A West African Episode. 379 



by Du Chaillu, and is quite distinct from its relative 

 in the south and east. I had already shot some of 

 these, as they were plentiful on the banks of the 

 river and near Lakoja on the Niger. I had a good 

 battery, a No. 8 bore double rifle burning twelve 

 drachms, which I never used except on elephants or 

 hippopotami ; and a '577, both by Westley Richards ; 

 and besides, a 12 bore "Paradox," suitable for ball 

 or shot. My head boy gloried in the name of 

 " Blue Ruin." He was a splendid specimen of 

 a man, stood at least six feet three inches, with 

 a chest of forty-four or forty-five, and would have 

 been immensely powerful if he had been in the habit 

 of exercising his muscles. These Krumen are the 

 only natives in West Africa who will work ; but are 

 generally useful only as sailors ; they will not carry 

 loads inland, for they have very little pluck about as 

 much as a grasshopper. We went up the river for a 

 week until the shallows were reached, then left the 

 boat in charge of some villagers who lived on the 

 banks. My men were lightly loaded and we took a 

 north-easterly course ; soon after I met a native chief 

 whom I had seen at Bonga, who was " interior 

 bound," and after a palaver and " a dash " he agreed 

 to take me to the elephant and gorilla country. We 

 generally started at daylight, I going on either side 

 our route, with a couple of gun-carriers, under the 

 guidance of a native of these parts, in search of game, 

 whilst the chief and his ragtag and bobtail went by 

 beaten tracks to the proposed halting-place. Occasion- 

 ally the chief accompanied me out shooting, which I 

 did not encourage. I was very successful and killed 

 a lot of game, but what astonished my sable com- 



