AMERICAN MISSION-HOUSE. 391 



was looked upon as the great gun of the place. 

 Upon landing, the French commandant, with two 

 or three naval officers and most of the white traders, 

 came to meet him, and we sat down to a capital 

 dejeuner a la fourchette, which lasted for several 

 hours. 



Walker and Knight would not hear of our 

 taking a house, but insisted upon Mr. Eeade and I 

 remaining with them, and the largest and best rooms 

 of the establishment were placed at our disposition. 

 Besides this unlooked-for hospitality, I cannot 

 enumerate the many instances of kindness I re- 

 ceived from those, gentlemen during my sojourn at 

 the Gaboon. I accordingly made " the factory " 

 my head-quarters, and spent a couple of days very 

 agreeably in calling upon the residents. The 

 French commandant very courteously lent me all 

 his maps, and gave me much valuable information 

 as to the people of the country and the best means 

 of travelling. 



I also visited the American mission-house, and 

 was most hospitably received by the Rev. W. 

 Walker, the principal of the establishment, who 



