350 FATAL DISASTERS AT MOUAOU KOMBO. Chap. XVII. 



the people of wliicli, they said, had made up their 

 minds now to take me. but had laid a plan to leave 

 me in the middle of the forest and run away with the 

 baggage. They assured me that there were three 

 roads from this place to the Njavi country — one to 

 the north-east, one to the east, and a third to the 

 south-east. 



As the promised answer did not come from the 

 other village, and the Mouaou elders seemed to be 

 sincere in their repentance, I agreed to go back. 

 In a few moments all my baggage was shouldered by 

 strong men, and, with shouts of rejoicing, we marched 

 up the hill to the village. All the population was 

 then out to receive us. The chief came in state, with 

 his countenance painted and his royal bell ringing, 

 and, after repeating what the elders had said, made 

 us presents of goats and plantains. Soon after, the 

 konde or head wife of the chief came to tell us that 

 she was cooking a large pot of the koa root for me 

 and my men, and all went pleasantly. The villagers 

 were thoroughly sincere this time, and I felt happy, 

 for there were not likely to be any more obstacles 

 in my way before arriving in the Ashangui country, 

 on the banks of the large river, which every one was 

 now telling me of, and which I supposed to be the 

 Congo. I had heard that in one day we should get 

 through the districts on this side of the Ashangui 

 country ; that, in a few hours after leaving Mouaou 

 Kombo we should be among the Njavi tribe ; and 

 that we could, in the same day, pass through the 

 country of the Abombos. 



Alas ! the joy was soon turned into terror ! Four 



