26 WILD LIFE UNDER THE EQUATOR. — 
The sight was dismal enough: both banks were 
flanked with swampy forests of mangrove; the tide was’ 
low, and a prodigious number of oysters were seen on 
‘the roots of the mangrove-trees. As we came near 
them I took an axe and cut some of the roots, which were 
literally covered with oysters. We lit a fire at the bot- 
tom of the canoe and roasted these oysters, and they 
were excellent. I assure you it was quite a treat. 
Feeling better after our meal, we paddled on again. 
The mangrove-trees became more scarce, and at last we 
came in sight of a village of Shekianis. 
As soon as they saw us they met in great numbers on 
the top of the hill where-the village stood, and I could 
hear their wild shouts of war. -As we approached near- 
er their excitement increased; the war-drums beat, and 
I could see them brandishing their spears. My men 
Sang songs in the Mpongwe language to show that we 
were not their enemies. 
In the mean time I did not feel comfortable at all, and 
really thought that we might have a fight. I knew 
these Shekiani people ‘to be funny fellows: if we had 
gone back, a dozen canoes armed with men would have 
been after us, for they would have immediately thought 
we were their enemies. So we pushed on, and at last 
came opposite the village. Here we had to stop to speak 
to them,‘and finally they entreated us to pass the night 
among them, the chief himself coming to beg us to 
stay. 
As it was nearly night I concluded that it would be 
better to sleep in a village than in the woods, for there 
we might have been attacked unawares, the people not 
knowing who we were. 
