450 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



To the southward we could see several silver 

 threads glistening in the sun's rays, the different 

 branches of the Nazareth and its tributaries, but 

 the Shekiana guide said the " N'gobai, " although 

 close at hand, was hidden from our view by the 

 adjacent forest. 



Another hour's walk brought us to a plantain 

 plantation, a sign that we were approaching the 

 habitations of man, and shortly afterwards we 

 entered a Shekiana village called N'jomba, which 

 was situated at the head of a small bayou that joined 

 the N'gobai river, a considerable stream with a 

 strong but sluggish current. 



At first the inhabitants were in the utmost con- 

 sternation at seeing a white man coming from the 

 bush ; but my guide soon appeased their appre- 

 hensions, and they received me very kindly, placing 

 two very tolerable huts at my service, and the king 

 gave me a goat and some fowls, in return for the 

 present I made him. 



Being somewhat footsore and tired, with my 

 two days' hard walking, I retired to my hammock 

 soon after dinner, and did not turn out until after 



