78 
THOMAS J. COMBER. 
respectful distance from our tent, during the four 
days of our stay at Tungwa. It was interesting and 
pleasant, too, to see the frequent family resemblances 
between one and another, a thing I had not noticed 
before in Africa, except among a few Cameroons 
families. But most interesting were the children. 
Some half-a-dozen boys, about eight to twelve years 
of age, with frank, open faces, bright lustrous eyes, 
and well-formed heads, I became quite attached to, 
and longed to have the task of teaching and training 
into disciples of Christ. We found these boys to be 
very quick and intelligent when we tried to teach 
them. 
‘‘ After waiting about half-an-hour, the son of the 
Soba made his appearance, dressed in a red and black 
plaid wound round his body and over his shoulders, a 
military coat, and a military cocked hat. He advanced 
slowly to the sound of drums and bugles, his people 
forming an avenue at his approach. When he reached 
within a dozen paces, he stepped briskly forward from 
the umbrella held over him, and lifting his hat, and 
making a good bow, shook hands with us. He had 
come to conduct us to the Soba, his father, by whom 
we were grandly received ; indeed, in a more stately 
and striking manner than by the King of Congo. He 
was sitting on a bamboo native chair, dressed much 
in the same style as his son, and was surrounded by 
musicians. He rose from his seat on our approach 
and advanced to meet us, while his band made such 
a deafening noise that our efforts to speak to him 
were in vain. The musical instruments consisted of 
some large drums, about six cornets and bugles, and 
seven ivory horns : these horns were each of a whole 
tusk, and gave forth very softened sweet sounds. As 
he had nothing but leopard skins to offer us to sit 
upon, and the music was almost too much, we retired, 
asking him to visit us in our tent. This he did, with 
his son, soon after, when we explained why we had 
come. He thought we were traders and had come 
