280 JOURNEY THROUGH ISHOGO-LAND. Chap. XIV. 



my second boiling-point apparatus broken to-day ; I 

 have now only one left. My aneroids and boiling- 

 point thermometers have corresponded well so far. 



June IStk. The king made his appearance to-day, 

 thinking that the bad wind or plague I had brought 

 with me had now had time to blow away. He was 

 clad in grass-cloth, and wore a covering on his head in 

 shape somewhat resembling a turban. On his arrival 

 a grand palaver was held ; the Ishogo people ranging 

 themselves on one side, and my Apono attendants 

 and Commi body-guard on the other. According to 

 the usual formula, Kombila commenced the speechify- 

 ing, beginning with a history of my progress through 

 the interior from the beginning. Like the chiefs 

 described by Captain Burton in Abbeokuta, these 

 Africans would begin their long rigmaroles from the 

 time of Adam if they could. At last Kombila came 

 to the enumeration of the presents I had received 

 from the chief of Yengue, and he drew the conclusion 

 that he of Mokenga ought to give at least as much. 

 The allusion to goats, fowls, and plantains drew forth 

 great cheers on the part of my Apono attendants, 

 for thoughts of gourmandizing were always upper- 

 most in their minds, and the faces of my own boys 

 brightened also ; for they are quite as fond of good 

 feeding as my Aponos. 



In the middle of the palaver an amusing scene 

 occurred. Our pertinacious friend, the brother of 

 Kombila, and chief of a neighbouring Apono village, 

 had been to his place and returned with a present for 

 me of two goats, with the purpose of bribing me to 

 go by way of his place to Ashango-land. The jealousy 



