ROYAL RECEPTION. 413 



found an immense gathering of people assembled 

 to meet me, very few of whom had ever seen a 

 white man before. 



Both sexes were naked, with the exception of 

 a narrow strip of cloth or wild cat-skin between 

 the legs, and their hair was worn in short queues 

 ornamented with beads, two hanging in front, and 

 two behind. Some of the men had their beard 

 plaited on each side their chin, and all had their 

 teeth filed to a point, which did not much improve 

 their personal appearance. The Fans are not only 

 somewhat lighter in colour, and better proportioned 

 than the other Coast tribes, but they seem to have 

 a more independent bearing, and always go about 

 armed with cross-bows, spears, shields, and native 

 knives, which latter are made of iron of their own 

 smelting. 



The king received me in the most gracious 

 manner ; and in honour of the occasion donned the 

 finery I had given him, and smeared his face and 

 legs with a pigment of red clay, which added to 

 his comical appearance, and made him look a 

 perfect guy. He dashed me four gray parrots and 



