158 A JOURNEY UP THE RIVER CONGO. 
About four o'clock, the men wanted to stop at a large 
and populous village, the natives of which, to the number 
of nearly a hundred, were assembled along the sandy 
beach imploring us to land and pass the night in their 
town. They vaunted the abundance of fowls, kikwanga, 
and other victuals, but I would not yield, for we had yet 
two hours of daylight which it was imperative not to 
Piotia otratiotes. 
waste, and I felt sure, as all this eastern side of the river 
is thickly populated, that we should be likely to find 
another village farther on. We did so an hour and a half. 
later, but there was a furious rapid to cross before 
could reach it—one that had to be attempted twice befo 
we could struggle past the rocks. Unfortunately, the 
men broke two oars here, and, therefore, for the rest of the 
aeons 
ens ae 
- = ce 
