302 FROM ISHOGO TO ASHANGO-LAND. Chap. XV. 



forced to appear good-tempered when, at the same 

 time, I am wishing them all at the bottom of the sea. 

 They surround my hut, hallooing and shouting ; as 

 soon as I make my appearance they run away. 

 When I re-enter my hut, they all come back again 

 and recommence shouting for me. During the few 

 days I remain in a village I go about from house to 

 house, distributing beads to the women, coaxing the 

 children, and allaying by smooth speeches the fears 

 and prejudices of the men. I sit by their fire- 

 side. If they are eating, I ask them for some of 

 their food and taste it — this always pleases them 

 vastly. 



And after all these exertions to win their favour 

 and friendship, I never knew for certain, when we 

 entered a village, whether we might not be received 

 with a shower of poisoned arrows, 



June 2&th. There was again a thick mist this morn- 

 ing, lasting from sunrise to nine a.m. We had suc- 

 ceeded in buying two goats at this frightened village. 

 As I had been unable to take meridian altitudes of 

 stars at Magonga, I hoped to have done so here : but 

 the state of the weather unfortunately prevented my 

 doing so. Having no further inducement to stay, and 

 a deputation from the next village, called Niembouai, 

 having arrived to invite us there, I was resolved to 

 resume the march early this morning. When, how- 

 ever, we were getting our loads ready, the head man 

 Mokounga and two of the porters were missing, 

 having sneaked away to feast and drink in company 

 with their friends in the village. I fairly lost temper 

 over these people, and went into the village deter- 



