94 
Seven Years in Central Africa. [April, 
2<^th. — News has come up the river to the effect that a waggon 
has just arrived from Shoshong. M. Coillard has sent a blanket 
to the king with a few Hues from Basutoland, dated April, 1882, 
to say that he was coming on. The father superior of the Jesuits 
has also sent a letter and a blanket to the king. They are very 
energetic, and determined to succeed. 
Lord's-day, 2,0th. — Had very few at my house this morning, but 
a large company at the afternoon meeting, which lasted from three 
o'clock until sunset. Sitting in a draught I got a chill, and spent 
most of the night in passing through the three stages of ague. 
April ()th. — Found Senhor Porto better, but he has lost the 
sight of one eye. 
10th. — The king returned from his hunt and held a grand 
reception in the kotla, sitting in state on his chair under a big 
" Ashanti " umbrella. The people greeted their chief by kneeling 
in front of him and rolling their heads in the dust. 
17/^. — There has been quite a plague of serpents here lately. 
Within the last few days I and my boys killed two in the house 
and three in the yard. While bathing near my house I saw three 
serpents hanging from the reeds above my head, and the same 
day, when landing from a boat, the boy in front sprang back 
in terror as he pointed out two black cobras coiled in the grass in 
front of us. One big yellow snake had been sharing my bed for 
I do not know how long. 
RUMOURS OF CIVIL V^AR. 
April \ — Senhor Porto's man came to ask whether I would 
go or not, but to this I really cannot say "Yes" or "No." 
My eyes have been failing, and threaten as they did last year. 
My goods are gone, or nearly so. Strange rumours are afloat, 
and strange things have been going on since the king's return : I 
fear it is the beginning of another civil war. 
A poor old woman who had always been kind to me was 
burned this morning as a witch. She was suspected of putting 
a crocodile's tooth amongst the king's corn in order to bewitch 
him, and having been tried by the boiHng-pot test was condemned. 
I believe it was a trick of some spiteful rascals who were her 
servants, and had prepared corn for the king, for they brought 
the tooth to one of the king's head-servants. 
