CHAPTEE XVL 



ASHANGO-LAND. 



Cloudy Skies of Ashango-knd — Grand Palaver — Isliogo Porters dismissed 

 — The Village Idol — Keligioiis Eites — ^Visit to an Obongo Village — 

 Abodes and Habits of the Dwarf Race — Measurements of their Height 

 — Eiver Ouano — Singular Ferry — Mount Mogiama — Its Altitude — 

 Village of Mongon, its Latitude, Longitude, and Height above the Sea- 

 level — Village of Niemhouai Olomba — Its picturesque Site — Bashi- 

 kouay Ants — Ascend Mount Birogou Bouanga — Its Altitude — More 

 Troubles — Kobbed by the Ashango Porters — Summary Measures — 

 Resume our March — Arrive at Mobana — Departure of a Bride — Arrival 

 at Mouaou Kombo. 



June 2^tJi. The sky in this elevated region is ahnost 

 constantly clouded or hazy. All day yesterday it was 

 either clouded or overspread with a thick haze ; the 

 sun was dimly seen only for a few minutes about 

 four o'clock, and at night the moon did not remain 

 visible long enough to enable me to take lunar obser- 

 vations. To-day it is the same, much to my annoy- 

 ance, as I wished to take a lunar distance. 



A grand palaver was held to-day. The elders of 

 Niembouai were all mustered, seated in a half-circle 

 on the ground, and smoking their long pipes — 

 which are about three feet in length — with imper- 

 turbable gravity. The great number of old people 

 seen here was quite remarkable, and the fact speaks 

 well for the healthiness of the climate or the absence 

 of wars and deaths on account of witchcraft. The 

 people here, and also among the Tshogos, seemed to 

 have more respect for old men than in other tribes. 



