368 RETREAT FROM ASHANGO-LAND. Chap. XVITT. 



tlie king. He was a fine old fellow, with snow-wliite 

 hair, and with that genial expression of features 

 which is often seen in negroes of the better sort. He 

 received lis with great kindness, inviting us to stay 

 and eat something ; and, on our accepting his offer, 

 ordered his women to cook us a fowl and some plan- 

 tains. The women gave my men sugar-cane and 

 mpegui nuts, and the old man apologized for not 

 having a goat to offer us. 



The people of the village naturally asked us why 

 we had returned so soon. My men were not behind 

 hand in satisfying their curiosity ; but they took 

 care to conceal the fact that we were the aggressors, 

 though through no ill intention on our part. They 

 said we had been attacked, and had had to fight our 

 way back. Each of them boasted of his own feats 

 and prowess, saying how many of the warriors of 

 Mouaou Kombo he had beaten off. 



Whilst we were thus engaged, our old guide 

 Magouga came in. The arrival of this faithful old 

 man was most fortunate for us. He proved himself 

 to be a real friend in need. He liad heard, when he 

 got up in the morning at Niembouai, that we had 

 passed in the middle of the night, and had imme- 

 diately set off to overtake us. He must have walked 

 very fast. He seemed overjoyed to see us, and 

 said lie had returned to Niembouai Olomba from 

 Mobana, intending to remain until he had heard of 

 our safe passage through the Njavi country ; for he 

 had anticipated that we should have great difficulties 

 with the people of Upper Ashango-land, who were a 

 bad set. He seemed really grateful for the services 



