Adventures in the great forest of equatorial Africa and the country of the dwarfs

Front matter

UC-NRLF

B 3 14b 3DD

THE LIBRARY

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—10

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 Mbousha — 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 — Offer 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 — Amcng 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 x CONTENTS.

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 VII L

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 — Ogouli-Limbai — Ogoula a great elephant hunter — Getting into canoes — Our predicament — The negroes great swimmers 100 — 107

Chapter XI

Sangatanga — The royal residence — 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 — 115

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 — Sangalasendsa hostage — Great palaver — Intense excitement — Discretion the better part of valour — Building my settlement — I have to be severe . . .. .. .. 135 — 144

Chapter XIV

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 buffak) — A live young gorilla — How he was captured— His appearance — I call him " Joe " — He is untameable — 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— 1«3

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.. .. «^. .. .. .. .. .. 183 — li>5 xii 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 — Rinkimon gaini 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 XVIII

I discover a new ape — The kooloo-kumba — 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 of

witchcraft— The doctor— Power of the doctor .. .. 263—271

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 youivj: 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 Bhigano-- Good-bye to Biagano — Arrival at Goumbi — Death of Mpomo — Witchcraft ceremony — Drinking of the mboundou — Execution for witchcraft — Il^go, 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 As-hira plain — Numerous village s — Appearance of the Ashira people — Dress — Mode of dressing the hair — Won en'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 — Powerful fetich to kill leopard . . . . . . 330-348 xiv CONTENTS.

Chapter XXVII

The ceremony of bongo — Ascending the Reraho Apingi — Apingi canoes — Apingi villages and houses — Great reputation of the 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 mak( s 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 witli 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 bis country — Arrival among the Ishogos — The villages of Igoumbie' and Yen gue .. .. .. .. 401-409

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 XXXIII

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 Mokrnga — I am said to have moved a huge granite block — A village fetichtree — Leopards — King Quembila — Panic among the Ishogo^ — 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 < f 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 .. .. V- •• ». r, t, ,. 441-449

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 Bashikoua^ ants — Leave Niembouai Olomba — The village of Mombana — Outfi of a bride — Presentation of Ntchingo, or red powder — Three differt n paths to the Njavi country .. .. .. .. .. 449 — 45'

Chapter XXXVII

Arrival at Mouaou Kombo — True Ashango clans — Trouble brewing — De parture of the Niembouai and Mobana people — Retire from the villag — A palaver — Peace made — Return to the village — Promise to take in to the Njavi tribe — A terrible accident — A man accidentally killed— Great panic among the natives — War drums beating .. 457 — 46:

Chapter Xxxviii

A momentous pause — The head wife of a friendly chief killed — A genera shout of war — The order of retreat — A deadly struggle commences- Igala and I are wounded — My men narrowly escape — Making desperate stand — Long rifle firing — Tumultuous shouting — Devotioi of my Commi men — Throwing away our heavy loads — Another stam — The enemy is cowed — Troubles threatened among the natives- Advice to my men in case I am killed or die — Passing Niemboue Olomba at night — Travelling through the forest in darkness — Arriva at a plantation — Friendly welcome — Stories of our struggles — Th war-dish prepared between the people of Mobana and Mouaou-Komb — I am supposed to change my shape during the fight — Leavin Igoumbie — Farewell to the Ishogos — On our way towards the sea shore — Meeting with Quengueza . . . . . . . . 463 — 47

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGB

Frontispiece.

Mpongwe Woman — Mode of Dressing the Hair . . . . . . 2

Mbondemo Man and Woman, showing manner of carrying Children

and Burdens

.

Fan Warrior

. 47

Fan Woman and Child

. 49

Fan Shield and Spears . .

My First Gorilla

. 55

Ndiayai, King of the Fans

Fan Bowman

Poisoned Arrows, in a Skin Bag

. 64

Fan Knife and Axes

. 65

Grand Keception by the Cannibals

. (}6

Fan Warriors

Fan Drum and Handja

. 69

The Handja

. 70

Elephant Battle among the Fans

. 72

Fan Blacksmiths ..

. 80

Fan Pottery

. 82

Fan Pipes

. 82

Fan Spoon

. 87

Crossiug a Mangrove-Swamp

. 98

Horn and Bell of Iron

Shekiani Spoons

. 120

Wambee : the Shekiani Banjo ..

. 122

Encampment for the Night

. 121

Ncheri — a diminutive Gazelle ..

. 127

Commi Man and Woman

. 145

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 ..

Prisoner in Ntchogo

. 197

Reception at Goumbi

. 199

Kendo

. 215

Obindji in his Easy-chair

. 217

The Kooloo-kamba

. 221

Death of the Gorilla

. 225

Hunter killed by a Gorilla

. 2»3

The Bongo Antelope

2 *

. 251

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Bashikouay Ant, magnified to twice its natural size

Nests of Mushroom Ants and Tree Ants

Nests of Forest Ants

Ipi, or scaly Ant- eater

Whip, or the African Peace-maker

Gorilla's head

Gorilla, male

Gorilla, female

Gorilla, female

Gorilla, male

Gorilla, young

Gorilla, red rump ..

Gorilla, shedding teeth

Chimpanzees

Nshiego-mbouve and young

Nshiego-mbouves ..

Head of Kooloo-kamba

Kooloo-kambas

Ear of Kooloo-kamba

Skeleton of Man . . . . . ,

Skeleton of Gorilla

Group of Bakalai . . . . . .

Ibeka : Musical Instrument of the Bakalai

Harp of Bakalai

Decapitation Scene at Goumbi ..

A Boll of Ashira Tobacco

Ashira Thread and Needle

Ashira Iron Weapons

Ashira Belles

Liamba Leaf, or Wild Hemp

Cynogale Velox

Nshiego-mbouve in his Shelter ..

Ogana : an Ashira Housekeeper

Rude Bridge over the Ovigui

The Leopard and his Prey

Apingi Man and Woman with Ndengui or Green Cloth

An Apingi Village

The Kendo Squirrel

Wicker-work Rattle to drive the Devil out

Apingi tools

Opaitai, or Porter's Basket

Gorillas surprised in the Forest

Mokaba. An Apono Village

Ishogo Houses of Igoumbie, with Ornamented Doors

Ishogo Fashions. — Oblique Chignon

Ishogo Fashions. — Horizontal Chignon . .

Ishogo Fashions. — Vertical Chignon

Ishogo Fashions. — Male head-dress

Ishogo Loom and Shuttle

Approach to the Camp of the Obongo Dwarf

An African Group

Retreat from Ashango-Land

EXPLORATIONS AND ADVENTURES

IN

EQUATORIAL AFEICA,

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.

As a lad I left America for the Western Coast of Africa in the month of October, 1855. My purpose was to spend some years in the exploration of a region of territory lying between lat. 2° north and 2° south on the West Coast.

The coast-line of this region is dotted here and there with negro villages. The power and knowledge of the white man extend but a very few miles from the coast ; and the interior was still a terra incognita. Of the natural history — which was the subject that interested me most — sufficient was known to assure me that here was a field worthy of every effort of an explorer and naturalist.

As I intended to remain a little time on the Gaboon to acclimatize myself more perfectly, I took up my residence among my friends of many years, the American missionaries, whose station is at Baraka, eight miles from the mouth of the river. Here I found a welcome and a hospitable home.

The Mpongwe, the Coast natives — once numerous, were, like so many of the African tribes, from various reasons entirely disappearing.

The fact of this mysterious and, to some extent, unac-

2 EQVATORIAL AFRICA. Chap. I.

countable extermination of certain tribes, who die out, leaving no mark behind them, is patent to every observer.

The Mpongwe are a branch of one of the great families of the negro race, which has moved gradually from the head-waters of the Nazareth down towards the sea-shore, extending its limits meantime to the north and south, until now they are found from the Gaboon Eiver on the north to Cape St. Catherine on the south. A portion have taken possession of the sea-shore, and others are located inland. They have probably taken the place of other tribes who have disappeared in

MPONGWE WOMAN — MODE OF DRESSING THE HAIR.

the strange way in which even the Mpongwe are now gradually lessening ; the Ndina tribe is nearly gone, only three persons remaining of what was once a numerous people.

All the divisions of the Mpongwe speak the same language, with a difference of only a few words ; though other tribes, sandwiched between, speak an entirely different tongue. I know only that there are eight different tribes now settled along the coast south of the Gaboon and in the interior, who speak the same language and have evidently a common origin.

The Mpongwe live in villages, which are generally located

Chap. I. THE UPON G WE. 3

with particular regard to the trading facilities afforded by the position, for these negroes are inveterate traders — in fact, the most intelligent and acute merchants on the coast. Their villages, though not extensive, have generally but one main street, on both sides of which the houses are built. Sometimes there are a few short cross-streets. In a considerable village, the main street is often 20 yards wide and 200 yards long. The houses, of course, vary in size according to the wealth of the owner. They are built of a kind of bamboo, which is obtained from a species of palm very plentiful hereabouts, and whose leaves also furnish them mats for the roofs. Indeed, this palm is one of the most generally useful products of the country to the negroes.

The houses are always of a quadrangular form, and from 20 to 100 feet in length or breadth. The principal room is in the centre. The floor is of clay, which is pounded hard, and by long use becomes a hard and clean flooring. Both houses and street are neatly kept.

The walls are built up by first driving stakes into the ground, and to these stakes the split bamboos are neatly tied. One set is tied outside and another inside, and the crevices which are left between are made close with the leaves of the palm-tree. Thus the walls are smooth and glossy, and perfectly clean.

The Mpongwe are the best-looking people I have seen, looking very much like the Mandigoes ; of ordinary size and with pleasant negro features, but handsomer than the Congo tribes. The men wear a shirt, generally of English, French, or American calico, over which is wrapped a square cloth, which falls to the ankles. To this is added a straw hat for the head. Only the king is allowed to wear the high silk hat. The wealthier men and chiefs are fond of dress, and delight to show themselves in a bright military costume, sword and all.

The principal, and, in most cases, only garment of the women is a square cloth, which is wrapped about the body, and covers them from above the hips to just below the knees. On their bare legs and arms they delight to wear great numbers of brass rings, often bearing from twenty-five to

4 EQUATORIAL AFRICA. Chap. I.

thirty pounds of brass on each ankle in this way. This ridiculous vanity greatly obstructs their locomotion, and makes their walk a clumsy waddle.

.The most characteristic trait of all the negro tribes I have seen is their great eagerness and love for trade.

Let me here give the reader an idea of African commerce. The rivers, which are the highways of the country, are, of course, the avenues by which every species of export and import must be conveyed from and to the interior tribes. Now, the river-banks are possessed by different tribes. Thus, while the Mpongwe hold the mouth and some miles above, they are succeeded by the Shekiani, and these again by other tribes, to the number of almost a dozen, before the mountains of the interior are readied. Each of these tribes assumes to itself the privilege of acting as go-between or middle-man to those next to it, and charges a heavy percentage for this office ; and no infraction of this rule is permitted under penalty of war. Thus a tusk of ivory or a piece of ebony may belong originally to a negro in the far interior, and if he wants to barter it for " white man's trade," he dares not take it to a market himself. If he should be rash enough to attempt such a piece of enterprise his goods would be confiscated, and he, if caught, fined by those whose monopoly he sought to break down, or most likely sold into slavery.

He is obliged by the laws of trade to intrust it to some fellow in the next tribe nearer to the coast. He, in turn, disposes of it to the next chief or friend; and so ivory, or ebony, etc., etc., passes through probably a dozen hands ere it reaches the factory of the trader on the coast.

But this is only half the evil. Although the producer sold his ivory, and though it was re-sold a dozen times, all this trade was only a commission business with no advances. In fact, the first holder has trusted each successive dispenser with his property without any equivalent or " collateral " security. Now, when the last black fellow disposes of this piece of ebony or ivory to the white merchant or captain, he retains, in the first place, a very liberal percentage of the returns for his valuable services, and turns the remainder over to his next neighbour above. He, in turn, takes out a commission

Chap. I. THE NEGROES AS TRADERS. 5

for his trouble and passes on what is left ; and so, finally, a very small remainder — too often nothing at all— is handed over to the poor fellow who has inaugurated the speculation or sent the tusk.

The consequence is that the interior tribes — who own the most productive country — liave little or no incentive to trade.

The trade in slaves is carried on in exactly the same way, except that sometimes an infraction of trade-laws, or some disturbance on account of witchcraft, causes a war between two tribes.

I have heard the negroes called stupid, but my experience shows them to be anything but that. They are very shrewd traders indeed; and no captain or merchant who is a new hand on the coast will escape being victimized by their cunning in driving a bargain.