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Sd 7 IND Hi) WE N ‘ E (| ) 
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CHAPTER XIV. 
A ROYAL FEAST.—ON THE BANKS OF THE OVENGA.—PRE- 
PARATIONS.—THE BILL OF FARE.—A TASTE OF ELEPHANT 
AND A MOUTHFUL OF MONKEY. 
A ROYAL feast is to be given to me: a real feast, 
where the King is going to show me what are the splen- 
dors of his kitchen department. That feast is to take 
place in the equatorial regions of Western Africa, on 
the banks of the Ovenga River. 
King Obindji is to give the repast. My friend King 
Quengueza and myself will be the guests at the feast, 
and it promises to be a great affair. 
For some time past hunters have gone into the forest 
to kill and trap game, fishermen have been catching 
fish, and the women have been watching their plantain- 
trees and their cassada plantations, while the boys have 
been scouring the forest to look after wild fruits. 
A good deal of pottery has been manufactured, so that 
they may have plenty of cooking-pots. Earthen jars 
have also been made in great numbers, so that vessels 
for palm wine may be abundant. The women have also 
worked steadily in making mats, so that many might be 
spread on the ground. Several boloko have been made. 
What a strange kind of arm-chair those bolokos are! 
King Obindji delights to rest upon one. A large shade 
has been built, so that Quengueza and myself will have 
