THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 521 



were here witnessed, such as have been previously described in 

 Baker's expedition. Du Chaillu remarks upon the great differ- 

 ence shown in the dispositions of the slaves he saw at Lopez ; 

 some were merry and quite contented with their fate, while others 

 were in the depths of despair ; for, to add to the horror of their 

 position, they nearly all believed that the white people purchased 

 them for food ; they could conceive of no usato which they might 

 be applied unless it was to eat them ; they said : " The white men 

 beyond the sea are great cannibals, who have to import blacks 

 for the market." This belief arises from their own customs. 

 Thus a chief in the interior who received Du Chaillu, immediately 

 ordered a slave killed for his dinner. 



After wandering about the town until night, Du Chaillu 

 repaired to his house and prepared for bed. He set fire to a torch 

 for light and began to undress by its flickering rays. Before 

 entirely disrobing, his eye caught sight of a glittering object which 

 lay under his bedstead, but he gave it no particular attention 

 until he was ready to retire; then, approaching nearer, he was 

 horrified to find that the shining object was an enormous serpent 

 that had coiled itself up under his couch for a quiet sleep. Grasp- 

 ing a shot-gun that was near at hand, he placed the muzzle 

 against the coiled monster and fired, quickly retreating from the 

 room. The shot brought several persons to the spot, and upon 

 cautiously entering the room, the snake was found cut almost in 

 two, but still squirming and floundering about the room. It was 

 now dispatched with a heavy stick, and was found to measure 

 eighteen feet in length, a little too large for a comfortable bed- 

 fellow. 



ADVENTURE WITH A LEOPARD, 



Du CHAILLU did not remain long at Cape Lopez, as there was 

 little of interest there, so, purchasing a new supply of ammuni- 

 tion, he hired two guides and a dozen porters, and started again 

 for the interior by a route which brought him back again to the 

 equator in the gorilla and cannibal region. 



Upon reaching the Sangatanga country, he established a camp 

 from which he hunted with great success, obtaining many speci- 



