334 ASHANGO-LAND. Chap. XVI. 



any one who steps neai' their armies, that it is diffi- 

 cult or impossible to trace the columns to their nests, 

 if indeed they have any. The Bashikouays are of 

 several distinct species ; and, in each species, the 

 workers or neuters are of many gradations of size 

 and bulk, but all are of shining reddish or black 

 colour, with heads of a square or oblong form. 

 While on the march, they do not attack insects, only 

 when they halt and then spread themselves out in 

 foraging parties. 



In the afternoon I ascended one of the hills which 

 form so grand a feature in the landscape close to Niem- 

 bouai. An almost perpetual mist shrouds the summit 

 of this hill, which is called Birogou Bouanga. By 

 recording observations of the boiling-point and two 

 aneroid-barometers at the summit, and striking the 

 mean, I found the altitude to be 2574 feet above the 

 sea-level. The leaves of the trees and bushes were 

 quite wet at the summit, whilst below, near the vil- 

 lage, the herbage was dry, showing the effect of the 

 cap of mist or cloud which covers the hill-top. 



When I first spoke of going up the mountain, the 

 villagers expressed themselves willing to go with 

 me, and several promised to accompany me to the 

 summit ; but, when I actually got ready to start, they 

 declined to do so — their fellow-villagers telling them 

 not to go with the Oguizi. I began to fear that I 

 should not be able to accomplish the ascent. Finally, 

 two of my porters from Niembouai West offered to go 

 with me ; then two of the villagers agreed to show 

 us the path to the top. When we all reached the 

 summit, the two villagers stared to see me bring out 



