312 KAWAWA'S DEMAND. Chap XXIII. 



built. As I had shown hiin a number of curiosities, he now 

 produced a jug of English ware, shaped like an old man hold- 

 ing a can of beer in his hand, as the greatest curiosity he had 

 to exhibit. In the evening I exhibited the pictures of the 

 magic-lantern, and all were delighted except Kawawa himself. 

 He showed symptoms of dread, and several times started up 

 as if to run away, but was prevented by the crowd behind. 



Nothing could exceed the civilities which had passed 

 between Kawawa and ourselves ; but he had heard that the 

 Chiboque had forced us to pay an ox, and now thought he 

 might do the same. When therefore I sent next morning to 

 let him know that we were ready to start, he replied in his 

 -figurative way, " If an ox came in the way of a man, ought he 

 not to eat it ?" I had given one to the Chiboque, and therefore 

 he claimed the same, together with a gun, gunpowder, and a 

 black robe like one he had seen the day before ; if I refused an 

 ox, I was told that I must give one of my men, and a book by 

 which he might see the state of Matiamvo's heart towards 

 him, and which would forewarn him, should Matiamvo ever 

 resolve to cut off his head. Kawawa came in the coolest man- 

 ner possible to our encampment after sending this message, 

 and told me he had seen all our goods, and must have all he 

 asked, otherwise he would prevent us from passing the Kasai. 

 I replied that I would never have it said that a white man had 

 paid tribute to a black ; and that I should cross the Kasai in 

 spite of him. He ordered his people to arm themselves, and, 

 when my men saw them rushing for their weapons, some of 

 them became somewhat panic-stricken. I ordered them to move 

 away, and took the lead, expecting them all to follow. Many 

 however remained behind, upon which I jumped off the ox, 

 and mads a rush at them with the revolver in my hand. 

 Kawawa ran away amongst his people, who also turned their 

 backs. I shouted to my men to take up their luggage and 

 march ; and then we all movedin to the forest, the people of 

 Kawawa standing about a hundred yards off, gazing, but not 

 firing a shot or an arrow. Kawawa was not to be balked of 

 his supposed rights by the unceremonious way in which we 

 had left him, for, when we reached the ford of the Kasai 

 about ten miles distant, we found that he had sent four of his 

 men with orders to the ferrymen to refuse us passage. The 



