152 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[Nov, 
on, however, to the head of the Luena River. A glimpse of fair 
weather gave the men time to build their camp. 
23^^. — Constant rain this morning, so we remain in camp. 
A little manioc (cassava) is to be had from the few people about 
here. The Luena seems to spring out of the ground, immediately 
assuming the appearance of a large river. 
2^th. — Driving rain from the east, and very cold, but my men 
were not to be restrained ; on they would go, in spite of me, so I 
had to strike my tent and start. '*Cold and rain will not kill us," 
they said, " but hunger will. We must get to some place where 
there is food." Our course lay along the north bank of the 
Luena, and after a five hours' journey we crossed the river and 
camped immediately. 
NIGHT ENTERTAINMENTS. 
November 2^th. — Left the banks of the Luena and marched 
for seven hours through one large virgin forest ; i.e. not annually 
swept by grass fires like other parts of the country. It was most 
tortuous work, it being impossible to step out of the deep, narrow 
path, as the whole forest seemed to be covered by layer upon 
layer of fallen trees and branches, all of which were woven 
together into one woody mass by a long dense, ferny moss. 
Camped at the head of the Shemoi River, where I had to 
dispense rations to my men and give a present to a small chief. 
Crowds of people came to the camp, and were most intent on 
giving presents. Two pigs, a goat, and fowls were thrust upon 
me, and not content with feeding me, they made an entertainment 
with drums and dancing, which was kept up in my camp the 
whole night long, until nine the next morning. A shower of rain 
fell during the night, but their delight was seemingly not at all 
affected by it. It is needless to add how gladly I would have 
dispensed with such a demonstration. 
26th. — Remain here to buy food. Mosiko, the chief, came 
to visit me j a very quiet-looking old man. I told him as best I 
could, through Kasoma, my reasons for having come to his 
country ; but I have a poor interpreter, who is himself very slow 
to understand, and whose knowledge of the Chibokwe is small. 
I do not know if I mentioned before that the young man 
Antonio, on whose interpreting I depended, has gone off in the 
