60 ) 



CHArXER 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 

 Natives 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-niare — Arrival at Goumbi — Observations to fix latitude 

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

 Disobedient Wives — Excessive Drought — Obindji — Opposition of 

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



OiV the 30tli of June, I bade 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 night. 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 written, and also with a fresh supply 

 of scientific instruments, to replace those spoilt in 

 the surf. My sets were not, however, completed 

 until a month afterwards, when other instruments 

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



