Chap. XV. EECEPTION AT NIEMBOUAI. 303 



mined to tise force, if necessary, to drag tliem away. 

 I found one of them in a but, seated by the side of 

 the fire, with a huge pot of plantains nearly ready for 

 breakfast. On his refusing to come I knocked him 

 over with the butt-end of my rifle. An energetic 

 demonstration of this kind never fails ; but one is 

 obliged to be sparing of such displays, as they tend 

 to have the effect of frightening everybody away for 

 good. The man in falling knocked over the pot of 

 boiling plantains ; so there was a great hubbub, which 

 roused the whole village, the woman loudly cursing 

 the man for being the cause of her pot being broken. 

 Mokounga came forth from his hiding-place, begging 

 forgiveness in the most abject manner ; and as I drove 

 the fellows to the camp, the chief came along the 

 street beating his kendo to allay my wrath, and I 

 began to regret my Apono porters. 



At length we were again en route. For several 

 miles we continued to ascend ; and whenever we could 

 obtain a view through breaks in the forest we saw 

 higher ground towards the east and south-east. Huge 

 rocks of ferruginous sandstone bordered the line of 

 our route. Our entry into Niembouai was a pleasant 

 affair compared with our reception at most of the 

 other villages. This was chiefly owing to one of 

 the elders of Niembouai having been at Mokenga 

 while I was there ; and who, having returned before 

 us, had prepared the inhabitants. There was no 

 shyness displayed, nor were there any attempts to 

 run awav. The best house in the village had been 

 prepared for me. It belonged to the elder who had 

 met us at Mokenga, and who now claimed me as his 



