342 ASHANGO-LAND. Chap. XVI. 



sign of their good will. As we were entering the 

 village we met a Niembouai man coming ont qnite 

 furious about something or other, and venting threats 

 and curses ; on asking him what was the matter, he 

 said that the Mobana jjeople had not offered him the 

 ntchingo, and he was going back to the place whence 

 he came. My men did not like this any more than 

 other Ashango customs, and refused to smear them- 

 selves. 



Juh/ ISth. Since I left Mongon I have only been 

 able to take a single meridian altitude, the sky having 

 been constantly clouded. I succeeded in taking one 

 yesterday. I am very glad to find that I am getting 

 a little to the north, while proceeding on my east- 

 ward route. At the foot of the hill on which Mobana 

 stands, there is a stream called Bembo, flowing in a 

 north-easterly direction. The natives pointed towards 

 the east when I inquired as to its further course. 



I have at last succeeded in hiring porters. Ea- 

 kombo and his men have sworn to carry me to the 

 Njavi country. The good old chief of Niembouai 

 Olomba took his departure to-day, to return to his 

 own village. I gave a parting present to him and 

 to his men. Before he left me, he consigned me to 

 the hands of Rakombo, charging him in due form 

 with the care of me. 



The country, as far as I am able to see eastward 

 and south-eastward, continues hilly, the hills being 

 of moderate elevation. There are three paths from 

 Mobana leading into the Njavi country ; one towards 

 the north-east, one nearly due east, and a third 

 south-east. Mobana is in 1° 52' 56" S. lat. ; I was 



