Chap. IX. ARRIVAL AT MAYOLO. 157 



and past the plantations towards the Ngouyai. A 

 denser tract of forest, witli lofty trees and numerous 

 palms stretching across the distant landscape, marked 

 the course of the great river Ngouyai which watered 

 these fertile plains. As we approached the village 

 of Mayolo, we fired off the customary signal-shots, 

 and these brought a response of the same kind. The 

 chief of the village possessed only one old Tower- 

 musket, minus the stock, which had long been worn 

 out; it was still, however, a good gun. Powder 

 was a scarce article in this inland country, and 

 nothing but the hope of getting more from me could 

 have induced Mayolo to waste his small stock. 



A number of men soon made their appearance, 

 and led us, with loud cheers, to the palaver-house of 

 the village. The beating of the kendo was then 

 heard, and Mayolo himself was seen in the street 

 advancing- towards us ; his body streaked with 

 alumbi chalk, and muttering mysterious words as he 

 slowly marched along. On being seated, and after 

 stopping the beating of the kendo, he looked towards 

 my Ashira guides, and exclaimed, " So here he is at 

 last, the great Spirit with his untold wealth ! " Then, 

 turning to me, he told me of the great trouble he had 

 had with the Otando people, who had tried all they 

 could to dissuade him from receiving me, saying that 

 I brought the plague and death wherever I came. 

 He said he had vainly argued with them that I could 

 not be the cause of the plague, seeing that the disease 

 was already amongst them long before they had 

 heard of the white man being even in the Ashira 

 cotiutry. My heart warmed towards the sagacious 

 old man for these sensible words, and we exchanged 



