188 MAYOLO. Chap. IX. 



other in language tlie most filthy that could possibly 

 be uttered. Mayolo being asleep in his house, and 

 no one seeming ready to interfere, I went myself and 

 separated the two furies. 



In the meantime Oshoumouna and the men sent 

 by ]\Tayolo to open the way for me into Apono-land, 

 returned last night, frightened away by the recep- 

 tion they had met with from the people of the 

 Apono village to which they had gone, and which is 

 situated on the right bank of the Rembo Ngouyai. 

 As soon as they said who tliey were, and that they 

 had beads with which to buy some salt — for the 

 Apono trade a good deal in salt, paying for it in 

 slaves — the villagers shouted out, "Go away! go 

 away ! We don't want to have anything to do 

 with the Oguizi, or with the people who have 

 come in contact with him ! We do not want 

 your beads ! We want nothing that came witii the 

 Oguizi ! " 



This news filled me with sorrow. Mayolo tried to 

 comfort me ; but my prospects were indeed dark and 

 gloomy. 



May Gth. After taking several lunar distances to- 

 night between the moon and Jupiter, and feeling 

 tired, as I generally do after night observations, I 

 went into a little shed behind my house and took a 

 cold shower-bath — at least, an imitation of one — by 

 splashing water over me ; I find this very refresliing 

 and cooling before retiring to rest. I then went into 

 my cliamber; but I came out of it again faster than 

 I entered, for I had stepped into a band of Bashi- 

 kouay ants, and was quickly covered with the nimble 



