CiiAP. XTX. SORROWFUL PARTING AT IGOUMBIE. 383 



limpid water — for we felt the heat severely after 

 descending from the hilly country — he volunteered 

 to guide us to the right road, and a little before 

 sunset we reached with his aid the village of Igo- 

 umbie. 



August 5th. We left Igonmbie to-day, to the great 

 sorrow of the villagers, who wished me to stay 

 longer with them. Our Apono guide continued 

 in our company. 



The Ishogos, notwithstanding their many faults, 

 are the kindest-hearted and the gentlest negroes I 

 ever met with. As soon as my men had shouldered 

 their " otaitais," and the people saw that we were 

 ready to start, the whole population came out. This 

 time we had to pass through the whole length of the 

 village. They followed behind us — the women were 

 the most conspicuous. They all shouted out, " Go 

 on well, go on well ; nothing bad shall happen to 

 you ! " When we reached the end of the village, 

 and just before turning into the path that would take 

 us out of their sight, I turned round, and, taking off 

 the remnant of what was once a good hat, I waved it 

 in the air. Immediately a dead silence succeeded 

 the noise^ and I shouted, " Farewell^ good Ishogos ! " 

 As I disappeared from their view among the trees of 

 the forest we were entering, suddenly a wild and 

 sorrowful shout of the multitude reached our ears. 

 They all cried out with one voice, " We shall see 

 the good Oguizi no more ! We shall see the good 

 Oguizi no more ! " Then all became again silent, 

 and once more we trod the path of this gigantic 

 jungle on our way to the sea-shore. 



