MAGIC-LANTERN, 415 



Eetiring to the house which had been prepared 

 for me, I got the magic-lantern into working 

 order, lighting the lamp and making all ready. I 

 then sent to the king, telling him and all his people 

 to squat down opposite the wet sheet, which was 

 stretched between two trees. 



When they were all in position, I sent N'miamba 

 and my own people to the front, making the Beke- 

 lai sit near, so as to interpret anything I might wish 

 to say, although I took care that none could look 

 behind the scenes. When all was ready, I com- 

 menced operations by telling the Bekelai to explain 

 that I would call up the king of " the N'ginas," 

 and sounding a somewhat unearthly note on my 

 hunting-horn, I slipped in a slide with the repre- 

 sentation of a gorilla of colossal proportions ; but I 

 did not for a moment calculate upon the effect that 

 this apparently supernatural visitation would excite 

 amongst the audience ; for with yells and screams 

 of terror, the king, his people, and even all my 

 own servants, rushed away nearly scared to death. 

 Men, women, and children, tumbling over each 

 other, sought safety by flight, and, when I came 



