IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



like tribe, whose people were always fighting. In the 

 liddle of the fence was the gate, on each side of which 

 tood two big idols of human size and representing 

 rwo women. How ugly they were ! Each had a tongue 

 uf iron coming out of the mouth about six inches 

 long, sharp as a razor; their eyes were of iron, they 

 ./ore big ear-rings of copper of the circumference of 

 an ordinary plate ; both wore head-dresses of brilliant 

 feathers. Their bodies were painted of different 

 -:olors. One held a stick in her hand, which she 

 was brandishing; the other a snake, which she was 

 swinging. At their feet were bones of different 

 animals, talons and heads of eagles, heads of snakes, 

 and many other things. 



There was a great noise inside. Soon I heard the 

 tomtoms beat. They sounded to me very warlike. As 

 it was getting late, I decided not to enter the village 

 until the following morning, and retired noiselessly 

 into the forest at quite a distance from the village, 

 and after lighting my fires I went to sleep, wonder- 

 ing what sort of people I was to encounter the 

 following day. 



At daylight I was up, but waited until the day was 

 nore advanced before going to the village. I kept 

 pondering whether the natives would receive me 

 well, run away, or show fight. At last I left my 



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