282 JOITKNEY THKOUGH ISHOGO-LAND. Chap. XIV 



one could tell who brought it) that in all the villages 

 I had gone through the people were dying fast, 

 especially those to whom I had given things. The 

 fear was so great that many of the women took the 

 beads I had given them and threw them away in the 

 woods. Happily Quembila took my part, and said 

 it was not true, but that the people of other villages 

 originated tlie report through jealousy. I assembled 

 the villagers together, and addressed him in the usual 

 way by parable. " When you marry a woman," I 

 said, " she loves you, she brings you plenty of food, 

 she presents you with the fish she catches in the 

 forest streams ; are you then to flog her ? (Cries of 

 " No, no ! ") But it is this which happens when I 

 come to your village. You give me food, you give 

 me a house to live in, your women are kind to me — 

 how, then, can I bring evil on you ? " They all 

 shouted : " You are right, the Ishogos are jealous of 

 us ; they spread bad news to prevent us getting some 

 of your good things." Many of the young men 

 came forward and offered themselves as porters to 

 take me to the Ashango country ; while the chief and 

 the elders came and presented me with a goat as a 

 peace-offering, saying they were sorry for what the 

 people had done, and for the offence they had given 

 me by being afraid of me. 



June Vdth. It being thus agreed that the Ishogos 

 should take me to the Ashango country, I dismissed 

 my Apono party this afternoon, after calling them 

 all together and giving to each a parting present 

 in addition to their pay, which they had already 

 received. I also gave them a goat for food on their 



