Chap. VH. DISTRUST OF THE NATIVES. 135 



that I carried the eviva, or plague, wherever I went. 

 Mayolo himself, however, was favourable, and took 

 upon himself the responsibility of inviting me to his 

 village ; but I was not to be allowed to visit the 

 other chiefs. The Apono people, beyond the Otando 

 country, had also sent word that they should opj)ose 

 my progress. 



The Otando messengers had some visits to make 

 in the neighbourhood, and left me with the promise 

 that they would return in two days ; in the mean- 

 time I and my men were busily employed packing 

 up, with the hope of soon being on the march. Three 

 days elapsed, and then, to my great vexation, I heard 

 that the Otandos had hastened back in fright to 

 Mayolo. This was most unfortunate. They had seen 

 the sickness and desolation of the Ashira villages, 

 and were now returning in their fright to spread the 

 horrid news throughout Otando-land, and to confirm 

 the impression that I was the cause of it all. 



Several weeks passed away in solitude, anxiety, 

 and suspense. I waited day after day in expectation 

 of seeing Arangui return from Mayolo, that I might 

 proceed with the rest of the goods. The small-pox 

 was gradually diminishing, from sheer lack of victims 

 for further ravages ; but the Ashira people had grown 

 more distrustful, and something was evidently going 

 wrong. At length three of my men suddenly made 

 their appearance from Mayolo. They had left all 

 well, but, to my surprise, told me that Arangui had 

 left two days after their arrival in Mayolo, and must 

 therefore have long ago arrived in Ashira. Some 

 underhand movement was evidently going on, pro- 



