PANTOMIMIC BAETEE. 
259 
ings of inquisitiveness and good natured-surprise. After repeated 
amicable signs on our part, a few males, and shortly some of the 
gentler sex, coyly lessened the distance between us, but as we could 
not understand each other^s language a ridiculous dilemma ensued. 
They jabbered, and I, pointing to mouth and stomach, attempted 
to convey an idea of the hunger and thirst I was suffering ; a more 
fortunate thought prompted a mock sale of a calabash, filled with 
the remains of the contents of the horses^ nose-bags, between one 
party of our servants, and a lot of glass beads in the possession of 
another. The caricatured gesticulations that accompanied the 
transaction caused a general roar, the happy upshot being that we 
were shortly occupied in bartering with the natives for every 
necessary, and the luxuries of poultry, eggs, and vegetables. 
November 2Qth . — Feeling excessively weak, although increased 
doses of quinine had warded off a return of ague, I postponed our 
departure until the afternoon, when, at 3.30, we left camp. Beyond 
the corn-fields two small communities were snugly settled within 
the precincts of the bush. A couple of miles^ march brought us 
to a pretty brook, flowing south-east and north-west, about three 
feet deep. Another mile, still through bush, brought us to two 
strongly defended hamlets, and a little farther on we encamped 
outside a considerable stockaded village, named Maegar, so called 
after its chief. Grain and various provisions were sparingly pre- 
sented for barter ; but, assisted with the slaughter of four head of 
our cattle, men and porters were well provided for. 
Nove^mber 27th . — Tents were struck immediately after a sub- 
stantial breakfast, and at seven a.m. we were in the saddle. Tall 
herbage lined the path, leading us through open bush, past two 
17 — 2 
