88 NATIVES ALAKMED. 



necessary arrangements in case of a row, continued 

 our course up the river. It was quite evident to me 

 that the salvo fired at the hippopotami had alarmed 

 these people, who naturally fancied they were about 

 to be attacked, and at once set to work to collect their 

 tribe, and prepare for battle. 



On rounding the bend in the river a light and 

 favourable breeze sprang up, and sail was set. We now 

 saw a neat village on the eastern bank, about half a 

 mile ahead, but though I examined it closely with the 

 glasses, not a soul was to be seen. Directly in front 

 was a large island, well cultivated with corn and 

 bananas, but it also seemed to be deserted. Our 

 course was directed between the island and the bank 

 on which the village stood. As we approached, the 

 inhabitants of the village began to assemble, and the 

 women might be seen clearing out and going into the 

 jungle with all possible haste, while the men were pre- 

 paring for battle. 



When within a couple of hundred yards of the vil- 

 lage, we discovered that the long grass and reeds on 

 the east bank swarmed with natives all armed ; their 

 heads alone visible here and there. Moloka hailed 

 them with the customary "Angelaisee! Angelaisee ! 

 Maronda ! maronda !" which signifies, " Enaiish, Eng- 

 lish, and want to trade or buy." But they replied, 

 '•No, you are Ajawah ! Why did you fire?" It 

 was explained to them that we had fired at hippo- 

 potami, not knowing that we were so near a village, 

 and did not intend to frighten them. They then 

 ordered us to stop in the middle of the river, and 

 not come nearer the bank, so the sail was taken off, 



