278 JOURNEY THROUGH ISIIOGO-LAXD. Chap. XIV 



The place appeared deserted wlien we entered, all 

 the doors were closed, and we took possession, undis- 

 turbed, of a large unoccupied shed. A few men soon 

 afterwards were seen peeping at ns from afar with 

 frightened looks. Kombila shouted to them, " How is 

 it that when strangers come to your village you do 

 not hasten to salute them ? " They recognised some 

 of the Aponos, and shouted back, " You are right, 

 you are right ! " Then they came to us and gave us 

 the usual salutation of the Ishogos, which is done by 

 clapping the hands together and stretching them out, 

 alternately, several times. We returned the com-^ 

 pliment in the same form, and then ensued much 

 tedious speechifying on the part of Kombila, who 

 related all that had happened to us since we com- 

 menced our expedition ; what fine things I gave to 

 the villagers among wdiom we stayed ; how, when 

 we stopped at Yengue', and the people of Yengue' 

 wanted them to leave me w^ith them, they I'efused, 

 and said they would take me to the Ashango country ; 

 and that now they said they would stay with me 

 until they brought me back safe to Mokenga. 



Then Kombila cried out, with all the might of his 

 stentorian voice, " If you are not pleased, tell us, and 

 we will take the Spirit to another village, where the 

 people will be glad to welcome us." 



Then all the elders of the villno'e withdrew to- 

 gether, and shortly returned, saying, " We have 

 heard what you have said ; we are pleased, and 

 gladly welcome the Spirit." 



They then told us that the king was not in the 

 village. I noticed that every time I came into a 



