Chap. IV. AERTVAL OF ASHIRA PORTERS. 83 



you to go and catch fowls or goats, or cut plantains 

 for yourselves, say to them, ' Strangers do not help 

 themselves ; it is the duty of a host to catch the goat 

 or fowl, and cut the plantains, and bring the present 

 to the house which has been given to the guest.' 

 When a house is given to you in any village, keep 

 to that house, and go into no other ; and, if you see 

 a seat, do not sit upon it, for there are seats which 

 none but the owners can sit upon. But, above all, 

 beware of the women ! I tell you these things that 

 you may journey in safety." The speech of the old 

 sage was listened to with great attention. Like most 

 other good advice, it was not followed ; if it had 

 been, many of my subsequent troubles would have 

 been avoided. 



Twelve more days were occupied in getting ready 

 to start for Olenda. Messengers were sent to 

 Olenda for more porters. Supplies of food had to be 

 fetched from a distance, as there was great scarcity 

 in the neighbourhood of Obindji ; otaitais, or baskets 

 of a peculiar shape, had to be made for each porter 

 to carry his load on his back ; and there were, be- 

 sides, all the usual delays which are encountered 

 when one has to deal with a body of negroes. 

 Olenda only sent fifty men in all, whilst my bag- 

 gage required at least a hundred porters. We were 

 obliged, therefore, to send half of it on, and wait for 

 the return of the men to carry the other half. I was 

 quite frightened at the amount of my outfit, although 

 I left behind everything that seemed not absolutely 

 necessary. It was impossible to preserve any sort 

 of discipline amongst these vivacious savages ; they 



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