210 
Life at Banza Nokki. 
was generally satisfied by her begging his pardon, 
and by taking a slave from the lover. Widowed 
“ countesses,” proved guilty of “ immorality,” 
suffered death by fire or sword. On the other 
hand, the “ princess” had a right to choose hef 
husband ; but, as in Persia, the day of his splendid 
wedding was the last of his liberty. He became 
a prisoner and a slave ; he was surrounded by 
spies ; he was preceded by guards out of doors, 
and at the least “ ecart ” his head was chopped off 
and his paramour was sold. These ladies amply 
revenged the servitude of their sex— 
“ Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum.” 
Rich women were allowed to support quasi¬ 
husbands until they became mothers ; and the 
slaves of course lived together without marriage. 
Since the days of the Expedition a change for the 
better has come over the gentil sesso. The traveller 
is no longer in the “ dilemma of Frere Jean,” and, 
except at the river-mouth and at the adjacent vil¬ 
lages, there is none of that officious complaisance 
which characterizes every hamlet in the Gaboon 
country. The men appear peculiarly jealous, and 
the women fearful of the white face. Whenever 
we approached a feminine group, it would start up 
and run away ; if cooking ground-nuts, the boldest 
would place a little heap upon the bottom of an 
upturned basket, push it towards us and wave us 
