Chap. V. OPANGANO PRAIRIE. 91 



tiful prairie encircled by a wall of forest. This 

 prairie was called Opangano. From it I had a clear 

 view of the Ndgewho mountains. At ten o'clock 

 we arrived at a Bakalai village. Like many of the 

 primitive villages of this warlike tribe, it was art- 

 fully constructed for purposes of defence. The single 

 street was narrow, barred at each end by a gate, and 

 the houses had no doors in their outer walls. This 

 would effectually guard the place against nocturnal 

 surprise by other Bakalai with whom the villagers 

 might be at war. This mode of construction had also 

 another object, namely, to allow the people to kill 

 and plunder any party of traders whom they might 

 entice into the village and prevent from escaping 

 by closing the two gates. The neighbouring tribes, 

 especially the Ashiras, dread the power and treachery 

 of the Bakalai. The chief of the village was absent. 

 I bought, for a few beads, a quantity of smoke-dried 

 wild hog of one of the inhabitants. 



Leaving this place at one p.m., we pursued a north- 

 easterly direction, and passing several other Bakalai 

 villages, two of which were abandoned on account of 

 some one having died there, reached at five o'clock 

 the Lambengue prairie. It rained nearly the whole 

 afternoon, and we had a disagreeable walk through 

 the mire and over the slippery stones of the forest 

 paths. TVe built sheds, and passed the night in the 

 prairie. 



3rd. At six a.m. again on the march. My men were 

 tired with the exertions of yesterday, for we had been 

 wet all day, so, to keep them up to the speed, I led the 

 column, myself. We were soon buried again in the 



