A NATIVE “WAKE.” 
263 
had left some fine groups of trees. We found the 
chief in great distress at the loss of one of his wives, 
who had died that morning while he was out shooting. 
We saw a very large and rare antelope which he had 
brought home, Ant. Eurycerus. During the intervals of 
his wailing, he drove a hard bargain for the lioofs and 
horns of the animal, which were all he could be pre- 
vailed on to part with. This village was, like the 
others, composed of neat huts on each side of a toler- 
ably wide and straight street, which had also the ad- 
vantage of being clean swept. The cooking-houses 
were all detached, and being open at the side, we pre- 
ferred sleeping in them, rather than suffer the confine- 
ment of the close huts; and we should probably have 
enjoyed a good night’s rest, after the substantial repast 
prepared for us, had it not been for the incessant 
howling of the women, who, “h I’lrlandaise,” were hold- 
ing a wake over the dead body of the chief’s wife. 
The following morning proved cold and foggy, 
and as the river had become very narrow, with rank 
vegetation on its banks, from which a noxious vapour 
was rising, it was not thought prudent to venture 
any further, and we commenced our return to the 
‘ Wilberforce.’ The town of Abo, which we had 
wished to reach, was said to be about four hours’ 
passage higher up, and to be situated near some rocks, 
over which the river Yabiang falls about fifty feet, as 
well as we could understand from the imperfect de- 
scription of the natives. We were informed of a 
