STANLEY POOL. | 129 
called them back, and visitors were continually flocking in. 
Many children, some of them pretty little things, had 
made friends with me, and were wonder-stricken at my 
ticking watch, which they fully. believe to be a little 
animal imprisoned in a cage. Then to this paradise of 
rest and calm came the tempter, a wicked old gentleman 
with a wife and two marriageable daughters. He was 
most anxious I should become his son-in-law, “ moyennant ”’ 
several “longs” of cloth. Seeing my hesitation, he mis- 
took it for scorn, and hastened to point out the manifold 
charms of his oirls, whilst these damsels waxed hotly 
indignant at my ‘coldness. Then another inspiration seized 
their father—perhaps I liked a maturer style of beauty, 
and his wife, by no means an uncomely person, was 
dragged forward while her husband explained with the 
most expressive gestures, putting his outspread hand 
before his eyes and affecting to look another way, that, 
again with the simple intermediary of a little cloth, he 
would remain perfectly unconscious of whatever amatory 
_ passages might occur between us. However, I evaded 
these embarrassing proposals as delicately as possible, and 
hinted with many “smiles and “ Mbotes,’ that were I other- 
Wise circumstanced an alliance with one of the first 
families of Kinshasha might have been within my means. 
As it was, the honour seemed too costly. However, we 
parted excellent friends, and the elder lady, with the 
practical-mindedness of mature affection, presented me 
with a fine large fish, which came in very handily for my 
dinner, whilst her younger companions brought such 
eirlish offerings as eggs, corn-cobs and bananas. JI, in my 
turn, presented them with gaudy handkerchiefs, and 
general satisfaction reigned. 
Seeing that the hopeless downpour would never cease, I 
made arrangements for the loan of a house to pass the 
night in, and ane was soon found-—dry, clean, and spacious, 
in which I and my impedimenta were quickly established. 
It was then proposed—evidently by the village notables 
—that an evening conversazione should be held in my 
apartment, and the proposal was carried unanimously 
K 
