CHAPTER IV. 



START FOR THE INTERIOR. 



Arrival of a fresh supply of Scientific Instruments — The first Steamer on 

 the Fernand Vaz — Preliminary trip to Goumbi — Astonishment of the 

 Katives at the fire-vessel — Despatch Collections to England — Live 

 Gorilla embarked for London — His habits in confinement — Narrow 

 escape of drowning when embarked — Preparations completed — Last 

 look at the sea — Outfit — Body guard of Commi men — Affecting part- 

 ing scenes — I am deceived by Olenga-Yombi — The renowned doctor, 

 Oune-jiou-e-niar^ — Arrival at Goumbi — Observations to fix latitude 

 and altitude of Goumbi — Quengueza's invocation of his Forefathers — 

 Disobedient ^^'ives — -Excessive Drought — Obindji — Opposition of 

 Bakalai — Arrival of Ashira Porters — Passage of the hills to Olenda. 



On" the 30th of June, I Lade adieu to my friend 

 Olenga-Yombi, and started for Plateau. I hardly 

 left the ebando, when I espied the sail of a canoe that 

 was coming towards us from the direction of the 

 mouth of the river. On our meeting, the men in 

 the canoe shouted out, " Your vessel has arrived." 

 How glad I was — no news could have been more 

 welcome ! My men pulled with renewed vigour, and 

 we reached Plateau that niglit. There I found 

 awaiting me a letter from Messrs. Baring of London, 

 who had kindly sent a vessel with goods and stores 

 for which I had ^^•ritten, and also with a fresh supply 

 of scientific instruments, to replace those spoilt in 

 the surf. My sets were not, however, completed 

 nntil a month afterwards, when other instruments 

 reached me by way of the Gaboon ; my best chro- 



