From -his plantation a large supply of palm-wine was brought -in. The women and slaves had prepared a great -quantity of food. Everything needful was provided in -great abundance.</p> - -<p>In the village the people all got ready their best -clothes and furbished up their ornaments. Drums and -kettles were collected for music; powder was brought -out for the salutes; and at last all was ready for the -mbola ivoga.</p> - -<p>The seven wives of the deceased seemed quite -jolly, for to-morrow they were to lay aside their -widows' robes, and to join in the jollification as brides. -The heir could have married them all; but he had -generously given up two to a younger brother, and one -to a cousin. He had already sixteen wives, and might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> -well be content with only four more. Twenty wives is -a pretty good number.</p> - -<p>No wonder the widows were glad to see the time of -mourning over. For two whole years they had been -almost imprisoned in their husband's house, hardly -ever going out.</p> - -<p>At seven o'clock three guns were fired off, to -announce that the widows had done eating a certain -mess, mixed of various ingredients, supposed to have -magical virtues, and by which they are released from -their widowhood. This was the first part of the ceremony. -They then put on bracelets and anklets, and -the finest calico they had. Some of the Commi women -wear brass anklets on each leg almost as high as the -knee, as you see represented in the picture. The -weight must be between twenty and thirty pounds on -each leg. Besides these anklets, they wear a few bracelets -of the same material. On their necks they wear -beads.</p> - -<p>From early morning the guests had been coming, all -bringing provisions and mimbo (palm-wine) with them, -and dressed in their best clothes. There were several -hundreds in all. The guests that lived far away had -come the day before. About nine o'clock all the guests -sat down on mats, spread about outside of the house of -the deceased, and along the main street. They were -divided into little groups; and before each was set an -immense jar of mimbo, and food was spread before -them. All began to talk pleasantly, till, suddenly, the -Biagano people fired off a volley of about one hundred -guns. This was the signal for the drinking and eating -to begin. Men, women, and children set to, and ate -as much as they could; and from this time till the -next morning the orgies were continued without interruption. -They drank, they sang, they shouted, they -fired guns, and loaded them so heavily when they got -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -tipsy that I wonder the old trade-guns did not burst. -They drummed on everything that could possibly give -out a noise. The women danced—such dances as are -not seen elsewhere! You may imagine what they -were, when every woman was so furiously tipsy.</p> - -<p>This mbola ivoga would have lasted probably for -several days, but the victuals and palm-wine finally -gave out.</p> - -<p>Next day, about sunrise, Jombouai came and asked -me to assist at the concluding ceremony; for I had -told him that I wanted to see every scene of the mbola -ivoga. His brother's house, according to the custom, -was to be torn down and burned—yes, burned to the -ground, so that not a vestige of it would remain to remind -the people that once there stood a house whose -possessor was dead.</p> - -<p>The people came around the house and fired guns; -then, in a moment, as if they were an infuriated mob, -they hacked the old house to pieces with axes and -cutlasses; then they set fire to it. When the ruins -were burnt, the feast was done.</p> - -<p>This is the way they go out of mourning among the -Commi. The widows were all married again, and, until -another death should occur, everything would go -smoothly again.</p> - -<p>Hardly were the rejoicings over, when Ishungui, the -man who had faithfully taken care of my house in my -absence, lay at death's door. He had gone out on -Jombouai's fishing excursion, in order to catch fish for -the mbola ivoga which I have just described. He -caught cold, and had now a lung fever. The people -called for me. I knew as soon as I saw him that he -must die, and I tried to prepare his mind for the -change. But his friends and relatives by no means -gave him up. They sent for a distinguished fetich -doctor, and under his auspices they began the infernal -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> -din with which they seek to cure a dying man. I am -afraid the cure is worse than the disease.</p> - -<p>One of the Commi people's theories of disease is, -that Obambou (the devil) has got into the sick man, -and as long as the devil remains in the body there is -no hope of curing the man. Now this devil is only to -be driven out by noise, and accordingly a great crowd -surround the sick man and beat drums and kettles -close to his head, fire off guns close to his ears, and in -every part of the house they sing, shout, dance, and -make all the noise they can. This lasts till the poor -fellow either dies or is better; but I must say that -he generally dies, unless the operators get tired out -first.</p> - -<p>Ishungui died. He left no property, and his brother -buried him in the sand, without a coffin, in a grave so -shallow (as is the custom) that, when I came upon it -some days after, I saw that the wild beasts had been -there and eaten the corpse.</p> - -<p>The mourning was short in this case; it lasted only -six days. There were no wives or property; there was -no feast. The relatives of the deceased slept one night -in his house, as a mark of respect.</p> - -<p>Among the Commi it is the custom, when a man -has died, to keep the <i>nchougou</i>. The nchougou is a -feast that takes place generally, if not always, after the -man has been dead six days. There is drinking, eating, -and dancing; but the rejoicing is not so uproarious -as the ceremony of the mbola ivoga. Then the mourning -begins. I think you will agree with me that the -nchougou is a most extraordinary custom.</p> - -<p>After Ishungui had died, it became necessary to discover -the persons who had bewitched the dead man; -for the Commi said, "How is it that a young man, -generally healthy, should die so suddenly?" This -they did not believe to be natural; hence they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> -attributed his death to sorcerers, and were afraid that -the sorcerers would kill other people.</p> - -<p>A canoe had been despatched up to Lake Anengue -to bring down a great doctor. They brought down one -of Damagondai's sons, a great rascal. He had been -foremost in selling me the idol, or <i>mbuiti</i>, of the slaves -of which I spoke to you, and he was an evident cheat.</p> - -<p>When all was ready for the trial, I went down to -look at the doctor, who looked really diabolical. I -never saw a more ugly-looking object.</p> - -<p>He had on a high head-dress of black feathers. His -eyelids were painted red, and a red stripe, from the nose -upward, divided his forehead into two parts; another -stripe passed around his head. The face was painted -white, and on each side of the mouth were two round -red spots. About his neck hung a necklace of grass, -and also a cord, which held a box against his breast. -This little box is sacred, and contains spirits. A number -of strips of leopard's skin, and of skin of other -animals, crossed his breast, and were exposed about his -person; and all these were charmed and had charms -attached to them. From each shoulder down to his -hands was a white stripe, and one hand was painted -quite white. To complete this horrible array, he wore -around his body a string of little bells.</p> - -<p>He sat on a box. Before him stood another box containing -charms. On this stood a looking-glass, before -which lay a buffalo-horn. In this horn there was some -black powder, and it was said to be the refuge of many -spirits. The doctor had also a little basket of snake-bones, -which he shook frequently during his incantations, -and several skins, to which little bells were -attached. Near by stood a fellow beating a board with -two sticks.</p> - -<p>All the people of the village gathered about this -couple. The doctor had, no doubt, impressed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> -people with his great power. His incantations were -continued for a long time, and at last came to the -climax. Jombouai was told to call over the names of -persons in the village, in order that the doctor might -ascertain if any of those named were sorcerers. As -each name was called, the old cheat looked in the -looking-glass to see the result.</p> - -<p>During the whole operation I stood near him, which -seemed to trouble him greatly. At last, after all the -names were called, the doctor declared that he could -not find any "witch-man," but that an evil spirit dwelt -in the village, and many of the people would die if it -continued there. I have a suspicion that this final -judgment with which the incantations broke up was a -piece of revenge upon me. I had no idea until the -next day how seriously the word of one of these -<i>ougangas</i> (doctors) is taken.</p> - -<p>The next morning all was excitement. The people -were scared. They said their mbuiti was not willing to -have them live longer here; that he would kill them, -etc. Then began the removal of all kinds of property, -and the tearing down of houses, and by nightfall I was -actually left alone in my house with a Mpongwe boy -and my little Ogobai boy, Macondai, both of whom -were anxious to be off.</p> - -<p>Old Ranpano came to beg me not to be offended; he -said that he dared not stay; that the mbuiti was now -in town. He advised me as a friend to move also; but -nobody wished me ill, only he must go, and would -build his house not far off.</p> - -<p>I did not like to abandon my house and settlement -at Washington, which it had cost me a good deal of -trouble to build. I called a meeting of the people, and -it was with the greatest difficulty that I could get some -of my own canoe boys and a few men to come and stay -at my place. These began immediately to build them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>selves -houses, and a little village was built, of which I -was now, to my great surprise, offered the sovereignty. -I remembered how the new king was made in the -Gaboon, and I did not know but that the Commi had -the same custom. The thought of the ceremony which -precedes the assumption of royalty deterred me. -Finally, the men determined to have me as their chief, -next to Ranpano; and with this my ambition was -satisfied.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo1.png" width="200" -height="138" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Hunting2"><img src="images/hunt2.png" width="550" -height="421" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">WOLF HUNTING.</div></div> - -<h2 id="XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">HUNTING IN THE WOODS—THE MBOYO WOLF—WE CATCH -ANOTHER YOUNG GORILLA—HE STARVES TO DEATH.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Everything went on smoothly among the -good Commi. When I absented myself they -took great care of my property. They seemed -proud of their honesty; and though it was a wild -country, and they were a wild people, I felt very safe -among them.</p> - -<p>Now and then I left Washington to go and live -entirely in the woods, and hunt, sometimes for gorillas,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> -at other times for wild boars or buffaloes, or something -else.</p> - -<p>I was also very fond of hunting the <i>mboyo</i>, a very -shy animal of the wolf kind, with long yellowish hair -and straight ears. They are very cunning; and now -and then you can see them in the grass engaged in -hunting for themselves. I have often watched these -animals surrounding and chasing game. They run very -well together in a drove; and as their policy is to run -round and round, they soon bewilder, tire out, and -capture any animal of moderate endurance. As they -run round, gradually their circle grows smaller and -smaller; and of course the smaller it becomes the more -bewildered becomes their prey.</p> - -<p>Often I have seen them prying about alone in search -of prey. How roguish they look! and I could only -shoot them at very long distances. I never was able -to get near one of them.</p> - -<p>At times I went into the country where gorillas -were plentiful, and had a good deal of fun and plenty -of excitement. This country was not far from the -village of a chief called Makaga Oune-jiou. This chief -was affected with leprosy. He had already lost all the -fingers of his left hand and two fingers of his right -hand, besides the big toe of his left foot. But Makaga -was very kind to me, and was much beloved by his -people. His village was small, but was a very dear -little village to him. It was surrounded by fields of -sugar-cane, plantain trees, and little fields of ground-nuts; -and now and then the gorillas came and helped -themselves to the good things these people had planted. -This made them very wroth, and they were always glad -to have me come and spend a few days among them.</p> - -<p>Early in the morning I could sometimes hear the -gorillas, who then came quite near the village. Here -I found that I need not make long journeys in order to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> -reach the hunting ground. But they are difficult of -approach; the slightest noise alarms them and sends -them off. It is only once in a while that you can surprise -an old male, and then he will fight you.</p> - -<p>While staying with Makaga Oune-jiou I captured a -second young gorilla; and we had an exciting time, I -assure you, before we got him.</p> - -<p>We were walking along in silence, when I heard a -cry, and presently I saw not far from me, in the midst -of a dense foliage, a female gorilla, with a tiny baby -gorilla hanging to her breast. The mother was stroking -the little one, and looking fondly down at it; and the -scene was so pretty and touching that I withheld my -fire and considered (like a soft-hearted fellow) whether -I had not better leave them in peace. Before I could -make up my mind, however, my hunter fired and -killed the mother, who fell dead without a struggle.</p> - -<p>The mother fell, but the baby clung to her, and, with -piteous cries, endeavoured to attract her attention. I -came up, and when it saw me it hid its poor little head -in its mother's breast. It could neither walk nor bite, -it was such a tiny little baby gorilla. We could easily -manage it; and I carried it, while the men bore the -mother on a pole.</p> - -<p>When we got to the village another scene ensued. -The men put the body down, and I set the little -fellow near. As soon as he saw his mother he crawled -to her and threw himself on her breast. He did not -find his accustomed nourishment, and perceived that -something was the matter with his mother. He -crawled over her body, smelt at it, and gave utterance -from time to time to a plaintive cry, "Hoo, hoo, hoo," -which touched my heart.</p> - -<p>I could get no milk for this poor little fellow. He -could not eat, and consequently he died on the third -day after he was caught.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a> -<a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Scene"><img src="images/scene.png" width="550" -height="419" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">AN INCANTATION SCENE.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">GOING TO UNKNOWN REGIONS—QUENGUEZA SENDS HIS -SON AS A HOSTAGE—I TAKE HIM ALONG WITH ME—RECEPTION -BY THE KING—OUR SPEECHES—QUENGUEZA -AFRAID OF A WITCH—AN INCANTATION SCENE.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Time passed on. It was several years since I -left the United States, but nevertheless I determined -to set out for the head waters of the -Fernand-Vaz, and for countries undiscovered as yet by -white men.</p> - -<p>Quengueza had sent to me his eldest son, named<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> -Kombé (the sun), with a present of ebony wood, and -his youngest son, a boy of ten, called Akounga; and -he said I must come and leave Akounga in Ranpano's -hands as a hostage for my safety. "You see," he -sent word, "that I am not afraid of you. You may -trust me."</p> - -<p>I had to take my big boat, because no canoe would -hold all the goods, powder and shot, guns, provisions, and -medicines, I took along. It was to be a very, very long -journey. I was the first white man to venture up in -this direction, and I was anxious to get as far as -possible.</p> - -<p>We were fifteen in all in my boat. Another canoe, -with fifteen more men, followed us. Quengueza's little -boy was with us too. I would never have thought of -such a thing as keeping the poor little fellow away -from his mother and father. I took also the brave -little Macondai, whom I had at first determined to -leave behind, as being too small to stand the fatigues -of such a journey. The little fellow entreated so much -to be taken that I at last consented. He behaved like -a man. Macondai grew fast as years went by, and I -wish you could have seen him fighting by my side in -Ashango land.</p> - -<p>At last, after much fatigue and hard pulling, we -reached the village of Goumbi, the residence of King -Quengueza. Here I was received in the most triumphant -manner. I could not make myself heard for the -shouts and firing of guns. The whole population of -Goumbi crowded down to the shore to see me, and I -was led up in procession to an immense covered space, -capable of holding at least a thousand people, and surrounded -by seats. I found there strangers from various -parts of the interior, who gazed at me, and especially -at my hair, with the greatest wonder.</p> - -<p>A large high seat was appointed for me, and another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> -close to it was for Quengueza, who presently arrived -with a face beaming with joy. He shook hands with -me and then seated himself.</p> - -<p>There was a dead silence in the vast crowd before -us. Quengueza was an old, white-woolled negro, very -tall, spare, and of a severe countenance, betokening -great energy and courage, qualities for which he was -celebrated all over their country. When younger he -was the dread of all, but now that he had become the -chief of his clan, and was getting old, he had grown -milder, and become peaceful, to the great joy of the -surrounding villages. He was a very remarkable man -for his opportunities. He made haste to tell me that -he was in mourning for his eldest brother, who had died -two years before, and left him chief of their clan, the -Abouya.</p> - -<p>Quengueza had on a finely-knit black cap, and a grass -body-cloth, which was black also; both the cap and -cloth were of Ashira make, and were really beautiful. -He had no shirt; that article is not allowed to -mourners; but he wore an American coat which was -too small for him.</p> - -<p>After the king had done welcoming me, I called his -little son, Akounga. When he had come forward, I said -to the king in a loud voice, that the people might -hear: "You sent your son to me to keep, so that I -might feel safe to come to you. I am not afraid. I -like you, and can trust you. Therefore I have brought -your little son back to you. I do not want him as a -hostage for my safety. Let him remain by the side -of his mother."</p> - -<p>At this there was a tremendous shouting, and the -people seemed overjoyed.</p> - -<p>The king rose to reply. There was immediately a -dead silence; for Quengueza was greatly reverenced by -his people. The king said: "This is my <i>ntangani</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> -(white man), he has come from a far country to see -me. I went down to beg him to come up to me. -Now he has come. Let no one do harm to his people; -for him I need not speak. Give food to his people. -Treat them well. Do not steal anything. If you do -not do as I say, <span class="smcap">A BIG PALAVER WILL COME UPON YOU</span>!" -This last sentence he uttered in a tremendous voice.</p> - -<p>Then he addressed himself to the Ashira and Bakalai -who were present, saying,: "Beware! Do not steal -my white man, for if you should make the attempt, I -will sell you all."</p> - -<p>Then loads of plantains and sugar-canes, together -with a hundred fowls, and several goats, were presented -to me by the king, and this closed the -ceremony.</p> - -<p>The longer I stayed with Quengueza, the more I -loved him; I was only sorry that he was so curiously -superstitious. For a year he had not passed down -the street which led most directly to the water, but had -gone always by a roundabout way, because, when he -came to the throne, this street was pronounced bewitched -by a secret enemy of his; and he was persuaded -that if he passed by it, he would surely die. This -superstitious notion had originated in a dream of the -king's which had been interpreted in that way.</p> - -<p>Several times efforts had been made by distinguished -doctors to drive away the <i>aniemba</i> (witch), which there -lay in wait; but the king, though he believed in -sorcery, did not have much faith in the exorcisers or -doctors. He thought that, perhaps, the aniemba had -not gone, and that it was better to be on the safe side, -which was not to go on the road at all. But his subjects -felt very much troubled about this matter; for -they wanted their king to pass through their street -sometimes.</p> - -<p>Once more a last attempt was made to drive off the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> -aniemba, or witch. A famous doctor from the far-off -Bakalai country had been brought down to perform this -act. His name was Aquailai.</p> - -<p>In the evening the people gathered in great numbers -under the immense <i>hangar</i>, or covered space in which -I had been received, and there lit fires, around which -they sat. The space thus covered was one hundred -and fifty feet long by forty wide, and was roofed with -palm branches and leaves.</p> - -<p>About ten o'clock, when it was pitch dark, the -doctor commenced operations by singing some boastful -songs, recounting his power over witches. Immediately -all the people gathered into their houses, and -with such great haste, that two women failing to get -home, and afraid to go farther through the streets, took -refuge in my house. Then all the fires in the houses -were carefully extinguished, those under the hangar -having been already put out; and, in about an hour -more, there was not a light of any kind in the whole -town except mine. They had only asked of me that I -should shut my door. The most pitchy darkness and -the most complete silence reigned everywhere. No -voice could be heard, even in a whisper, among -the several thousands of people gathered in the -gloom.</p> - -<p>At last the silence was broken by the doctor, who, -standing in the centre of the town, began some loud -babbling, of which I could not make out the meaning. -From time to time the people answered him in chorus. -This went on for an hour, and was really one of the -strangest scenes I ever took part in. I could see -nothing but the faces of the two women in my house, -who were badly frightened, poor things, as, in fact, all -the people were. The hollow voice of the witch-doctor -resounded curiously through the silence; and -when the answer of many mingled voices came through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> -the darkness, the ceremony really assumed the air of -a poet's incantation scene.</p> - -<p>At last, just at midnight by my watch, I heard the -doctor approach. He had bells girded about him, -which he jingled as he walked. He went to every -family in the town, successively, and asked if to them -belonged the aniemba (witch) that obstructed the -king's highway. Of course, all answered no. Then -he began to run up and down the bewitched street, -calling out loudly for the witch to go off. Presently -he came back and announced that he could no longer -see the aniemba, which had doubtless gone, never to -come back. At this, all the people rushed out of their -houses, and shouted, "Go away! go away! and never -come back to hurt our king!"</p> - -<p>Then fires were lit, and all sat down to eat. This -done, all the fires were once more extinguished; and -the people sung wild songs until four o'clock. Then -the fires were lit again.</p> - -<p>At sunrise the whole population gathered to accompany -their king down the dreaded street to the water. -Quengueza, I know, was brave as a hunter and as a -warrior. He was also very intelligent about many -things regarding which his people were very stupid; -but the poor old king was now horribly afraid. He -was assured that the aniemba was gone; but he evidently -thought that he was walking to almost certain -death. He hesitated; but at last he determined to -face his fate, and walked manfully down to the river -and back, amidst the plaudits of his loyal subjects. -So ended the ceremony; but Quengueza never went -again on that road; his dread of it still remained.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo5.png" width="600" -height="136" alt="" title="" /></div> - - -<h2 id="XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">GORILLA HUNTING—MY COMPANIONS, MOMBON, ETIA, AND -GAMBO—ETIA KILLS A LARGE GORILLA—WE MAKE UP -A LARGE PARTY—CAMP STORIES ABOUT GORILLAS—WE -CAPTURE A YOUNG GORILLA—HER UNTIMELY -DEATH.</p> - - -<p class="p2">Quengueza had a slave named Mombon, -whom he loved greatly. Mombon was his -overseer, chamberlain, steward, man of business, -and general factotum, the man whose place it was to -take care of the king's private affairs, set his slaves -to work, oversee his plantations, and who had the care -of the keys of the royal houses. Mombon was to see -that I was made comfortable in town.</p> - -<p>Quengueza had also another slave named Etia. Etia -was his favourite hunter, and he gave him to me for a -guide in the bush. This Etia was a fine-looking old -man, belonging to a tribe far in the interior, who had -never heard that there was such a thing as a white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> -man in the world. He was living on a little plantation -outside the town, where he had a neat house and -a nice old wife, who always treated me in a kind, -motherly way; she always had something to give me -to eat. Etia's business was to supply the royal larder -with "bush meat," and he went out hunting almost -every week for that purpose.</p> - -<p>Etia and I became great friends, and loved each -other much. I gave to Etia and to his wife many little -presents, with which they always seemed very much -pleased. Around the house of Etia were arranged -skulls of elephants, hippopotami, leopards, and gorillas, -as trophies of his prowess.</p> - -<p>Among the numerous guests of Quengueza was -an Ashira chief, who had come on a visit to the -king. He had a son called Gambo, a noted hunter. -Gambo was a very ill-looking fellow, but he had a fiery -eye, great courage, and a kind heart. I became very -fond of Gambo, and Gambo became very fond of me. -Sometimes Quengueza could not help saying to his -people, "See how hunters love each other, no matter -if they come from different countries. See how my -white man loves the black hunters." In fact, we were -always together. I had never seen the Ashira tribe to -which Gambo belonged.</p> - -<p>One day we had been going through the woods about -three hours when at last we came upon fresh gorilla -tracks. Etia now set out alone, while Gambo and I -walked silently in another direction. The gorilla is -so difficult to approach that we had literally to creep -through the thick woods when in their vicinity. The -hunter cannot expect to see his enemy till he is close -upon him. The forest is so thick and gloomy that even -when quite near the animal is but dimly visible. All -this makes hunting for the gorilla very trying to the -nerves; for it is in the hunter's mind that if he misses -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>—if -his bullet does not go to the most fatal point—the -wounded and infuriated brute will make short -work of his opponent.</p> - -<p>As we crept silently along, suddenly the woods -resounded with the report of a gun. We sped at once -towards the quarter whence the report came, and there -we found old Etia sitting complacently upon the dead -body of the largest female gorilla I ever saw. The -total height of the animal was four feet seven inches. -This was a huge gorilla for a female, for they are -always much smaller than the males.</p> - -<p>Another time we made up a large party. We were -to go a considerable distance to a spot where Etia gave -me hopes that we should catch a young gorilla alive. I -would have gone through any hardship and peril to get -one large enough to be kept alive, and to be sent to -Europe.</p> - -<p>Etia, Gambo, myself, and ten men composed our -party. Each was armed, and laden with provisions for -a couple of days. The men were covered with fetiches. -They had painted their faces red, and had cut their -hands in more than fifty different places. This bleeding -of the hands was done for luck. The fellows were -nearly naked; but this is their usual habit.</p> - -<p>As for me, I had also made extra preparations. I had -blackened my face and hands with powdered charcoal -and oil; and my blue drilling shirt and trousers and -black shoes made me as dark as any of them. My revolvers -hung at my side, with my ammunition bag and -brandy flask; my rifle lay upon my shoulder. All this -excited the admiration of the crowd which assembled -to see us go out.</p> - -<p>Quengueza was greatly delighted, and exclaimed, -"What kind of ntangani (white man) is this? He -fears nothing; he cares for neither sun nor water; he -loves nothing but the hunt."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> - -<p>The old king charged the people to take great care -of his white man, and to defend him with their lives if -need be.</p> - -<p>We travelled all day, and about sunset we came to -a little river. Here we began at once to make a fire -and build leafy shelters for the night. Scarcely was -the firewood gathered, and we were safely bestowed -under our shelter, when a storm came up which lasted -half an hour. Then all was clear once more. We -cooked plantains and smoked some dried fishes.</p> - -<p>In the evening the men told stories about gorillas.</p> - -<p>"I remember," said one, "my father told me he -once went out to the forest, when just in his path he -met a great gorilla. My father had his spear in his -hand. When the gorilla saw the spear he began to -roar; then my father was terrified, and dropped the -spear. When the gorilla saw that my father had -dropped the spear he was pleased. He looked at him, -and then left him and went into the thick forest. -Then my father was glad, and went on his way."</p> - -<p>Here all shouted together, "Yes! so we must do -when we meet the gorilla. Drop the spear; that -appeases him."</p> - -<p>Next Gambo spoke. "Several dry seasons ago a -man suddenly disappeared from my village after an -angry quarrel. Some time after an Ashira of that -village was out in the forest. He met a very large -gorilla. That gorilla was the man who had disappeared; -he had turned into a gorilla. He jumped on the poor -Ashira and bit a piece out of his arm. Then he let -him go. Then the man came back with his bleeding -arm. He told me this. I hope we shall not meet -such gorillas."</p> - -<p>Chorus—"No; we shall not meet such wicked -gorillas."</p> - -<p>I myself afterwards met that man in the Ashira<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> -country. I saw his maimed arm, and he repeated the -same story.</p> - -<p>Then one of the men spoke up: "If we kill a gorilla -to-morrow I should like to have a part of the brain for -a fetich. Nothing makes a man so brave as to have a -fetich of gorilla's brain. That gives a man a strong -heart."</p> - -<p>Chorus of those who remained awake—"Yes; that -gives a man a strong heart."</p> - -<p>Then we all gradually dropped to sleep.</p> - -<p>Next morning we cleaned and reloaded our guns, -and started off for the hunting ground. There is a -particular little berry of which the gorilla is very fond, -and where this is found in abundance you are sure to -meet the animal.</p> - -<p>We had divided. Etia, Gambo, two other men, and -I kept together, and we had hardly gone more than -an hour when we heard the cry of a young gorilla after -his mother. Etia heard it first, and at once pointed -out the direction in which it was.</p> - -<p>Immediately we began to walk with greater caution -than before. Presently Etia and Gambo crept ahead, -as they were expert with the net, and were also the -best woodsmen. I unwillingly remained behind, but -dared not go with them, lest my clumsier movements -should betray our presence. In a short time we heard -two guns fired. Running up, we found the mother -gorilla shot, but her little one had escaped; they had -not been able to catch it.</p> - -<p>The poor mother lay there in her gore, but the little -fellow was off in the woods. So we concealed ourselves -hard by to wait, for its return. Presently it came up, -jumped on its mother, and began sucking at her -breasts and fondling her. Then Etia, Gambo, and I -rushed upon it. Though evidently less than two years -old, it proved very strong, and escaped from us. But -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> -we gave chase, and in a few minutes had it fast, not, -however, before one of the men had his arm severely -bitten by the savage little beast.</p> - -<p>It proved to be a young female. Unhappily, she -lived but ten days after capture. She persistently -refused to eat any cooked food, or anything else except -the nuts and berries which they eat in the forest. She -was not so ferocious as "Fighting Joe," but was quite -as treacherous and quite as untameable. She permitted -no one to approach her without trying to bite. -Her eyes seemed somewhat milder than Joe's, but had -the same gloomy and treacherous look, and she had -the same way as Joe of looking you straight in the -eyes when she was meditating an attack. I remarked in -her also the same manœuvre practised by the other -when she wished to seize something, my leg, for -instance, which, by reason of the chain around her -neck, she could not reach with her arm. She would -look me straight in the face, then quick as a flash -would throw her body on one leg and one arm and -reach out with the other leg. Several times I had -narrow escapes from the grip of her strong big toe. -I thought sometimes that when she looked at me she -appeared cross-eyed, but of this I could not make -certain. All her motions were remarkably quick, and -her strength was very great, though she was so small.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo6.png" width="175" -height="95" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Ordeal"><img src="images/ordeal.png" width="550" -height="450" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">A TRIAL BY ORDEAL.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">VOYAGE UP THE RIVER—WE BUILD A VILLAGE NEAR -OBINDJI—QUENGUEZA'S PLAN FOR KEEPING THE -SABBATH—KINDNESS OF THE NATIVES—A TRIAL BY -ORDEAL.</p> - - -<p class="p2">King Quengueza accompanied me on my -voyage up the Rembo and Ovenga rivers. We -were followed by a great many canoes, and by -chiefs of the Ashira and Bakalai tribes. We were -going to the Bakalai country. The weather was intensely -hot; even the negroes suffered; and, though -I had a thick umbrella over my head, and sat quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> -still, I had frequently to bathe my head and keep -wet handkerchiefs in my banana hat; for I feared a -sunstroke.</p> - -<p>The river was narrow and deep, flowing generally -between high lands and hills, and now and then in -the midst of flats.</p> - -<p>Everybody complained except Macondai. He was -the most spirited little negro I ever saw, a real little -hero. I tell you that many, very many, of these -African boys have a good deal of pluck, although they -are black.</p> - -<p>Two days after we started, we arrived, a little before -sunset, at the village of Obindji, a Bakalai chief, who -was a great friend of Quengueza. Wherever we passed -a Bakalai village the people rushed down to the banks -to see me. As we approached the village of Obindji, -our men fired guns and sang songs. Obindji came -down in great state, dressed in his silk hat, a shirt, -and a nice cloth. He was ringing his <i>kendo</i>—a bell, -which is the insignia of kingship there—a sort of -royal sceptre. The high-crowned silk hat, also, as I -said before, is worn only by the chiefs.</p> - -<p>I said to Obindji, "Why do you ring your kendo?"</p> - -<p>He replied, "Obindji's heart is glad, and he thanks -his Mboundji (a spirit) that he has to-day come up -higher than he ever stood before—a <i>ntanga</i> (white -man) has come to see Obindji."</p> - -<p>When we had landed, and the two kings and I were -seated on the stools used in that country, the grand -reception began. Quengueza gave to his friend Obindji, -and to all the Bakalai who surrounded us, an account -of his entire intercourse with me, from the time he -came down to see me at the seashore to the present -hour.</p> - -<p>Then Obindji replied, giving, in like manner (in short -sentences), a statement of his feelings when he heard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> -that Quengueza was to bring a ntanga to see him. -This closed the conference.</p> - -<p>The village of Obindji was small, and was beautifully -situated at the foot of a high hill, just on the banks of -the Ovenga. The Ovenga river belonged to Quengueza, -and, except at its head waters, it had been inhabited -by the Bakalai only since the time of Quengueza's -eldest brother, whom he had succeeded. These Bakalai -are very warlike; they are much dreaded by the other -tribes.</p> - -<p>The region of the Ovenga is a grand and wild -country. It consists of hills and mountains, covered -with impenetrable forests, which teem with all kinds -of insects. Many animals, curious birds, and a great -number of snakes are found there, together with those -extraordinary ants—the bashikonay. There also are -the chimpanzees and gorillas.</p> - -<p>As I intended to remain some time, I set about -building another village. The men all went into the -forest to collect bark, palm leaves, and posts.</p> - -<p>When Sunday came, I requested Quengueza to -make the men rest on this day, explaining to him -that white men do not work on the Sabbath.</p> - -<p>The old man was puzzled for a moment, and then -said, "We are much hurried now. Suppose you put -off the Sunday for three or four weeks. Then we can -have as many Sundays as you want. We will keep -four or five days following each other as Sundays. It -will be just the same."</p> - -<p>He seemed quite proud of his discovery and was -quite disappointed when I told him it would not do.</p> - -<p>I worked very hard in building my house. The -labour was the more trying because the heat was so -intense; there was not a breath of wind in this -Bakalai country. Besides, the fever had got hold of -me again; but I did not give way to it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> - -<p>Obindji became very friendly to me. I may say that -all these negroes seemed to take a liking for me. I -made quite a number of friends among the Bakalai. -Two of them, indeed, were very dear friends of mine; -they were called Malaouen and Querlaouen. I really do -not know which of the two I liked the best. They were -ready to do anything I wished them to do. If I proposed -a hunt, they immediately offered to accompany -me; if they killed game, they presented me with the -best piece. Their wives were sure to bring me, almost -every day, sugar-cane, plantain, or something else. -As for Obindji, he did all in his power to please me. -Moreover, Quengueza was always close to me. He said -that wherever I went he would follow me, and build -his shed by the side of mine. I was now Quengueza's -white man and Obindji's white man. They all seemed -to take pride in me. I am sure I also tried my best -to be kind to them. Above all things, I wanted them -to believe my word implicitly. Hence, whatever I -promised, I kept my word. They noticed this; and -therefore no one doubted me. These poor people, -though they have no word to describe "an honest -man," know the difference between lying and truth-telling; -and they appreciate truthfulness.</p> - -<p>One day I saw a trial by ordeal performed. A little -boy, a son of Aquailai, the doctor who had driven the -aniemba, or witch, from the main street at Goumbi, -reported that one of Quengueza's men had damaged a -Bakalai's canoe. The owner demanded compensation -for the injury. The Goumbi men denied that he had -injured the canoe, and asked for trial. An Ashira -doctor who was in the village was called. He said that -the only way to make the truth appear was by the -trial of the ring boiled in oil. Thereupon, the Bakalai -and the Goumbi men gathered together, and the trial -was at once made.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Ashira doctor stuck three little billets of wood -into the ground, with their top ends together, then -he piled some smaller pieces between, till all were laid -as high as the three pieces. A native earthenware -pot, half full of palm oil, was set upon the wood, which -had been set on fire; and the oil was set on fire also. -When it had burned up brightly, a brass bracelet or -ring from the doctor's hand was cast into the pot. -The doctor stood by with a little vase full of grass -soaked in water, of which he threw in, now and then, -some bits. This made the oil blaze up fresh. At last, -all was burned out, and now came the trial. The -accuser, the little boy, was required at once to take the -ring out of the pot. He hesitated, but was pushed -on by his father. The people cried out, "Let us see -whether he lied or told the truth." Finally he put his -hand in and seized the almost red-hot ring, but -quickly dropped it, having severely burned his fingers. -At this there was a shout, "He lied! he lied!" and -the Goumbi man was declared innocent. I ventured to -suggest that he also would burn his fingers if he -touched the ring, but nobody seemed to consider this -view of the subject.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo8.png" width="175" -height="120" alt="" title="" /></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a> -<a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="us"><img src="images/us.png" width="550" -height="514" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">THE GORILLA MARCHES UPON US.</div></div> - - -<h2 id="XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">THE KOOLOO-KAMBA—THE GOUAMBA, OR MEAT-HUNGER—EXPLORING -THE FOREST—GORILLA-HUNTING—WITHIN -EIGHT YARDS OF A LARGE GORILLA—HE ROARS -WITH RAGE AND MARCHES UPON US.</p> - - -<p class="p2">We established ourselves in a deserted Bakalai -village, a few miles from the banks of the -Ovenga, and about ten miles above Obindji. -I was glad that I had no olako to build.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> - -<p>There were with me several Bakalai; among whom, -of course, were my good friends Querlaouen and -Malaouen. Gambo was also one of our party.</p> - -<p>After our camp was arranged we went out to look for -gorilla tracks. It was too late to hunt; besides, we -were too tired. In the evening Malaouen came in -after dark, and said he had heard the cry of the kooloo, -and knew where to find it in the morning.</p> - -<p>Of course I asked what this kooloo was; for I had -not the slightest idea of what he meant. I had never -heard the name before. I received, in answer, a -description of the animal, which threw me into the -greatest excitement; for I saw this was most certainly -a new species of ape, or man-like monkey; a new man -of the woods, of which I had not even heard as yet. It -was called kooloo-kamba by the Goumbi people from -its cry or call, "kooloo," and the Commi word <i>kamba</i>, -which means "speak." The Bakalai call it simply -<i>koola</i>.</p> - -<p>I scarce slept all night, with fidgeting over the -morrow's prospects. The Bakalai said the kooloo-kamba -was very rare here, and there was only a chance -that we should find the one whose call had been heard.</p> - -<p>At last the tedious night was gone. At the earliest -streak of dawn I had my men up. We had fixed our -guns the night before. All was ready, and we set out -in two parties. My party had been walking through -the forest about an hour, by a path which led, I knew -not where, when suddenly I stepped into a file of -bashikonay ants, whose fierce bites nearly made me -scream. The little rascals were infuriated at my disturbance -of their progress; and they held on to my -legs, and to my trousers, till I picked them off. Of -course I jumped nimbly out of the way of the great -army of which they formed part, but I did not get off -without some severe bites.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> - -<p>We had hardly got clear of the bashikonays, when -my ears were saluted by the singular cry of the ape I -was after. "Koola-kooloo, koola-kooloo," it said -several times. Only Gambo and Malaouen were with -me. Gambo and I raised our eyes, and saw, high up -on a tree-branch, a large ape. It looked almost like a -black hairy man. We both fired at once; and the next -moment the poor beast fell with a heavy crash to the -ground. I rushed up, anxious to see if indeed I had -a new animal. I saw in a moment that it was neither -a nshiego mbouvé, nor a common chimpanzee, nor a -gorilla. Again I had a happy day. This kooloo-kamba -was undoubtedly a new variety of chimpanzee.</p> - -<p>We at once disembowelled the animal, which was a -full-grown male. We found in his stomach nothing -but berries, nuts, and fruits. He had no doubt just -begun to take his breakfast.</p> - -<p>This kooloo-kamba was four feet three inches high.</p> - -<p>He was powerfully built, with strong and square -shoulders. He had a very round head, with whiskers -running quite round the face and below the chin. The -face was round; the cheek-bones prominent; the -cheeks sunken. The roundness of the head and the -prominence of the cheek-bones were so great as to -remind me of some of the heads of Indians or Chinamen. -The hair was black and long on the arms, -which, however, were partly bare. His ears were -large, and shaped like those of a human being. Of -its habits the people could tell me nothing, except that -it was found more frequently in the far interior. I -brought the skin of this kooloo-kamba to New York, -and some years ago many people saw it.</p> - -<p>On our return to Obindji we were overtaken by my -good friend Querlaouen, who had shot a wild pig, of -which the good fellow gave me half. The negroes -feasted on the kooloo meat, which I could not touch.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> -So the pig was welcome to me, as indeed it was to -Quengueza, whom we found almost crying with an -affection which is common in this part of Africa, and -is called <i>gouamba</i>, but for which we happily have no -name. Gouamba is the inordinate longing and craving -of exhausted nature for meat. For days, and -sometimes for weeks, a man does not get any meat at -all, and whenever other food is brought before him, you -will hear him say, looking at the food with disgust, -"Gouamba," which means literally, "I am sick of -food; I have a craving for meat; I care for nothing -else."</p> - -<p>I had some glorious gorilla-hunting while in the -Bakalai country, in the upper regions of the Ovenga -river. Malaouen, Querlaouen, Gambo, and I, often -started out together, and remained for days in the -thickest part of the forest. Now and then we would -return to Obindji to get a supply of plantain, and then -would go off again. We roamed over the forest in all -directions; we explored some new regions; and sometimes -we got lost in the midst of impenetrable mountains, -where often for days we killed nothing.</p> - -<p>In these excursions we suffered sometimes a good -deal; for we had to endure many hardships. We often -had very poor fare, and fever sometimes prostrated me.</p> - -<p>One day, I remember well, we were out for gorillas; -which we knew were to be found thereabouts, by the -presence of a pulpy pear-shaped fruit, the <i>tondo</i>, of -which the animal is very fond. I also am very fond -of the subdued and grateful acid of this fruit, which -is eaten by the negroes as well as by the gorilla.</p> - -<p>We found everywhere gorilla marks, and so recent -that we began to think the animals must be avoiding -us. This was really the case, I believe, though I am -not sure. At any rate, we beat the bush for two hours, -before, at last, we found the game. Suddenly, an im<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span>mense -gorilla advanced out of the wood, straight -towards us, and gave vent, as he came up, to a terrible -howl of rage, as much as to say, "I am tired of being -pursued, and will face you."</p> - -<p>It was a lone male, the kind which are always most -ferocious. This fellow made the woods resound with -his roar, which is really an awful sound, resembling -very much a rolling and muttering of distant -thunder.</p> - -<p>He was about twenty yards off when we first saw -him. We at once gathered together; and I was about -to take aim and bring him down where he stood, when -Malaouen stopped me, saying in a whisper, "Not time -yet."</p> - -<p>We stood, therefore, in silence, gun in hand. The -gorilla looked at us for a minute or so out of his evil -grey eyes, then beat his breast with his gigantic arms—and -what arms he had!—then he gave another -howl of defiance and advanced upon us. How -horrible he looked! I shall never forget it.</p> - -<p>Again he stopped not more than fifteen yards away.</p> - -<p>Still Malaouen said, "Not yet." Good gracious! -what is to become of us, if our guns miss fire, or if we -only wound the huge beast?</p> - -<p>Again the gorilla made an advance upon us. Now -he was not twelve yards off. I could see plainly his -ferocious face. It was distorted with rage; his huge -teeth were ground against each other, so that we -could hear the sound; the skin of the forehead was -drawn forward and back rapidly, which made his hair -move up and down, and gave a truly devilish expression -to the hideous face. Once more he gave out a roar, -which seemed to shake the woods like thunder; I -could really feel the earth trembling under my feet. -The gorilla, looking us in the eyes, and beating his -breast, advanced again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Don't fire too soon," said Malaouen; "if you do -not kill him, he will kill you."</p> - -<p>This time he came within eight yards of us before -he stopped. I was breathing fast with excitement as -I watched the huge beast.</p> - -<p>Malaouen said only, "Steady," as the gorilla came -up. When he stopped, Malaouen said, "Now!" And -before he could utter the roar for which he was opening -his mouth, three musket-balls were in his body. He -fell dead, almost without a struggle.</p> - -<p>He was a monstrous beast indeed, though not -amongst the tallest. His height was five feet six -inches. His arms had a spread of seven feet two -inches. His broad brawny chest measured fifty inches -round. The big toe of his foot measured five inches -and three quarters in circumference. His arms seemed -like immense bunches of muscle only; and his legs -and claw-like feet were so well fitted for grabbing and -holding that I could see how easy it was for the -negroes to believe that these animals, when they conceal -themselves in trees and watch for prey, can seize -and pull up with their feet any living thing, leopard, -ox, or man, that passes beneath.</p> - -<p>The face of this gorilla was intensely black. The -vast chest, which proved his great power, was bare, and -covered with a parchment-like skin. His body was -covered with grey hair.</p> - -<p>While the animal approached us in its fierce way, -walking on its hind legs and facing us as few animals -dare face man, it really seemed to me to be a horrid -likeness of man.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><a name="Mbuiti"><img src="images/mbuiti.png" width="550" -height="430" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption">MEETING THE MBUITI.</div></div> - -<h2 id="XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> - - -<p class="i2 center">WE GO UP THE RIVER TO N'CALAI BOUMBA—A SEVERE -ATTACK OF FEVER—THE TENDER CARE OF THE NATIVES -FOR ME—ANGUILAI ACCUSES HIS PEOPLE OF BEWITCHING -ME—I GO OUT AND QUIET HIM—A BOY CUT TO -PIECES FOR WITCHCRAFT—A USEFUL IDOL—THE EBONY -TREES.</p> - - -<p class="p2">With Quengueza I resumed the ascent of the -river Ovenga. We were bound to the town -of a chief named Anguilai. The place was -called N'calai Boumba.</p> - -<p>We left Obindji early in the morning. On the way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> -we passed several Bakalai villages, the largest of which, -Npopo, I afterwards visited. The river banks, all the -way up, were densely wooded, but very sparsely inhabited -by beasts. We saw no animals the whole day, -except one monkey and a few birds.</p> - -<p>Anguilai, who was one of the vassals of Quengueza, -and a powerful Bakalai chief, and whom I had met at -Obindji's, received us well.</p> - -<p>Anguilai's town is the hottest place I ever saw in -Africa. N'calai Boumba was set in a hollow, and the -houses were so small and close as to be quite unendurable -to me. The village was only a little more than a -year old. The people had come lately from the interior. -Plantations of plantain trees were very -abundant.</p> - -<p>Towards the end of April I was brought down to my -bed with fever. This was the severest attack I had -yet experienced in Africa. It entirely prostrated me. -I looked like a corpse. Not a single particle of colour -could be seen on my face. I had no strength. I could -not eat. I could not walk.</p> - -<p>For three days I had violent returns of the fever. -The blood rushed to my head, and my mind -wandered at times; so the natives told me. Of course -I cannot remember what I said. I only know that my -head burned like fire, and that I was almost mad with -pain. Between the attacks of fever I really thought I -should die and I commended my soul to God.</p> - -<p>While I lay sick, people came and entreated me not -to hunt so much and so constantly. They said, "Look -at us; we hunt one day; we rest two. When we hunt -three days, we rest for many days after it. But -you go out every day."</p> - -<p>I thought to myself, they are right, and I shall -follow their rule hereafter. But it was hard to do so; -for I felt that no one else was in the field; that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> -in such an unhealthy climate no one can live very -long, and I wanted to do as much work as I could. I -wanted to bring all the wonders of that part of the -world to light; and I felt that I was getting older -and older, and there was yet very much work to -be done. So I prayed God to give me strength for -the work that was entrusted to my hands.</p> - -<p>I shall never forget the kindness of those native -women to me while I was sick. Poor souls! they are -sadly abused by their task-masters. They are the -merest slaves. They have to do all the drudgery. -They receive blows and ill-usage. And yet, at the -sight of suffering, their hearts soften, just as women's -hearts soften in our own more civilized lands. No -sooner did sickness attack me than these kind souls -came to nurse and take care of me. They sat by me -to fan me; they brought more mats for my bed; they -bathed my burning head with cold water; they -got me refreshing fruit from the woods. At night, -when I woke up from a feverish dream, I used to hear -their voices, as they sat around in the darkness, pitying -me and contriving ways to cure me.</p> - -<p>When I think of these things I cannot help thanking -God for them; that, wherever I have gone, He has -made human hearts tender and kind to me; that, even -under the black skin of the benighted and savage -African, He has implanted something of His own -compassionate love.</p> - -<p>Anguilai and Quengueza were sadly alarmed at my -illness. Anguilai accused his people of wickedly bewitching -me. One still night he walked up and down -the village, threatening, in a loud voice, to kill the -sorcerers if he could only find them. I had to get up -and tell Anguilai that I was sure his people and the -Bakalai loved me too much to wish me to be sick. -Whereupon they all shouted at once, "It is so; it is so."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> - -<p>After a few days I was able to walk again a little; -and I went and lived in the forest, where I suffered -less from the heat than in our little houses.</p> - -<p>How sorry I often felt that these kind-hearted -negroes were given to superstitions which led them to -commit the most horrid cruelties. A little boy, about -ten years old, had been accused of sorcery. On being -examined, he confessed that he had made a witch. -Thereupon the whole town seemed to be seized with -the ferocity of devils. They took spears and knives, -and actually cut the poor little fellow to pieces. I had -been walking out, and returned just as the dreadful -scene was over. I could not even make the wretched -people feel shame at their bloody act. They were still -frantic with rage at the thought that this little fellow -had made a witch to kill some of them; and they were -not quiet for some hours after.</p> - -<p>I felt so badly that I went into the woods and took -the path that led to the village of Npopo, which was -not far distant from N'calai Boumba. I wanted to see -if the men had returned; I wanted to see Aguailai, -the chief. He was the doctor who had come to Goumbi -to drive off the aniemba. When I went down to -Npopo the first time I found the people all gone into -the bush. Everything was open and exposed to thieves; -chickens and goats were walking about; and I -wondered to see such carelessness in the village. But -in the centre, looking down on everything, stood the -<i>mbuiti</i>, or god of Npopo, a copper-eyed divinity, who, I -was informed, safely guarded everything. It seemed -absurd; but I was assured that no one dared steal, and -no one did steal, with the eyes of this mbuiti upon him.</p> - -<p>This uncommonly useful idol was a rudely-shaped -piece of ebony, about two feet high, with a man's -face, the nose and eyes of copper, and the body -covered with grass.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> - -<p>At last we started for the ebony woods. Our new -location was about nine miles from the river, on the -side of a long hill, and close by where a cool sparkling -rivulet leaped from rock to rock down into the plain, -making the pleasantest of music for me as I lay, weak -and sick, in the camp. Five huge ebony trees lifted -their crowned heads together in a little knot just -above us. All around were pleasant and shady woods. -It was a very pleasant camp, but proved to have one -drawback—we nearly starved to death. I sent out -the hunters immediately on our arrival. They were -gone two days, but brought back nothing. Game -was very scarce there; and, without an <i>ashinga</i>, or -net, such as many Bakalai villages have, not much was -to be got.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illo1.png" width="200" -height="138" alt="" title="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a> -<a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter6"><img src="images/illo2.png" width="600" -height="125" alt="" title="" /></div> - - -<h2 id="XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> - -<p class="i2 center">HUNTING FOR FOOD—WE KILL A FEMALE NSHIEGO MBOUVÉ—A -YOUNG NSHIEGO WITH A WHITE FACE—HE BECOMES -MY PET TOMMY—HIS AFFECTION FOR ME—HIS STEALING -PRANKS—TOMMY GETS DRUNK—HIS BEHAVIOUR AT -MEALS—HIS SUDDEN DEATH—CONCLUSION.</p> - - -<p class="p2">At last I got better. I could not stand hunger -and gouamba any longer, and determined to -make up a regular hunting party and stay -out till we got something to eat. Malaouen told me -that if we went off about twenty miles we should come -to a better game country. So we started in the -direction he pointed out, and where he thought we -should find the gorilla, or perhaps the nshiego mbouvé.</p> - -<p>The men were covered with greegrees, or fetiches, -and had cut their hands for luck. Anguilai told me -that his <i>ogana</i> (idol) had told him that to-morrow the -heart of the <i>otanga</i> (the white man) would be made -glad, for we should kill game.</p> - -<p>For some hours after we started we saw nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> -but old tracks of different wild beasts, and I began to -think that Anguilai's ogana had been too sanguine. -Finally towards twelve o'clock, when we were crossing -a kind of high table-land, we heard the cry of a young -animal, which we recognised to be a nshiego mbouvé. -At once all my troubles left me. I no longer felt either -sick or hungry.</p> - -<p>We crawled through the bush as silently as possible, -still hearing the baby-like cry. At last, coming out -into a little place where there was very little under-growth, -we saw something running along the ground -towards where we stood concealed. We hardly dared -to breathe, for fear of awakening the animal's -suspicions. When it came nearer, we saw it was a -female nshiego mbouvé, running on all-fours, with a -young one clinging to her breast. She was eagerly -eating some berries, while with one arm she supported -her little one.</p> - -<p>Querlaouen, who had the fairest chance, fired, and -brought her down. She dropped without a struggle. -The poor little one cried, "Hew! hew! hew!" and -clung to the dead body, sucking her breasts, and burying -his head there, in alarm at the report of the gun.</p> - -<p>We hurried up in great glee to secure our capture. -I cannot tell my surprise when I saw that the nshiego -baby's face was as white as that of a white child.</p> - -<p>I looked at the mother, but found her black as soot -in the face. What did it mean?—the mother black, -the child white! The little one was about a foot in -height. One of the men threw a cloth over its head -and secured it, till we could make it fast with a rope; -for, though it was quite young, it could walk. The -old one was of the bald-headed kind of which I had -secured the first known specimen some months before.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="Face"><img src="images/face.png" width="600" -height="375" alt="" title="" /></a> -<div class="caption"> -A YOUNG NSHIEGO MBOUVÉ WITH A WHITE FACE.<br /> -<a href="#XXXVI">CHAP. XXXVI.</a> -</div></div> - - -<p class="p2">I immediately ordered a return to the camp, which -we reached towards evening. The little nshiego had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> -been all this time separated from its dead mother, and -now, when it was put near her body, a most touching -scene ensued. The little fellow ran instantly to her. -Touching her on the face and breast, he saw evidently -that some great change had happened. For a few -minutes he caressed her, as though trying to coax her -back to life. Then he seemed to lose all hope. His -little eyes became very sad, and he broke out in a long, -plaintive wail, "Ooee! ooee! ooee!" which made my -heart ache for him. He looked quite forlorn, and as -though he really felt his forsaken lot. All in the camp -were touched at his sorrows, and the women especially -were much moved.</p> - -<p>All this time I stood wonderingly staring at the -white face of the creature. It was really marvellous, and -quite incomprehensible. A more strange and weird-looking -animal I never saw.</p> - -<p>While I stood here, up came two of my hunters, and -began to laugh at me. "Look, Chaillie," said they, -calling me by the name I am known by among them—"look -at your friend. Every time we kill gorilla, -you tell us look at your black friend, your first cousin. -Now, you see, look at your white friend." Then came -a roar of laughter at what they thought a tremendous -joke.</p> - -<p>"Look! he got straight hair, all same as you! See -white face of your cousin from the bush! He is nearer -to you than the gorilla is to us!"</p> - -<p>Then they roared again.</p> - -<p>"Gorilla no got woolly hair like me. This one -straight hair like you."</p> - -<p>"Yes," said I; "but when he gets old his face is -black; and do you not see his nose, how flat it is, like -yours?"</p> - -<p>Whereat there was a louder roar than before.</p> - -<p>The mother was old, to judge by her teeth, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> -were much worn; but she was quite black in the face; -in fact, her skin was black. Like all the nshiego -mbouvé, she was bald-headed.</p> - -<p>Now I must give you an account of the little fellow -who excited all this surprise and merriment. He lived -five months, and became perfectly tame and docile. -I called him "Tommy," to which name he soon began -to answer.</p> - -<p>Three days after his capture, he was quite tame. He -then ate crackers out of my hands, devoured boiled -rice and roasted plantain, and drank the milk of a -goat. Two weeks after his capture, he was perfectly -tamed, and no longer required to be tied up. He ran -about the camp, and, when we went back to Obindji's -town, he found his way about the village and into the -huts just as though he had been raised there.</p> - -<p>He had a great affection for me, and used to follow -me about. When I sat down, he was not content till -he had climbed upon me and hid his head in my -breast. He was extremely fond of being petted and -fondled, and would sit by the hour while anyone -stroked his head and back.</p> - -<p>He soon began to be a very great thief. When the -people left their huts he would steal in and make off -with their plantains or fish (for he could then eat anything). -He watched very carefully till all had left a -house, and it was difficult to catch him in the act. I -flogged him several times, and indeed brought him to -the conviction that it was <i>wrong</i> to steal; but he -could never resist the temptation.</p> - -<p>From me he stole constantly. He soon found out -that my hut was the best supplied with ripe bananas -and other fruit. He also discovered that the best time -to steal from me was when I was asleep in the morning. -At that time he used to crawl slowly and carefully -on tip-toe towards my bed and look at my closed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> -eyes. If he saw no movement, with an air of great -relief he would go and pick up several ripe plantains. -If I stirred in the least, he was off like a flash, and -would presently re-enter for another inspection.</p> - -<p>If my eyes were open when he came in on such a -predatory trip, he would come directly to me, with an -honest face, and would climb upon me and caress me; -but I could easily detect an occasional wishful glance -towards the bunch of plantains.</p> - -<p>My hut had no door, but was closed with a mat. It -was very funny to see Tommy gently raising one -corner of this mat and popping his head in to see if I -was asleep. Sometimes I feigned sleep, and then -stirred, just as he was in the act of taking off his -prize. Then he would drop everything and make off -in the utmost consternation.</p> - -<p>He kept the run of meal times, and was present at -as many meals as possible; that is, he would go from -my breakfast to half a dozen others, and beg sometimes -at each. But he never missed my own breakfast -and dinner, knowing by experience that he fared best -there.</p> - -<p>I had a kind of rude table made, on which my meals -were served, in the open part of my house. This was -too high for Tommy to see the dishes; so he used to -come in before I sat down, when all was ready, and -climb up on the pole that supported the roof. From -here he would attentively survey every dish on the -table, and having determined what to have, he would -descend and sit down at my side. If I did not immediately -pay attention to him he would begin to howl, -"Hew! hew! hew!" louder and louder, till, for peace -sake, his wants were satisfied. Of course I could not -tell what he had chosen for dinner of my different -dishes, and would offer him first one, then another, till -the right one came. If he received what he did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> -want he would throw it down on the ground with a -little shriek of anger and a stamp of his foot, and -begin to howl, and this was repeated till he was served -to his liking. In short, he behaved very much like a -spoiled child.</p> - -<p>If I pleased him quickly, he thanked me by a kind -of gentle murmur, like "hoohoo," and would hold out -his hand to shake mine. He knew perfectly how to -shake hands. He was very fond of boiled messes, -particularly boiled fish, and was constantly picking the -bones he found lying about the village. He wanted -always to taste of my coffee, and when Macondai -brought it would beg some of me in the most serious -manner.</p> - -<p>I made him a little pillow to sleep on, and he became -very fond of it. After he was accustomed to it, he -would never part with it, but dragged it after him -wherever he went. If by any chance it was lost the -whole camp knew it by his howls. Now and then, on -some forest excursion, he would mislay it, and then I -had to send people for it in order to stop his noise. At -other times the people would hide it, just to tease -him. He slept on it, coiled up in a little heap, and -only relinquished it when I gave him permission to -accompany me into the woods.</p> - -<p>As he became more and more used to our ways, he -grew more impatient of contradiction, and more fond -of being caressed; and whenever he was thwarted, he -would howl in his disagreeable way. Now and then I -gave him a flogging to teach him better manners.</p> - -<p>As the dry season came on it became colder, and -Tommy began to wish for company when he slept, to -keep him warm. The negroes would not have him for -a companion, for he seemed too much like one of -themselves. I did not like to have him in bed with -me. So poor Tommy was reduced to misery, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> -seemed to think nobody would have him. But soon I -found that he waited till everybody was fast asleep at -night, and then crawled in softly next some of his black -friends, and slept there till the earliest dawn. Then -he would get up and get away undiscovered. At other -times he felt too warm and comfortable to get up, and -was caught and beaten, but he always tried it again.</p> - -<p>He showed an extraordinary fondness for strong -drink. Whenever a negro had palm-wine Tommy -was sure to know it. He had a decided taste for -Scotch ale, of which I had a few bottles, and he even -begged for brandy. Indeed, his last exploit was with -a brandy bottle. One day, before going out to the hunt, -I had carelessly left the bottle on my chest. The little -rascal stole in and seized it; and being unable to get -out the cork, in some way he broke the bottle. When -I returned, after some hours' absence, I found my -precious bottle broken in pieces! It was the last; and -to an African traveller brandy is as indispensable as -quinine. Master Tommy was coiled up on the floor -amid the fragments, in a state of maudlin drunkenness. -When he saw me he got up and tried to stagger up to -me; but his legs tottered, and he fell down several -times. His eyes had the glare of human drunkenness; -his arms were extended in vain attempts to reach me; -his voice came thick; in fact, he looked disgustingly -and yet comically human. It was the maudlin and sentimental -stage of human drunkenness very well represented. -I had seen men looking exactly as Tommy -did, and I wished these drunkards could have seen him; -they might then, perhaps, have become so disgusted -with themselves that they would have given up their -horrid vice.</p> - -<p>I gave him a severe thrashing, which seemed to -sober the little toper somewhat; but nothing could -cure him of his love for liquor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> - -<p>He was also very fond of tea and coffee, but wanted -both to be well sweetened. He could drink out of a cup. -Sometimes, to tease him, I would not put in any sugar; -then he would throw down the cup and begin to howl; -and he would make the whole place resound with his -noise.</p> - -<p>He had a great deal of intelligence; and, if I had had -leisure, I think I might have trained him to some kind -of good behaviour, though I despaired of his thieving -disposition. The older he grew, the greater thief he -became.</p> - -<p>He lived so long, and was growing so accustomed to -civilized life, that I began to have great hopes of carrying -him alive to America.</p> - -<p>Sometimes he would come round the fire where my -men were and warm himself with them. How -comical he then looked! At other times, when they -took their meals, and ate out of a common dish, Master -Tommy would join the party; and when they would -all put their hands into the dish, he would put his -in also, and take a little handful of cooked and smoked -fish. In fact, he kept time with them.</p> - -<p>But alas! poor Tommy! One morning he refused -his food, seemed downcast, and was very anxious to -be petted and held in our arms. I got all kinds of -forest berries for him, but he refused all. He did not -seem to suffer, but he ate nothing; and next day, -without a struggle, he died. Poor fellow! he seemed -sorry to leave us. I was grieved; and even the -negroes, though he had given them great trouble, were -mournful at his death. He had hardly expired when -the news spread through the village that little Tommy -was no more. They all came to see him; he looked -as if he were asleep.</p> - -<p>It seemed as if we had lost a friend. We missed his -mischief and noise; and for many days we all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> -mourned for Tommy, and wished him back among -us.</p> - -<p>Tommy turned darker as he grew older. At the time -of his death he was yellow rather than white. If he -had lived to be old he would, no doubt, have become -black, like his mother.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>And now, young friends, for the present I have done. -I have told you many things about Africa, about its -strange animals, its terrible gorillas, its savage cannibals. -And all that I have told you is true; for it is what I -have seen with my own eyes.</p> - -<p>But I have not told you all that I saw and heard in -that far-distant country. I have many more singular -sights to describe and queer adventures to recount to -you.</p> - -<p>So I will not bid you farewell: I will say to you -"<i>Au revoir!</i>" That means "Good-bye till I come -again."</p> - - -<p class="p6 center">THE END.</p> - - -<p class="p4 center">Gilbert and Rivington, Ld., St. John's House, Clerkenwell Road, London.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>Uniform with this Volume.</h2> - -<p class="center"><i>With numerous Illustrations, 2s. 6d.; gilt edges, 3s. 6d. each.</i></p> - - -<p class="p2"><b>Dick Cheveley.</b> By W. H. G. Kingston.</p> - -<p><b>Heir of Kilfinnan.</b> By W. H. G. Kingston.</p> - -<p><b>Off to the Wilds.</b> By G. Manville Fenn.</p> - -<p><b>The Two Supercargoes.</b> By W. H. G. -Kingston.</p> - -<p><b>The Silver Cañon.</b> By G. Manville Fenn.</p> - -<p><b>Under the Meteor Flag.</b> By Harry -Collingwood.</p> - -<p><b>Jack Archer</b>: a Tale of the Crimea. By G. -A. Henty.</p> - -<p><b>The Mutiny on board the Ship -"Leander."</b> By B. Heldmann.</p> - -<p><b>With Axe and Rifle</b>; or, The Western -Pioneers. By W. H. G. Kingston.</p> - -<p><b>Red Cloud, the Solitary Sioux</b>: a Tale of -the Great Prairie. By Colonel Sir William -Butler, K.C.B.</p> - -<p><b>The Voyage of the Aurora.</b>, By Harry -Collingwood.</p> - -<p><b>Charmouth Grange</b>: a Tale of the 17th -Century. By J. Percy Groves.</p> - -<p><b>Snowshoes and Canoes.</b> By W. H. G. -Kingston.</p> - -<p><b>The Son of the Constable of France.</b> -By Louis Rousselet.</p> - -<p><b>Captain Mugford</b>; or, Our Salt and Fresh -Water Tutors. Edited by W. H. G. Kingston.</p> - -<p><b>The Cornet of Horse</b>; a Tale of Marlborough's -Wars. By G. A. Henty.</p> - -<p><b>The Adventures of Captain Mago.</b> By -Leon Cahun.</p> - -<p><b>Noble Words and Noble Deeds.</b></p> - -<p><b>The King of the Tigers.</b> By Rousselet.</p> - -<p><b>Hans Brinker</b>; or, The Silver Skates. By -Mrs. Dodge.</p> - -<p><b>The Drummer-Boy</b>; a Story of the time of -Washington. By Rousselet.</p> - -<p><b>Adventures in New Guinea</b>: The Narrative -of Louis Trégance.</p> - -<p><b>The Crusoes of Guiana.</b> By Boussenard.</p> - -<p><b>The Gold-Seekers.</b> A Sequel to the above. -By Boussenard.</p> - -<p><b>Winning his Spurs</b>: a Tale of the Crusade. -By G. A. Henty.</p> - -<p><b>The Blue Banner.</b> By Leon Cahun.</p> - -<p><b>Ben Burton</b>; or, Born and Bred at Sea. By -W. H. G. Kingston.</p> - -<p><b>Adventures on the Great Hunting -Grounds of the World.</b> By V. Meunier.</p> - -<p><b>The Three Deserters</b>; or, Ran Away from -the Dutch. By M. T. H. Perelaer.</p> - -<p><b>My Kalulu, Prince, King, and Slave.</b> -By H. M. Stanley.</p> - -<p><b>Adventures of a Young Naturalist.</b> -By Lucien Biart. Edited and adapted by Parker -Gillmore (Ubique).</p> - -<p><b>The Startling Exploits of the Doctor.</b> -By Céliere.</p> - -<p><b>The Brothers Rantzau</b>: a Story of the -Vosges. By Erckmann-Chatrian.</p> - -<p><b>The Serpent Charmer.</b> By Louis Rousselet.</p> - -<p><b>Stories of the Gorilla Country.</b> By -Paul Du Chaillu.</p> - -<p><b>The Conquest of the Moon.</b> By A. Laurie.</p> - -<p><b>The Maid of the Ship "Golden Age."</b> -By H. E. Maclean.</p> - -<p><b>The Frozen Pirate.</b> By W. Clark Russell.</p> - -<p><b>The Marvellous Country.</b> By S. W. Cozzens.</p> - -<p><b>The Mountain Kingdom.</b> By D. Lawson -Johnstone.</p> - -<p><b>A Thousand Miles in the "Rob Roy" -Canoe.</b> By John MacGregor ("Rob Roy").</p> - -<p><b>Blacks and Bushrangers</b>; or, Adventures -in Queensland. By E. B. Kennedy.</p> - -<p><b>Sir Ludar</b>: a Tale of Love, War, and Adventure -in the days of the great Queen Bess. By Talbot -Baines Reed.</p> - -<p><b>Wild Life under the Equator.</b> By Paul -Du Chaillu.</p> - -<p><b>My Rambles in the New World.</b> By -Lucien Biart.</p> - -<p><b>New York to Brest in Seven Hours.</b> -By A. Laurie.</p> - -<p><b>Rob Roy on the Baltic.</b> By John MacGregor, -M.A.</p> - -<p><b>Bevis.</b> By Richard Jefferies. Edited by G. A. -Henty.</p> - -<p><b>The Cobbler of Cornikeranium.</b> By -Rev. A. N. Malan.</p> - -<p><b>Strange Stories of Adventure.</b> By -Captain Mayne Reid.</p> - -<p><b>The Aztec Treasure-House.</b> By T. A. -Janvier.</p> - -<p><b>How Martin Drake found his Father.</b> -By G. Norway.</p> - -<p><b>Roger Ingleton, Minor.</b> By T. B. Reed.</p> - -<p><b>Axel Ebersen, the Graduate of Upsala.</b> -By A. Laurie.</p> - -<p><b>Sandy Carmichael.</b> By C. J. Hyne.</p> - -<p><b>The Priceless Orchid.</b> By Percy Ainslie.</p> - -<p><b>An Inca Queen.</b> By J. Evelyn.</p> - -<p><b>Voyage Alone in the Yawl "Rob -Roy."</b> By J. MacGregor.</p> - -<p><b>Adrift In the Pacific.</b> By Jules Verne.</p> - -<p><b>The Purchase of the North Pole.</b> By -Jules Verne.</p> - - -<p class="center p4"><span class="smcap">London</span>: SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY, <span class="smcap">Ltd., -St. Dunstan's House, Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C.</span></p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Gorilla Country, by Paul Du Chaillu - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE GORILLA COUNTRY *** - -***** This file should be named 52444-h.htm or 52444-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/4/4/52444/ - -Produced by Carlos Colón, Princeton Theological Seminary -Library and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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