256 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
at one end^ to present a passage^ and suspended at tlie other by a 
catch between two posts. In passing underneath between a double 
row of funnel-shaped railings at the entrance^ and treading on a 
disguised lever_, the animal detaches the log from its slender 
fastening and is instantly crushed. 
Not far from this spot I remarked a partial clearing in the hush, 
the trees having been lopped of their branches, comprise a space 
of about one hundred square yards. Three conspicuous trunks 
of trees, with two forked branches carved* in imitation of immense 
bulks horns, stained red, had, suspended from their points, a 
real pair of horns. Underneath the branches a broad ring was 
carved in each post, and at their base heaps of stones in a conical 
form indicated the graves of three Djour negroes. Atoin, a middle- 
aged man, was chief over the small community near which we were 
bivouacked, comprising, at a rough guess, I should think not more 
than one hundred and fifty persons. The chief, becoming com- 
municative, informed me that east and west were several other 
equally small settlements, over which he also ruled. 
November 2\st . — Continuing at an early hour our march through 
open bush, principally formed of a species of fig tree, acacia, and 
flowering mimosa, after a single halt of short duration and two 
hours^ travel, we encamped outside the stockaded village of Kirmo, 
the last in this direction of the Djour settlements. The wife of the 
late chief welcomed us, and bade us make ourselves comfortable^ — 
a sentiment, easily expressed but difficult to realize, considering the 
scarcity of all kinds of provisions. The adjoining tribes had pilfered 
them of their cattle, killing their chief. Burr, and a number of men 
who defended their homes. They were in daily expectation of an- 
other attack. They possessed but a small quantity of grain, and 
