238 MAYOLO TO APONO-LAND. Chap. XII. 



witchcraft and death — for death comes from sleep, and 

 sleep commences in darkness. The sun and moon, 

 they say, once got angry with each other, each one 

 claiming to he the eldest. The moon said : " Who 

 are you, to dare to speak to me ? you are alone, you 

 have no people ; what, are you to consider yourself 

 equal to me ? Look at me," she continued, showing 

 the stars shining around her, " these are my people ; 

 I am not alone in the world like you." The sun 

 answered, " Oh, moon, you bring witchcraft, and it is 

 you who have killed all my people, or I should have 

 as many attendants as you." According to the ne- 

 groes, people are more liable to die when the moon 

 first makes her appearance and when she is last 

 visible. They say that she calls the people her in- 

 sects, and devours them. The moon with them is the 

 emblem of time and of death. 



I was much amused to-day. Some of the inha- 

 bitants of a neighbouring Apono village, who had 

 been most hostile to my coming to their country, 

 having since heard that I had brought no evil or 

 sickness with me here, now came to see me. As soon 

 as my friend Nchiengain saw them, he went up to 

 them in great anger, crying out, " Go away, go 

 away ! Now that you have smelt niva (my goods 

 or presents), you are no longer afraid, but want to 

 come !" So the men went away without my speaking 

 to them. 



June 2nd. ToM^ards evening both Nchiengain and 

 Mayolo got drunk with palm wine, and their ardour 

 to go forward with me was something astonishing. 

 I'hey say they are going witli me far beyond the 



