196 MAYOLO. Chap. IX 



disappeared belaind the liill-tops, I counted tliirty-six 

 drops of dew on the leaves of one tree ; but three 

 quarters of an hour later the edges of the leaves were 

 quite surrounded with water. The sky at the same 

 time was very clear, only a few clouds near the 

 horizon could be seen. At six o'clock the grass was 

 not sufficiently damp to leave water-marks on my 

 boots ; so that it is to be concluded that the leaves 

 of the plantain are the first to condense the invisible 

 vapour of the atmosphere. Up to the present time 

 (May 18th) I have only twice seen the sky entirely 

 free from cloud since my arrival at Fernand Vaz 

 from England. 



On the 16th of May, whilst I was in the prairie at 

 a short distance from Mayolo, studying the habits of 

 the white ants, I was aroused from my meditations by 

 sudden screams from the town. I was afraid some- 

 thing tragical was taking place, and made haste for 

 the village. I found the place in an uproar ; all 

 caused by an influx of poor relations. It appeared 

 that the news of the vast wealth Mayolo had obtained 

 from the Oguizi had spread far and wide over the 

 neighbouring country, and, getting to the ears of the 

 old chief's numerous fathers-in-law and brothers-in- 

 law, some of them had journeyed to his village with 

 a view to getting a share of the spoils, their greediness 

 overcoming their fear of me. Tlie people of the 

 village had been plagued to death with these 

 avaricious guests, for they were all thought to have 

 become rich since I am living amongst them. As 

 time is of no importance to the African, and during 

 their stay they were living at the expense of the 



