304 FROM ISHOGO TO ASHANGO-LAND. Chap. XV. 



guest, and, according to the custom of the country, no 

 one disputed his claim. 



Before we entered the village, our Ishogo porters, 

 with the usual greediness of these negroes, resolved 

 to make halt and eat our only remaining goat ; their 

 only motive being to avoid being required to share 

 the meal with their relatives in Niembouai. Africans 

 are most confirmed gluttons ; and, although used to 

 their displays of voracity, I was annoyed at the 

 conduct of my porters on this occasion, for nothing- 

 would do but we must halt by the roadside, kill the 

 goat, and make a fire, although there was no water 

 near the place. 



June 21th. The king of Niembouai, like most of 

 the other monarchs of these regions, did not show 

 himself on my arrival — he was absent until about 

 noon to-day. I have been told that the reason why 

 the chiefs keep away from the villages until I have 

 been in them some time is, that they have a notion 

 that I bring with me a whirlwind which may do 

 them some great harm ; so they wait until it has had 

 time to blow away from the village before they make 

 their appearance. 



Presents and food for sale came in early, and we 

 were well supplied to-day. I was much pleased at the 

 respectful and quiet behaviour of the people. The 

 Niembouaians must have heard of my dislike of 

 impertinent curiosity and noise, and are trying their 

 best to be better behaved than other people. How- 

 ever this might be, I resolved to reward their good 

 conduct by exhibiting to them some of the wonders 

 I had brought with me. I informed the elders of 



