Chap. XIX. NCHIENGAIN'S VILLAGE. "Wl 



the morning, followed by crowds of the inhabitants 

 all begging iis to stay with them, and creating a 

 deafening uproar by their shouts. On reaching the 

 banks of the river, we persuaded two Apingi men, 

 who were coming down in a small canoe, to fetch 

 for us Nchiengain's large ferry-boat which lay on 

 the opposite side. When we had crossed the river, 

 my men fired their muskets as a signal of our ap- 

 proach ; and we had not marched far, before we saw 

 the old chief advancing to meet us, followed by the 

 greater part of the inhabitants of the village. Nchien- 

 gain held a sword in his hand, and his men carried 

 their spears and bows, all to give eclat to our reception. 

 One would have thought it was a war party coming 

 out to meet an enemy, and some of my men were at 

 first afraid. 



The good old fellow hugged me in his arms and 

 seemed overjoyed to see me. News of what had 

 happened had already reached him, and he had 

 expected soon to see us back. He joyfully told me 

 that he and his people had been all well since my 

 departure, and that he knew now I did not bring 

 disease and death with me. He gave me also the 

 welcome news that Mayolo had recovered from tlie 

 illness which had seized him when at Mokaba. I 

 was struck by the scantiness and shabbiness of the 

 grass-cloth clothing of the Apono and Apingi people 

 here, after being so long amongst the well-dressed 

 Ishogos and Ashangos, with their fine bongos and 

 ample denguis. 



We remained six days enjoying the hospitality of 

 Nchiengain, a delay that was very necessary on 



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