Chap. XVI. DEPARTURE OF A BRIDE. 341 



baskets for carrying plantains from the plantations, 

 or calabashes full of water from the spring ; a great 

 number of calabashes ; a large package of ground- 

 nuts ; a package of squash seeds ; two dried legs of 

 antelope ; some fine nchandas (the name given to 

 the denguis here), and her stool. Several members 

 of her family carried this elaborate outfit. The 

 bride-elect was smartly dressed ; her chignon had 

 been huilt up most elaborately the day before. As 

 she left the village, the people remarked to each 

 other, " Her husband will see that the Mobana people 

 do not send away their daughters with nothing ! " 



Her old mother accompanied her to the end of the 

 street, and then returned to her home, looking proud 

 and happy at having seen her daughter go with such 

 an outfit. 



Juli/ 16th. Mobana is situated on the top of a high 

 hill, at a height of 2369 feet above the level of the 

 sea. The range, at the foot of which Niembouai is 

 situated, is the highest of the four ranges, reckoning 

 from the coast. From Mobana the land slopes down 

 gradually towards the east. " I here heard again of a 

 large river further east. 



When we entered Mobana, the villagers wanted 

 my men to smear themselves with ntchingo or red 

 powder, bringing for this purpose several of their 

 wickerwork dishes, on which was placed a quantity 

 of the pigment. This I found a general custom 

 amongst the Ashangos when a host wishes to wel- 

 come a guest ; and a visitor to a village or a house 

 is only too happy when the elders or the owner of 

 the house request him to make himself red, for it is a 



