Chap. XVIII. WE EESUME OUE MARCH. 367 



Julu 27th. A little before daylight (as soon as we 

 could see our way through the forest), we resumed 

 our march, Igala limping along with his lame leg, 

 and I marching among the men encouraging them 

 with hopeful words. After going a short distance 

 we came to a place where two paths diverged, and a 

 dispute arose amongst my men as to which was the 

 right way. Rebouka, who was now leading us, fixed 

 upon one way as the right one, and Ngoma declared 

 the other was the proper path ; he knew it, he said, 

 by a monkey trap by the side of the road, which we 

 had passed on coming to Niembouai Olomha. The 

 majority declared in favour of Rebouka, and so we 

 took his path. 



We continued on this road till midday, when it was 

 necessary to halt and make a search for something 

 to eat, for we were all ravenous with hunger. Some 

 of the men dispersed on foraging expeditions, and two 

 of them soon returned successful, having found a 

 small grove of plantains from which they gathered 

 several bunches nearly ripe. We made a fire on 

 the margins of a pretty rivulet under the shade of 

 trees, cooked and ate our meal. Soon after, having 

 resumed our onward march, we arrived at a small 

 village surrounded by plantations, which we knew 

 at once we had not seen on our outward journey. 

 Ngoraa was now triumj)hant, and Rebouka and his 

 followers discomfited. I was obliged to interfere to 

 put an end to their dispute, and we then boldly 

 walked into the village and spoke to the people. 



The j)lace proved to be a plantation of one of the 

 head men of Niembouai Olomba, nest in influence to 



