CHAPTEE X. 



THE OTANDO AND APONO EEGION. 



Geographical Position of Mayolo — Splendour of the Constellations as seen, 

 from the Equatorial Regions — The Zodiacal Light — Twinkling of the 

 Stars — Meteoric Showers — The Otando and Apono Plains, or Prairies 

 — The Otando People a branch of the Ashira Nation — Their Customs — 

 Filing the Teeth — Tattooing — Xative Dogs. 



From Olenda eastwards, as attentive readers of my 

 former and present narratives will be aware, the 

 countries I traversed were new ground, not only to 

 myself, but to any European ; it is, tlierefore, neces- 

 sary that I should give such details as I am able, in 

 the course of my journey, about the various portions 

 of the country, their inhabitants and productions. 



Unfortunately, the volume of my journal, which 

 contained the diary of my march from Olenda to 

 Mayolo, and of more than two months of the latter 

 j)art of my stay in this place, was lost, with nearly 

 the whole of the rest of my property, in my hurried 

 flight from Ashango-land. It was the only volume 

 out of five that was missing. It contained the obser- 

 vations which I took for altitudes of the range of 

 highlands separating the Ashira from the Otando 

 districts ; and I am, therefore, unable to give a full 

 account of this range, which is an important feature 

 in this part of Africa, as separating, together with 



