Chap. IX. AEEIVAL AT MA YOLO. 157 



and past the plantations towards the Ngoiiyai. A 

 denser tract of forest, with lofty trees and numerous 

 palms stretching across the distant landscape, marked 

 the course of the great river Ngouyai which watered 

 these fertile plains. As we approached the village 

 of Mayolo, we fired off the customary signal-shots, 

 and these brought a response of the same kind. The 

 chief of the village possessed only one old Tower- 

 musket, minus the stock, which had long been worn 

 out ; it was still, however, a good gun. Powder 

 was a scarce article in this inland country, and 

 nothing but the hope of getting more from me could 

 have induced Mayolo to waste his small stock. 



A number of men soon made their appearance, 



and led us, with loud cheers, to the palaver-house of 



the village. The beating of the kendo was then 



heard, and Mayolo himself was seen in the street 



advancing towards us ; his body streaked with 



alumbi chalk, and nmttering mysterious words as he 



slowly marched along. On being seated, and after 



stopping the beating of the kendo, he looked towards 



my Ashira guides, and exclaimed, " So here he is at 



last, the great Spirit with his untold wealth ! " Then, 



turning to me, he told me of the great trouble he had 



had with the Otando people, who had tried all they 



could to dissuade him from receiving me, saying that 



I brought the plague and death wherever I came. 



He said he had vainly argued with them that I could 



not be the cause of the plague, seeing that the disease 



was already amongst them long before they had 



heard of the white man being even in the Ashira 



country. My heart warmed towards the sagacious 



old man for these sensible words, and we exchanged 



