408 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



The reports of my revolver attracted the atten- 

 tion of the Kroomen to my absence, and some of 

 the Fans perceived them scouting round the vil- 

 lage — which they were afraid to enter, being only 

 armed with matchetes. Their presence caused some 

 trepidation amongst the villagers, and, guessing 

 the cause, I shouldered my rifle and walked out- 

 side the village, where my people joined me. 



Both the Bekelai and M'pogola could speak 

 more or less of the Fans' language, and interpreted 

 an address I made the king, in which I told him 

 that I was his friend, and had brought some pre- 

 sents for him, which I would hand over if he came 

 with me as far as the boat. This speech caused 

 intense satisfaction to the party concerned, and was 

 received by loud shouts from the rest of the com- 

 munity ; the men rattling their spears and knives 

 against their elephant-skin shields, the women 

 dancing round, and slapping their thighs with the 

 palms of their hands, as a token of applause. The 

 king said, " that he and his people were my sons, 

 that he was a greater king than his father, who 

 had never seen a white man ; that the women of 



