NATIVE BLACKSMITH. 249 



What had once been forest land was now cleared, and 

 highly cultivated with that valuable plant — the gene- 

 ral appearance of the place much resembling some of 

 the extensive coffee plantations in the Wynaad. Our 

 route lay as it were through the centre of these gar- 

 dens, until after some half hour's march nothing 

 but cotton was to be seen around. Here there was 

 no shade from the scorching sun, and the heat was 

 excessive. 



On rounding the base of a small hill, I saw several 

 natives sitting under a large tree, and walked towards 

 them. Drawing close to them, I discovered a native 

 blacksmith at work with his assistants. They seemed 

 frightened at my approach ; so, giving my rifle to Mo- 

 loka, I held on my course. Though they stood up, 

 they did not run away, seeing I had no arms. Chin- 

 soro was then desired to tell them who and what I 

 was, and to ask for a drink of water for me, which 

 was quickly brought from one of two small huts a 

 little distance off. Taking a seat myself under the 

 tree, I asked the blacksmith to continue his work, 

 and he at once complied with my request. His fire 

 was blown by two boys, with goatskin bags as bellows, 

 and the hammer used was a stone. He was manu- 

 facturing hoes and a kind of trowel, numbers of which 

 lay about. • On inquiry, I found that I was within a 

 few minutes' walk of Marimba, and so continued my 

 course without further loss of time. 



Exactly at three o'clock I reached the village, 

 which was situated in a deep strip of forest close to 

 the river. I sent no messenger before, but walked 

 straight up to some half dozen men who were sitting 



