XXIV.] DELAY DIMINISHING MY STOCK OF BEADS. 323 



action as a mark of my appreciation, or else imagined that I had January, 

 hired them for the rest of the day, for they continued until after i^vs. 

 sunset to play in front of Jnmah's veranda, the only place I had 

 in which to spend my days. 



I now believed the time of starting to be near, and sent to 

 Alvez, suggesting that he should bid farewell to Kasongo, and 

 make a move as soon as possible, since every day's delay was 

 diminishing the stock of beads with which I had to make my 

 journey to the coast. 



