Chap. XVI. MORE TROUBLES. 337 



of Niembouai Olomba wanted them to leave me with 

 them, and to go back to their own country, saying 

 that they could take care of me. Magouga retorted 

 that he also could take care of me. On their refer- 

 ring the matter to me, in order to please both parties, 

 I said I would take half my porters from Niembouai 

 West, and the other half from Niembouai Olomba. 

 I felt very much inclined to take only the men of 

 Niembouai Olomba, as the others had shovm signs 

 of fear, having come to me two or three times, saying 

 that they had heard that the people in the villages 

 before us did not wish to see the Oguizi, and had 

 sent word to that effect. 



When at length we started, Magouga and the chief 

 of Niembouai Olomba were both with me ; and with 

 Rebouka we formed the rear-guard of the caravan. 

 I kept constantly on the alert, and took care always 

 to make one of these two leading men walk before 

 me, for, in so wild a country, one cannot be too 

 careful. 



We were now on our march to the country of 

 the Njavi tribe, who live to the east of Ashango- 

 land. My Ashango porters were to convey me to 

 the principal village of the Njavi, and I had hoped 

 that all would go smoothly, now that we had left 

 Niembouai and were again on the road. Unhappily, 

 further troubles were in store for me. Several of the 

 porters — taught, I am afraid, by my own mutinous 

 servants Rapelina and Mouitchi — went on ahead, 

 and, concealing themselves in the forest, let us pass 

 them, and then made off to their own village. 

 When we halted to rest the porters, I discovered 



z 



