Chap. XII. ASSEMBLY OF APOXOS. 247 



good effect ; they retired, and shortly afterwards both 

 Nchiengaiii and Mayolo were sent for to the village ; 

 this was followed by a messenger arriving for me. 



When I came into the open space chosen for the 

 meeting, at some distance from the village, I was not 

 a little surprised to see about 200 of the villagers 

 assembled, all gravely seated on the grass, in a group 

 of a semi-circular form. As I advanced towards them, 

 I was amused to see the front row getting uneasy 

 and wriggling off into the rear, followed by the next 

 row, and so on. They put me in mind of a flock of 

 sheep or a herd of deer in a park, when confronted 

 by a man walking slowly up to them. Nchiengain, 

 who appeared to have great influence here, and to be 

 acknowledged as a superior chief among the Aponos, 

 succeeded at last in arresting their laughable rear 

 movement. He then addressed me, saying that he 

 had sent for me to tell me that the villagers wished 

 me to leave the wood in which I was encamped, and 

 to move to the top of a grassy hill a little further oif. 

 If I did that all the people would come and see me, 

 and bring me food, and on the following day would 

 be willing that I should continue my journey. 



I declined this proposal, as the top of the hill was 

 too much exposed to the heat of the sun, and I pre- 

 ferred the cool shade of the wood. They finally let 

 me have my own way, and my encampment for several 

 hours afterwards was thronged with people. They 

 all said that the report of my bringing the eviixi had 

 been spread abroad amongst the tribes for a long 

 distance in the interior by the Ashira people. 



Late in the afternoon, three head men of neigh- 



