STANLEY POOL. 137 
rather offended at my many questions through the inter- 
‘ preter, and my constant habit of sketching the attendant 
wives who were with him. It is sacrilege, seemingly, to 
see the kine drink, so before satisfying his thirst he 
shrouds his face in his mantle, gives a few quiet gulps 
behind it, and returns the elass empty as if he had been 
performing a conjuring trick. The chief seemed to think 
this ceremony would a little impress me, and looked out 
of the corners of his eyes to see if I was attending, but I 
felt in an irreverent mood, and let him know that I had 
frequently seen chiefs perform just 
the same precautions against sor- 
cery or poison when about to 
drink. Indeed the peculiar rites 
and observances which attend the 
act of drinking among the chiefs 
of certain African tribes are very 
complex and curious, as will be 
seen in a future chapter, but their 
origm is, I confess, somewhat 
obscure, and the explanations 
offered by the natives are im- 
probable and inadequate. 
As one approaches the farther 
—-the northern—end of Stanley 
Pool, the scenery really becomes 
very beautiful. On the left-hand 
side is a range of bold and A QUEEN oF KIMPoOKo. 
picturesque heights, their sides | 
clothed with purple woodland. In the middle’ distance 
are groups of fine and spreading trees, standing out 
well against the blue hills, in all their vivid summer 
oreen ; “and here and there the al ways graceful fan-palm 
‘seems to balance itself on its slender stem above the 
water, so symmetrical in shape that it appears planted for 
artistic effect. On the right hand, the narrowing stream 
is shut in by splendid hanging forests, rising to a ereat 
height sheer above the banks of the river, and casting their 
ears reflections on its placid surface, eee a white line 
