EXPLORATION OF THE BAMINGI 199 



number of savages sleeping or lazing away the hot hours of 

 the day. The instant they saw us they sprang to their feet 

 and rushed into the huts. The next moment they reappeared, 

 men and women, all armed with spears, bows and arrows, 

 and made off in all directions into the bush, where they 

 evidently intended to prepare for an attack. So, without 

 gratifying our curiosity and prying round their premises » 

 we returned at once to the boats. After some time, in answer 

 to our friendly shouts, they began to come out of their hiding- 

 places, one by one, and creep down to where we were sitting 

 by the river, but they kept at a respectful distance. They 

 were a wild-looking lot, very black of skin, and many had 

 grizzly beards. They were fully armed, and skins of 

 monkeys and bush-cats covered their loins, while bits of 

 wood and teeth of wild animals hung round their necks. 

 We stretched out our hands for them to come and shake, 

 but they stood rigid and glared at us with hostile looks. 

 I then stood up and made signs to them to put their 

 weapons by, endeavouring to explain that we had not 

 come to fight them or destroy their village. 



Then ensued much talk among them as to what they 

 should do. There was evidently a difference of opinion, and 

 some of the older men shook their heads, and it was plain 

 to see by their gestures that they councilled war. Then 

 all suddenly withdrew, but returned soon after more heavily 

 armed than before ; behind the men came boys carrying 

 double sets of bows and spears. They all massed together 

 and watched us at a distance to see what we should do ; 

 evidently this was a demonstration of force to impress us. 

 It was now our turn to make a move, and we brought out our 



