QUENGUEZA AS A GOURMAND. Li 
zelle, called ncheri. These meats had all been smoked a 
long time. In the centre there were two huge baskets 
of plantains, which were to be used as bread. 
Do not think this is the end of the bill of fare. The 
fishes are still to come, as well as other African dainties. 
An enormous dish of manatee was next brought in, 
which was immediately followed by another dish of 
boiled mullet. Then came some land and water turtles. 
IT wondered why a boiled snake had not made its ap- 
pearance, and also some roast gorilla and chimpanzee, 
these to be surrounded by a few mice and rats. But 
these are entirely Bakalai dishes, no Commi eating 
those animals. . 
Tt was a sumptuous feast. Obindji was in his. glory, 
and the drummers sang, ‘“‘ Who can give such a feast to 
the Ntangani except Obindji? Obindji has a fetich ”— 
they continued singing—‘ that makes the wild beasts 
come to him, the fish come to him, the white man come 
to him!” 
Quengueza was seated on one side and I on the 
other, and round us stood the twenty wives and Obind- 
jis slaves, to wait upon us. Quengueza, who is a great 
gourmand, took a glance at every dish before him 
and concluded that he would go into the manatee first, 
then he would follow up with some fish, and then would 
pitch into the fat monkey, finishing up with antelope; 
and he said to me, in his bland and kind manner, that if 
. there was room left he would eat some ncheri (gazelle), 
but he intended specially to go into the wild boar and 
the manatee to his heart’s content. ‘‘Then,” said he, 
_ close to my ear, “you will give me a little glass of 
brandy.” 3 
re 
Et... 
ee 
e 
\ 
