194 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
then bring the canoes; but there was no sign_, so on we went 
towards the village. The water was skirted a short distance; 
reached a scorched plain^ and then a wood was entered^ the path- 
way narrow,, and grass towering above onr heads. Rain soon fell, 
affording relief : the air was stifling. An hour brought us to cul- 
tivated land and to the village of Neot. Negroes appeared, armed 
with bows and arrows and lances, to the right and left of us amidst 
the corn. On a high stage were seated several negroes. Mussaad, 
calling a halt, made his way alone to them, to endeavour to efiPect 
an understanding ; as he did so, several arrows were shot at him, 
of which he was happily unconscious ; hut our men were furious, 
and with difficulty were induced to refrain from firing. The rain 
had now ceased, and the sun shone fiercely. Mussaad^s confer- 
ence was short, the negroes appearing indifferent, — said we might 
remain or go on as we pleased. The loads were now put down in 
an enclosure in which were five or six deserted toohuls. Our tent 
and the Doctor^s were pitched outside the fence, high ripe dourra 
surrounding them. Several stages — used, as before stated, by the 
negroes whilst guarding the corn — were selected by Petherick as 
look-out posts for the sentinels, who went immediately to the 
positions assigned them. 
At two p.m. one of the leading men of the village (not the chief), 
accompanied by several negroes, came to our tent and offered boats 
and every assistance if we would leave the following morning. This 
request was gladly acceded to, and with many assurances of good 
faith they departed. Shortly afterwards the rain poured down in 
torrents ; the ground on which our tent stood was quickly deluged. 
Petherick, with some of the men, set to work to dig a trench to 
allow the water to flow off. In the midst of the confusion, and 
when the storm was at its height, a gun from one of the outposts 
