WITH THE SURVEY PARTY 



79 



consisted of one village surrounded by a stockade and trench 

 rather than a collection of hamlets. The place was deserted 

 except by its old chief, who was either too brave or too weak 





YERd.M i'AUANS 



to flee with his people. He brought us a fowl and said that 

 all the other people had fled in fear of us. We told him to 

 send out and say we wanted them to come in and sell their 

 food. Afterwards a certain number did come and we got a 

 fair amount of meal but not enough to ration all the carriers. 

 The old chief was highly delighted with a looking-glass and 

 showed it by sprinkling dust on his head. From this chief I 

 bought some curious twisted spears, which are some of the 

 most barbarous-looking weapons I have ever come across. 

 As a rule, however, Montoil spears are very primitive, with 

 bamboo shafts, and points which are often not barbed at all. 

 They are usually poisoned. We were fortunate enough to 



