IN AFRICAN FOREST AND JUNGLE 



The people formed a great circle, and danced round 

 me, singing, at the same time taking most beseeching 

 postures and making invocations to me, asking me to 

 do them no harm. They acted as if I were an idol. 

 When they stopped, I learned that the name of the 

 chief was Penday. I asked to see him. Some of the 

 men went after him, but came back without him. 

 He sent the following message to me: How could he 

 dare to come before the great Oguizi, whom his fore- 

 fathers had never seen ? He would surely drop dead at 

 the sight. He knew that I was coming, because for 

 several nights a gentle wind hovered over the house 

 where he slept and murmured, " The great Oguizi is 

 coming ! the great Oguizi is coming ! " But he sent 

 word that in three days he would come before me. 



Soon after bunches of plantain, two chickens, some 

 eggs, and a dead monkey were laid at my feet, which 

 showed that I was welcomed, and then a hut was 

 given to me that I could occupy by myself 



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