6o 
THOMAS J. COMBER. 
Comber being much impressed with the size of the 
place. On going to the headman’s house, the people 
gathered in crowds, staring wonderingly and curiously 
at the first white man they had ever seen. The houses 
were observed to be large and strong, eighty-five being 
counted in one street, with many here and there 
behind. The population was estimated to be between 
looo and 1500. Here, Mr. Comber felt, was indeed 
a sphere of labour, all the people to hand, living in 
one place. He lifted up his heart to his great Master, 
asking Him to show him what to do. Intercourse 
with Mosaka, the king, was carried on under diffi- 
culty. A Bamboko man, who happened to be at 
Bakundu, and who understood the language, inter- 
preted for Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wilson previously inter- 
preting to the man what Mr. Comber himself wished to 
communicate. Besides the king there were four or 
five chief men. It was resolved to have in the evening 
a palaver with the king and the chief men in the pres- 
ence of the people. At this palaver the advantages 
were put before them which it was hoped would result 
if a missionary were to come and live amongst them ; 
their answer being substantially this — ‘‘ The visitors 
had come so unexpectedly into the town ; they were all 
frightened, never having seen a white man before ; 
still, after the explanations that had been given, they 
were glad to see them, and liked the good word that 
had been spoken ; and that they would very much 
like Mr. Comber to come and live in their town. 
Only, they were afraid of Calabar, and they would like 
Mr. Comber to come and see them once or twice more 
before they finally decided. They felt that the men 
were too old to learn book, but they thought it would 
be good for their children to learn.” Mr. Comber 
replied that it was a long way, but he would try to 
come and see them again, and then they would be 
able to come to a decision. 
Mr. Comber left Bakundu feeling that he had dis- 
covered a people amongst whom he might settle 
