8o 
THOMAS J. COMBER 
from Ambriz to buy his ivory, and seemed scarcely to 
believe us when we said we had never bought a single 
tusk, and only wanted to teach black men what was 
good. He had had no experience of missionaries 
before.” 
Though the King of Makuta was thus favourably 
disposed, it was fully evident that he would afford 
no facilities for proceeding farther into the interior, 
toward the Upper Congo. His consent and assist- 
ance being thus withheld, there was no alternative 
except for the missionaries to return, w;hich they did, 
arriving in due course at San Salvador, much to the 
gratification of Don Pedro and his people. 
The objects of the preliminary expedition being 
now attained, Mr. Comber determined to proceed to 
England, to lay the results of his researches before 
the Home Committee, and advise with them as to 
the future movements of the Congo Mission. Upon 
this determination he accordingly acted, reaching 
England about the middle of November. 
