220. THE KING IS CROWNED. [chap. vii. 



matter to me in Africa. I had been given to under- 

 stand from the first that I must neither go back nor 

 go on without Nangoro's express permission ; so that 

 we were always under some anxiety. Of course I did 

 all I could to please him ; but still, either from want 

 of consideration on his part or intentionally, tilings 

 did not go on smoothly. Once when he was in a good 

 humour I produced my theatrical crown, which I had not 

 shown him before, and gave him a long discourse upon 

 it. I told him that the great captains of our country 

 usually wore a head-dress of that description, and that 

 I therefore begged he would do me the favour of 

 wearing it, as a memento of my visit to him. It had 

 a contrivance behind for altering its size, and I 

 stretched it to its full extent, for Nangoro's head was 

 like a bullock's, and then put it on him with great 

 solemnity, patting it down to make it sit tight. I must 

 say that he looked every inch a Idng. The three 

 courtiers were in ecstasy, and Nangoro himself gave 

 every sign of self-satisfaction when I held up a looking- 

 glass before him to show the effect ; and afterwards 

 carefully sketched him. Nangoro, in the first instance, 

 had views with reference to me to which I confess I 

 showed but little inclination ; it is really a great 

 drawback to African explorings that a traveller cannot 

 become on friendly terms with a chief without being 

 requested and teased to receive a spare wife or a 

 daughter in marriage, and umbrage taken if he does 

 not consent. It is, I know, very ungallant to betray 

 tender secrets, and I would not do so on any account, 

 if the charming Chipanga was ever likely to read tliis 



