162 MAYOLO. Chap. IX. 



robbed of would have been certainly restored — the 

 boy being the son of a chief who had great influence 

 over the Ashira. 



In the afternoon there was a gathering of the head 

 men of the neighbouring villages, belonging to 

 Mayolo's clan, and much speechifying and excite- 

 ment. Mayolo swelled with pride on introducing the 

 white man to them, and as I spread out the goods I 

 intended for each of them as payment for the men 

 they had sent to my assistance, he exclaimed, pointing 

 at the goods : " Look ! this is the sort of plague the 

 white man brings among us. Would you ever have 

 had any of these fine things if I had not invited him 

 to come ? " The appeal was not to be resisted. They 

 all went away at the end of the palaver in good 

 humour, and the next morning brought into the 

 village presents of fowls, goats, ground-nuts, and 

 plantains. Mayolo and the other chiefs said they 

 would disprove the slander of the Ashiras, who 

 wanted to keep all my goods for themselves and said 

 there was nothing to eat in Otando-land. After this 

 there were more speeches, and then the important 

 ceremony, for me, of making return presents to all 

 the donors. I had previously shown Mayolo what I 

 intended to give, and he had remonstrated with me 

 for giving them too much, saying they did not know 

 the value of the things. I adhered, however, to my 

 purpose, and was rather astounded to hear Mayolo, 

 on coming out of the hut, tell the chiefs that he had 

 been persuading me to give each of them a good jDre- 

 sent! On their sides they tried to look dissatisfied, 

 and demanded more. This I resisted, and made a 



