Ciup. I. CHOICE OF A SETTLEMENT. 9 



merged or washed away, and I no longer saw those 

 flocks of sea birds which formerly frequented the 

 locality. Paddling np the stream we came to my old 

 settlement, which I had called Washington; it was 

 deserted and in ruins, a few loose bamboos and rotting 

 poles alone remained to show me where it stood. The 

 house of my honest old friend, Rinkimongani, was 

 there, looking like a wreck, for this excellent ft How 

 had gone to his rest and his family was scattered. 



After a brief survey of the altered state of 

 the country, I resolved to fix my new quarters 

 at a little village near the residence of Djom- 

 bouai, two miles above my last place : the situ- 

 ation was a good one, and, besides, it would con- 

 ciliate the prejudices of the Commi, who opposed 

 my settlement at the old spot on account of the 

 suspicion of witchcraft which attached to it, and 

 which had increased since the death of Rinkimongani. 

 ^leantime, the news spread that I had arrived in the 

 country, and for several days people came trooping 

 in by land and water to see their old friend, and the 

 stores of good things he had brought with him. Ean- 

 pano was away from home, on the Ogobai River, but 

 messengers were sent to him to hasten his return. I 

 soon felt that I had returned to wild life. At night 

 bonfires were lit, and the crowd of half-dressed and 

 rude, but good-humoured, savages danced around 

 them, and dinned my ears with their monotonous 

 drumming and songs. 



It was now necessary to return on board the 



schooner, and arrange the mode of disembarkation of 



my extensive outfit and stock of goods. As the 

 3 



