232 MAYOLO TO APONO-LAJTD. Chap. XIT. 



alarm to the timid savages, wlio had never before 

 received a similar visitor. The passage of inhabited 

 places would henceforward be the most difficult part 

 of our journey ; as long as we had nothing but 

 forests, rivers, and mountains to ti-averse, provided 

 we could get plenty of food, all would go well ; but to 

 contend with the superstitious fears, restless curiosity, 

 and greedy avarice of the chiefs and villagers was a 

 serious matter. It was settled that Mayolo, who was 

 the friend and nkaga (born the same day) of Nchien- 

 gain, should go first, and that the rest should follow 

 at intervals one by one. We marched towards the 

 entrance of the village in dead silence. 



As we approached, the j^eople who first caught 

 sight of us, began to flee. The women cried out as 

 they ran with their babes in their arms, " The Oguizi ! 

 (Spirit) Ihe Oguizi ! He has come and we shall 

 die ! " They wept and shrieked ; I heard their cries 

 with dismay, but did not know till afterwards that 

 the small-pox had already swept through this village. 



When we readied the middle of the village, there 

 was not a soul remaining except Nchiengain himself 

 and two men, who stood with fear depicted in their 

 countenances near the ouandja (a kind of house open 

 in front) of the chief. Nchiengain, however, had 

 given his consent to our coming, and seemed to have 

 inwardly resolved to brave it out. He had fortified 

 himself against evil by besmearing his body with 

 great streaks of the alumbi chalk, and hanging all 

 his fetiches around him. 



The persuasive tongue of Mayolo soon calmed his 

 fears. He gathered courage to look me steadily in 



