20 THE FERNAND VAZ. Chap. II. 



by tlie bystanders, " If you love me, do not say a 

 word to any one that you have brought me any 

 presents." 



During the interview I showed Quengueza, amongst 

 other things, a copy of my book ' Adventures in 

 Equatorial Africa,' and pointed out to him the plate 

 which represents him and myself seated in the palaver 

 house of Goumbi. It delighted him amazingly : he 

 shouted, "Am I then known so well in the white 

 man's country that they make my picture?" Then 

 turning with an air of ineffable contempt to the 

 crowd around us, and pointing to the engraving, he 

 said, " Pigs, look here ! what do you know about the 

 white man ? Quengueza is the white man's friend ; 

 what would you be without me ? " He asked me 

 who made the book. I told him it was the same 

 good friend who had sent him such beautiful presents. 

 He did not forget this ; and the next day he put into 

 my hands a handsome leopard's skin, with the request 

 that I would send it to the ntangani (white man) 

 ^ who had put him in a book and sent him so many 

 things to do him good. 



Conforming to his wish for strict secresy regarding 

 the presents, I appointed a day on which to receive 

 him alone. He chose an hour in the afternoon when 

 most of his people were asleep, enjoying the usual 

 siesta. He came accompanied by a select party of 

 relatives and wives, for kings in these parts must 

 always be accompanied by some retinue or escort. 

 But his Majesty was determined not to let his people 

 see what I was going to give him. Touching me 

 gently with his elbow, he told me, in a whisper, to 



