Adventures in the Great Forest of Equatorial Africa and the country of the dwarfs .. An abridged ... edition ... With ... illustrations

Preface

. The heroic exploits of Stanley and his followers have aroused a fresh interest in African exploration, and, my former works on Equatorial Africa being now out of print, I have been encouraged by my publisher to condense into one popular volume and to re-issue the narrative of my journeys. I may claim to be the first white man who penetrated into that vast and unbroken forest, which, as I have elsewhere written, extends north and south of the equator, varying in breadth from two to three degrees on each side of it. Now and then, prairies looking like islands, resembling so many gems, are found in the midst of this dark sea of everlasting foliage. In this great woody wilderness man is scattered and divided into numerous tribes. The forest, thinly inhabited by man, is still more scantily inhabited by those species of animals found in great number in almost every other part of Africa.

There are neither rhinoceroses, zebras, giraffes, nor ostriches, and few of the many species of the antelope group, including elands and gazelles, are to be seen. Hence large carnivorous animals are scarce ; the lion is quite absent; leopards and two or three species of hyenas and jackals only being found. There were no beasts of burden — neither horse, camel, donkey, nor cattle. The only true domesticated animals were goats, sheep, and fowls : I found the goats increasing in number as I advanced into the interior, and the fowls decreasing. On the other hand, this region is peopled by a large number of venomous serpents, by several formidable kinds of ants, and by many strange varieties of apes, headed by the King of the African forest, the Gorilla. VI

PREFACE.

. In this strange and weird country I travelled alone, making friends with the various tribes, studying their language, and always being passed on from one to another with friendly commendation. I took no tent with me, but trusted entirely, when I was not residing in any village, to such temporary shelters roofed with leaves as the natives are accustomed to make for themselves. No roads traverse this dense jungle ; the villages and settlements of the different tribes, which are often separated by wide and desolate tracts of uninhabited country, are connected by narrow and tortuous paths, which form the only channels of communication. From these branch off occasional hunting tracks, which, after a score of miles, frequently lose themselves or come to an abrupt termination, and woe betide the man who, without guide or knowledge of the paths, should lose himself in this inextricable labyrinth.

The bitter controversy which arose on the publication of my first book has passed away and has been almost for gotten — at any rate by myself — except in so far as it is associated with the names of those dear friends who stood by me through it all, chief among them Sir Richard Owen, Sir Roderick Murchison, H. W. Bates, my venerable publisher, Jobn Murray, and many others. The best of my specimens of gorillas are now in the Natural History Section of the British Museum ; some are to be found in the United States ; while my other collections are distributed among various museums, chiefly in America. A few travellers, and Mr. Stanley at their head, have touched the outskirts of the country I traversed, and have confirmed by independent testimony my narrative, more especially on such points as the existence of tribes of cannibals and dwarfs — which I was the first to discover — the density and vast extent of the central forest of Africa, and the existence of a huge range of mountains to the eastward ; but no white man, so far as I am aware, has been able to penetrate to the haunts of the gorilla and bring home specimens killed by himself since my time. I ought to mention in conclusion that in order to avoid

PREFACE.

. VII repetition and retracing my steps more than is necessary, I have so grouped my several journeys as to deal with each district separately ; but to make this arrangement more clear, I now give a chronological table of my journeys, according to years and months. Eiest Expedition. 1855. October, loft New York. „ December, reached Africa. 1856. January to March, at Gaboon. „ April, started for Cape Lopez. „ July 27, started for Corisco to visit the Fans. „ October, returned to Corisco Bay, ascended the Moondah and crossed to Gaboon country. 1857. February 5, started from the Gaboon for Commi country to explore the Ogobai. 1858. February 26, set out for Goumbi. Explored the Rembo and Ovenga country. „ August 13, returned to Biagano. ,, October 10, started from Biagano for the Ashira and Apingi countries. 1859.

Returned from Apingi country to Biagano. ,, June, embarked for America. Second Expedition. 1863-4. Explore again the Commi country. 1864. October, leave Goumbi for the Ashira country and Olenda's village. 1865. March, start for the Otando country and Mayolo's village. „ May, from Mayolo's village to the lands of the Aponos, Ishogos, .ishangos, &c, and the country of the dwarfs. July, fight with the natives, and retreat to the seashore. „ September, sail for England. C O N T E N T 8.

Chapter I

The Gaboon— The Mpongwe tribe— The Mpongwe one of the great families of the negro race— Decrease of the Mpongwe and other tribes — Their villages and houses — Appearance of the Mpongwe — Their dress — Their cunning as traders 1 6

Chapter II

Old King Glass — His death — Secret burial — Mourning customs — The election of a new king — Treatment before being made a king — Food — Plantation .. .. .. .. .. „ .. 6 — io

Chapter III

Corisco Island — The Mbengo tribe — Death of Tonda — Sorrowful scene — Departure for the Muni river — Mbango — Adventure at sea — Capture of a debtor — Lost in the Muni mangrove swamps— Arrival at Dayoko's — Reception .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 — 17

Chapter IV

A king in Africa — Jealousy of the natives in regard to trade — Dayoko wants to keep me — Appearance of Mbousba — Death of a wizard — Departure for the interior — Ascent of the Muni — A Shekiani village — The Ntambounay and Noonday rivers — Mbene village — A new plantation — Reception by King Mbene — Otfer of a wife . . 17 — 28

Chapter V

Return of Dayoko's men — All alone — lam Mbene's white man — Different tribes — An ideal country for an African — Mbondemo houses — Polygamy — Its political aspect — Causes of quarrels and wars — Departure for the cannibal country — Among the hills — A strike for higher pay in the dense forest — Huts for travellers — A beautiful torrent — High mountains — A big snake — Snakes as food — Discovery of gorilla CONTENTS. X tracks — Fright of the women — Unsuccessful gorilla hunt — Return to the camp — Superstitions about gorilla — Starvation — Coming to a village 29—45

Chapter VI

Hunger — Meeting with cannibals — They think I am a spirit — Great crowds of cannibals— Appearance of the Fans — Fan dress — Gorilla hunting — Fierce attack of a gorilla — His horrid appearance — Death of a gorilla — The Bakalai — Wailing of the Bakalai — Love of the people for tobacco 46—57

Chapter VII

Departure for a Fan village — Cannibal practices of the Fans — Fierce appearance of the king — Head-dress of the Fans — A queen of the Fans — A Fan village — Signs of cannibalism everywhere — Refusal of cooked food — Ndiayai and his warriors — Weapons of the Fans— Drum, musical instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 — 70

Chapter VIII

Elephant hunting with the cannibals — The king hunts with me — Appearance of the forest — Man killed by an elephant — Ceremonies round a dead elephant — Habits of the elephant — Fan marriage ceremony — Eating those who die a natural death — Bravery of the Fans — Cannibalistic custom — Blacksmith — Pottery — Among the cannibal Oshebas — Bunbakai, king of the Oshebas — Dare not go further inland — Idol worship among the cannibals . . . . . . 70 — 87

Chapter IX

Back to the coast — King Mbene gets a cannibal wife — The Fans regret my departure — -Good-bye to the Fans and their mountains — The rains — Leopards — Mbicho villages — The Noya River — Wanga — King Alapay — Hunting with nets — Ferocious ants — The great forest — Over a mangrove swamp — A big snake . . . . . . . . 87 — 99

Chapter X

Journey to Cape Lopez — Princess Akerai — A plantation — Prairie land — Caught in a storm — Mpongwe canoe-builders — Large size of canoes — Ogoula-Limbai — Ogoula a great elephant hunter — Getting into canoes — Our predicament — The negroes great swimmers 100 — 107

Chapter XI

Sangatanga — The royal resideuce— The Oroungou people — Visit to King Bango — The Mafouga— The king's crown — A ball given in my honour — Songs — Rum in plenty — Five reputed idols .. 108 — CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XII

Journey inland from Sangatanga — Preparations for hunting — The king gives me three great hunters — Beautiful appearance of the country — Buffaloes and elephants — Cool nights — Hippopotami — An approaching caravan — Mistrust — The village of Ngola — King Njambai — Shinshooko's house —Torturing a woman — Rescue — Appearance of the Shekianis — Their methods of warfare — My guns and watches are objects of wonder — Customs of the Shekianis — Our camp — Shooting two leopards — Superstitions in regard to leopard's tail and liver — Aboko kills an elephant — Buffaloes — Return to Sangatanga — The Oroungou burial-ground .. .. .. .. .. 115 — 134

Chapter XIII

The Camma country — The coast line — Surf — The schooner Caroline — Crew — A tornado — Trouble at the mouth of the Fernand Vaz river — King Sangala and Ranpano — Sangala sends a hostage — Great palaver — Intense excitement — Discretion the better part of valour — Building my settlement — I have to be severe . . . . . . . . 135 — 144 CHAPTER XTV. The Commi people — King Olenga-Yombi — I am obliged to attend a ball — Native love of rum — Fetich-houses — Mbuirri and Abambou — Ovengua — Ifouta tossed by a buffalo — A live young gorilla — How he was captured — His appearance — I call him "Joe" — He is untamable — His escape and recapture — Death of Joe — Shipping a young gorilla for London — Surprising gorillas in a plantain plantation — How gorillas •walk — Another young live gorilla — How he was captured — The mother brought in not dead — Gorillas are often gregarious — Shooting hippopotami at night on shore — Habits of the hippopotamus — Combat between two hippopotami . . . . . . . . . . 144 — 166

Chapter XV

Ascent of the Ogobai — The Anengue lake — King Damagondai — Damagondai lecturing his wives — King Shimbouvenegani — Shelters of the nshiego-mbouve' — Killing a nshiego-mbouve' ; its appearance — Hunting the crocodile — Damagondai's idol — Troubles during the descent down the river .. .. •• .■ •• •• 167 — 183

Chapter XVI

The dry season — Migration of birds — Serpents — The ceremony of bola ivoga Theory of the Commi about disease — Death of Ishungui — A greater doctor — Exorcising a sorcerer — Fear of witchcraft by the people — Capture of a young gorilla — Death of its mother — Death of the young gorilla — I am poisoned — Punishment and release of the poisoner.. .. .. •• •■ •• •• •■ 18^ — CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII

King Quengueza sends his son to me as a hostage — Invitation to come to his country — Assembling the Biagano people — I leave my property in their hands — Rinkimongami appointed the keeper of my goods — Good-bye to Ranpano — Departure for Goumbi — Ascent of the Rembo — A man in ntchogo — Reception by Quengueza — Goumbi— Superstitions of King Quengueza— Ceremony for driving away the aniemba — The alumbi house — Hunting— Killing a gorilla — Ordeal — Capture of a young gorilla — Superstitions about gorillas? — Bakalai villages — King Obindji— Trial by hot iron 195—218 CHAPTER XVHI. I discover a new ape — The kooloo-kamba — Gouamba, or craving for meat — Troublesome flies — Malaouen — Numerous traces of gorilla — Killing a large male gorilla — Start for the ebony country — The ebony tree — Severe attack of fever — Take 150 grains of quinine in three days- Kindness of women during my illness — Death of a young wizard — Killing a nshiego-mbouve — Capture of a young nshiego-mbouve — His face is white — His mother is black — The young nshiego-mbouve' becomes tame — He turns darker as he grows older — Privileges of women — The idol said to have walked and talked .. 219 — 240

Chapter XIX

Njambai — Worship of Njambai by women only — I get a peep inside the house of Njambai — Great wrath of the women — I am in a perilous position — Mbango and Quengueza take my part — Paying a fine — Gorilla hunting — Man killed by a gorilla — His gun bent — Gambo — The ibolai and igoogouai flies — The iboco and nchouna flies — Great number of parrots — The eloway wasp — Superstition in regard to different animals as food .. .. 240 — 252

Chapter XX

Ants — The bashikouay ant — Its ferocity — Great moving armies of bashikouays — How they spread — Their mode of attack — They travel night and day — Every animal and insect flies before them — The white ants — Their buildings — Their habits — How they repair their houses — Their appearance — The ipi, or scaly ant-eater . . 253 — 262

Chapter XXI

Subdivision of tribes — Tribes divided into clans — Chieftainship — The elders— Two kinds of slaves — Polygamy — Religious notions of the negroes — Idols — Fetiches and charms — Rabolo's fetich — The curse o witchcraft — The doctor— Power of the doctor .. .. 263 — CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter XXII

The gorilla— Habitation of the gorilla— Habits of the gorilla— His food- Shyness of the female gorilla— Fierceness of the male— His enormous strength— Height of the gorilla— His appearance— Hands and feet of the gorilla— Hanno and Pliny on the gorilla— The chimpanzee— Difference between the chimpanzee and the gorilla— Habits of young chimpanzee— The nshiego-mbouve', or bald-headed chimpanzee— The nkengo-nshiego— The kooloo-kamba 271-290

Chapter XXIII

The Bakalai people— Tribes widely intermixed— Roving tendency of the Bakalai— Instability of their villages— Their quarrelsome habits— Their war customs— Marriage customs— Negroes' knowledge of human nature — Musical instruments . . . . . . . . . . 290-297

Chapter XXIV

Another journey for the interior — Meeting of the people of Biagano— Good-bye to Biagano — Arrival at Goumbi — Death of Mpomo— Witchcraft ceremony — Drinking of the mboundou— Execution for witchcraft — Ilogo, a spirit living in the moon — Invocation of Ilogo — A species of manatee .. .. .. .. .. .. 298-308

Chapter XXV

Arrival at Mpopo — Death of Querlaouen — Obindji enjoins Okendjo to take care of me — A cheery evening — Our entry into Ashira-land — Arrival at Akoonga — King Olenda sends men to fetch me — Extraordinary appearance of King Olenda— He receives me with great honour — The Ashira plain — Numerous villages — Appearance of the Ashira people — Dress — Mode of dressing the hair — Women's toilette — Pernicious effect of smoking wild hemp — Story of a leopard attacking a gorilla — Shelter of the nshiego-mbouve' — Starvation — Scramble for my cut hair 308-330

Chapter XXVI

Preparations to go to the Apingi country— The Ovigui river — A dangerous bridge — The primeval forest — Beautiful brooks and rills — Travellers' shelters— Leopard attacking a buffalo — Remandji, king of the Apingi — A big river— Crossing the Rembo Apingi — Offer of a negro for supper — Stories about a cloven-footed race — I am made king — Am invested with the kendo — The kendo, the emblem of royalty — Tattooing — Supposed to be married to an Apingi woman — Industrious habits of the Apingi — Ownership in trees— Their knowledge of weaving — PowerM fetich to kill leopard 330-348 CONTENTS.

Chapter XXVII

The ceremony of bongo — Ascending the Rembo Apingi — Apingi canoes — Apingi villages and houses — Great reputation ofthe Apingi fetiches — Quaint customs in regard to getting a wife — Spiders — Upsetting of a canoe — Apingi woman in the water — Customs regarding the dead— The Samba Nagoshi Falls— Grand and beautiful sight — Legend regarding the falls — The Rembo Okonda and the Rembo Ngouyai — Different tribes — Eastward from the Apingi country — No more shoes — Bleeding feet — Starvation — Farewell to the Apingi country .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 348-364

Chapter XXVIII

A long absence — Wrecked in the breakers — Once again with my faithful Commi — Sangala, Makombe, Binkimongani dead — Ranpano and his superstitions — I receive fresh supplies — Departure for the interior — Arrival at Goumbi— Quengueza invokes the spirits of his ancestors — Departure from Obindji — Advice of Quengueza to my men — Once more in Ashira-land — A whole group of gorillas — Quarrels between my men and the Ashira — The small-pox — A terrible plague — Departure of Quengueza — Fearful effects of the plague— Death of King Olenda— A valley of the dead 364-380 ,

Chapter XXIX

Departure from the Ashira country — Crossing the Ovigui again — A village of slaves and their plantations — I am plundered — Illness of Macondai — He is left behind — A beautiful forest tract — Robbed again by my porters— The Koola nut— Hunger— The Mpegui nut . . 380-387

Chapter XXX

Arrival in the Otando prairie — Mayolo — Present of food — Mayolo makes a speech — Illness of Mayolo — Arrival of Macondai — Surgical practice of the Otandos — -A female doctor — The legend of Akenda Mbani — Protecting the village against witchcraft — My speech to Mayolo — Speech of Igala — Mayolo gets tipsy — Monkeys as food — I send men to Apono-land — Their reception — The people wonder at my powerful magnet — The Otando people — Native dogs .. .. .. 388-401

Chapter XXXI

Start for Apono-land — An Apono village — Fright of the people — King Nchiengain — The village of Mouendi — The story of the sun and of the moon — Nchiengain and Mayolo drunk with palm wine — Their enthusiasm for going inland — The Aponos a merry people — They love CONTENTS. XV to get tipsy — Leaving Nchiengain's village — Cross a large river — Ishogo and Apono villages — The village of Dilolo — A war cloud — A great meeting — The . Apono village of Mokaba — Appearance and dress of the Aponos — The Aponos a warlike people — Iron workers — Their weapons — Aponos accompany me to the Ishogo country — ■ Nchiengain returns to his country — Arrival among the Ishogos — The villages of Igoumbie and Yengue .. .. .. .. 40H09

Chapter XXXII

The Apono country — The village of Mokaba — Large quantity of palm-trees — Palm wine a favourite drink — Many men with scars — The Ocuya performance — The Apono people — Fashion — Weapons of the Aponos — From Mokaba to Igoumbie'— A large village — Singing at night 410-420

CHAPTER XXXIIL

From Igoumbie' to Yengue — Discovery of a deserted village of the dwarfs — Curious houses of the dwarfs — Yengue' — The king makes his appearance — Popularity of my red woollen caps — Presented with goats and fowls — Superstitions in regard to twins — The village of Mokenga —I am said to have moved a huge granite block — A village fetichtree — Leopards — King Quembila — Panic among the Ishogos — Dismiss my Apono porters and guides— The Ishogo tribes — Appearance of the people — Women's head-dress — Wealth of an Ishogo man — The Ishogos are celebrated weavers . . .. .. .. .. .. 420-434

Chapter XXXIV

I leave Mokenga — Engage Ishogo porters — The home of rain— The story of the rainy and dry seasons — Strike among the Ishogos for more pay — Drastic measures threatened — Among Ashango villages — Our entrance into Niembouai — Why chiefs do not show themselves at first — The Njavi, Abombo, and Ashangui tribes — Hear of a large river — A village idol — The mbuti men, or doctors 434-441

Chapter XXXV

The dwarfs, or Obongos— Villages of dwarfs— Another deserted village of dwarfs— A new village — We approach with great caution— Flight of the dwarfs — Meeting some dwarfs— Their shyness— Leaving the dwarf village in despair— Return to their village— The people had fled — Cunning of the dwarfs— Laughable scene when measuring some of them— Appearance of the dwarfs — Modes of burial of the dwarfs — The dwarfs great trappers and hunters of game— Mode of life of the dwarfs— They are scattered all over the equatorial forests towards the east «1"«9 CONTENTS.

Chapter XXXVI

Departure from Niembouai — Onwards towards the east — A queer ferry — Appearance of the country- — The village of Niembouai Olomba — Numerous beehives — Ashangos — The Apono and Ashira languages the same — Appearance of the Ashangos — Attacked by Bashikouay ants — Leave Niembouai Olomba — The village of Mombana — Outfit of a bride — Presentation of Ntchingo, or red powder — Three different paths to the Njavi country .. .. 449 — 457

Chapter XXXVII

Arrival at Mouaou Kombo — True Ashango clans — Trouble brewing — Departure of the Niembouai and Mobana people — Retire from the village — A palaver — Peace made — Return to the village — Promise to take me to the Njavi tribe — A terrible accident — A man accidentally killed— Great panic among the natives — War drums beating . . 457 — 463 CHAPTER XXXVHI. A momentous pause — The head wife of a friendly chief killed — A general shout of war — The order of retreat — A deadly struggle commences — Igala and I are wounded — My men narrowly escape — Making a desperate stand — Long rifle firing — Tumultuous shouting — Devotion of my Commi men — Throwing away our heavy loads — Another stand — The enemy is cowed — Troubles threatened among the natives — Advice to my men in case I am killed or die — Passing Niembouai Olomba at night — Travelling through the forest in darkness — Arrival at a plantation — Friendly welcome — Stories of our struggles — The war-dish prepared between the people of Mobana and Mouaou-Komba — I am supposed to change my shape during the fight — Leaving Igoumbie' — Farewell to the Ishogos — On our way towards the seashore — Meeting with Quengueza 463 — LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. •i--S Frontispiece.

Map To face page 1 Mpongwe Woman — Mode of Dressing the Hair . . . . . . 2 Mbondemo Man and Woman, showing manner of carrying Children and Burdens .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Fan Warrior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Fan Woman and Child 49 Fan Shield and Spears .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 My First Gorilla 55 Ndiay ai, King of the Fans . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Fan Bowman .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 63 Poisoned Arrows, in a Skin Bag .. .. .. .. .. 64 Fan Knife and Axes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 65 Grand Reception by the Cannibals .. .. .. .. .. 66 Fan Warriors .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 68 Fan Drum and Handja . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 The Handja 70 Elephant Battle among tho Fans . . . . . . . . . . 72 Fan Blacksmiths 80 Fan Pottery 82 Fan Pipes 82 Fan Spoon 87 Crossing a Mangrove-Swamp . . . . . . . . . . ■ ■ 98 Horn and Bell of Iron 99 Shekiani Spoons .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..120 Wambee: the Shekiani Banjo .. .. . .. •• ..122 Encampment for the Night .. .. .. .. .. ..121 Ncheri — a diminutive Gazelle .. .. .. ■• •■ ■• 127 Commi Man and Woman . . . . . . . . • ■ . . 1 45 Native tossed by White Bull 150 Young Gorilla .. .. .. .. .. •• •• 151 River Navigation in Equatorial Africa .. •■ •■' ..170 Nshiego-mbouve' (young) .. .. .. .. •■ •■ 175 Crocodile-hunting on Lake Anengue . . . . • ■ • ■ - ■ 178 Idol, Goddess of the Slaves .. .. .. .. •■ •• 181 Ouganga exorcising a Sorcerer .. .. .. •• •• ■• 188 Prisoner in Ntchogo .. .. .. .. •• •• •• 197 Reception at Goumbi .. .. .. .. •• ■• ■■ 199 Kendo .. .. .. .. .. .. •• •■ •■ 215 Obindji in his Easy-chair .. .. .. ■• ■• •■ 217 The Kooloo-kamba .. .. .. .. .. •■ •• 221 Death of the Gorilla 22o Hunter killed by a Gorilla .. .. .. •• •• •■ 2)o The Bongo Antelope .. 251 b LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE The Bashikouay Ant, magnified to twice its natural size . . . • 253 Nests of Mushroom Ants and Tree Ants . . . . . . • • 256 Nests of Forest Ants .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 258 Ipi, or scaly Ant eater .. .. .. .. .. .. •• 261 Whip, or the African Peace-maker . . . . . . . . . . 265 Gorilla's head .. .. .. .. .. .. .- .- 276 Gorilla, male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 Gorilla, female .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 277 Gorilla, female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 Gorilla, male .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 278 Gorilla, young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 Gorilla, red rump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . 280 Gorilla, shedding teeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 280 Chimpanzees .. .. .. .. .. .. .. •■ 282 Nshiego-mbouve and young . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Nshiego-mbouves .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .- 285 Head of Kooloo-kamba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 Kooloo-kambas .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 287 Ear of Kooloo-kamba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 Skeleton of Man 288 Skeleton of Gorilla 289 Group of Bakalai 294 Ibeka : Musical Instrument of the Bakalai . . . . . . . . 297 Harp of Bakalai 297 Decapitation Scene at Goumbi . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 A Roll of Ashira Tobacco .. .. .. .. .. .. 316 Ashira Thread and Needle . . . . . . . . . . . . 317 Ashira Iron Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . - . 318 Ashira Belles 319 Liamba Leaf, or Wild Hemp . . . . . . . . . . . . 322 Cynogale Velox 325 Nshiego-mbouve' in his Shelter .. .. .. .. .. .. 327 Ogana : an Ashira Housekeeper . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Rude Bridge over the Ovigui .. .. .. .. .. .. 333 The Leopard and his Prey . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 Apingi Man and Woman with Ndengui or Green Cloth . . . . 342 An Apingi Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 The Kendo Squirrel 354 Wickerwork Rattle to drive the Devil out .. .. .. .. 361 Apingi tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 Opaitai, or Porter's Basket . . . . . . . . . . . . 368 Gorillas surprised in the Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . 373 Mokaba.

An Apono Village .. .. .. .. .. ..411 Ishogo Houses of Igoumbie, with Ornamented Doors . . . . 418 Iahogo Fashions. — Oblique Chignon . . . . . . . . . . 428 Ishogo Fashions. — Horizontal Chignon . . . . . . . . . . 429 Ishogo Fashions. — Vertical Chignon . . . . . . . . . . 430 Ishogo Fashions. — Male head-dress .. .. .. .. ..431 Ishogo Loom and Shuttle . . . . . . . . . . . . 433 Approach to the Camp of the Obongo Dwarfs.. .. .. .. 443 An African Group . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 Retreat from Aslmngo-Land .. .. .. .. .. .. Ta face.page 1. EXPLORATIONS AND ADVENTURES IN* EQUATOKIAL AFEICA.