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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Purpose of my Explorations.-Facilities.-Nature of the Country to be explored.—
The Gaboon.-The Mpongwe People.-Their Jealousy of Travelers.-Trade Pe-
culiarities.-Missionaries.-Baraka.-Manner in which the Missionaries teach.-
A day's Work on the Station...................
CHAPTER II.
...Page 25
The Gaboon People. - Mysterious Disappearance of African Tribes. - Mpongwe
Villages.-Houses, how built.-A Mpongwe Interior.-Costume.-An African
Trader.-Monopolies.-The commission Business among the Negroes.-"Trust."
-Extensive System of Credit.—Native Jealousy.—A Day with an African Trader.
-Time of no value.-Mpongwe Coasting-trade.-Their Vessels.-Products of
the Gaboon.-The Ivory-trade.........
CHAPTER III.
31
Some Causes of the Decrease of the Mpongwe.-Restrictions as to Intermarriage.—
Last Days of King Glass.-Public Opinion on the Gaboon.-Mourning for a King.
“Making” a new King.—Character of the Mpongwe.—An African Gentleman.
-Food.-Agriculture.....
CHAPTER IV.
41
Corisco the Beautiful.-The Mbingas.-Missionary Stations.-African Wake.-Set
out for the Muni.-An Explorer's Outfit.-Plan of Operations.-Poor Debtor in
Africa.-Lynch Law.-My Canoe.-The Muni.-Mangrove Swamps.-Lost.-
King Dayoko.-Salutations........
CHAPTER V.
48
Dayoko.-African Royalty.-Foreign Relations and Diplomacy in the Interior.—
The Value of a Wife.-Negotiations.-The dry Season.—The Mbousha Tribe.—
A Wizard.-A fetich Trial and a Murder.-Progress.-Excitement of the She-
kianis at my supposed Wealth.-The Ntambounay.-The Sierra del Crystal.—
Lost again.-Approaches of interior Village.-Agricultural Operations.-Fam-
ine..
CHAPTER VI.
59
Hold of a Traveler on the Natives. - Fruits. - The Mbondemo. - Their Towns.
-Houses.-Morals of War.-Condition of Women.-Women as Bearers.-The
Hills.-A Caravan.—Mutiny.-Rapids of the Ntambounay.-Summit of the Sier-
ra.-Contemplations interrupted by a Serpent.-The first Gorilla.-Appearance
in Motion.-Famine in the Camp.-Native Stories of the Gorilla.-Superstitious
Notions about the Animal.-Lifelessness of the Forest.-A Beetrai.....
72
CHAPTER VII.
Famine. Encounter with the Fan.-A desperate Situation.-Fright at my Appear-
ance.-A Fan Warrior.-His Weapons.-Fetiches.-Women.-I am closely ex-
amined.-Gorilla-hunt.-Signs of the Animal's Presence.-Appearance of the
Male.-Roar.-Conduct.-My first Gorilla.-Division of the Spoils.-Supersti-
tions.—Wandering Bakalai.—Mournful Songs. —Their Fear of Night.—Cook-
ing.-Fan Town.-Cannibal Signs.-Presented to his cannibal Majesty.-The
King is scared at my Appearance. — Description of his Majesty. — Mbene's
Glory.-The King in his War-dress.-Arms of the Fan.-A grand Dance.-The
Music......... .. Page 91
CHAPTER VIII.
The grand Hunt.-Fan Mode of capturing Elephants.-A pitched Battle.-Man
killed by an Elephant.-Grace before Meat among the Fan.-The use of a dead
Hunter.-Habits of the Elephant.-Hanou, or Elephant-trap.-Elephant Meat.-
Condition of Women.-Marriage Ceremonies.-A Fan Wedding.-Musical In-
strument. Corpse brought in to be eaten.-Human Flesh prized.-Stories of
Fan Cannibalism. - Encroachments westward of the Fans. Their Origin.-
Color.-Tattooing.-Trade.-Iron-smelting.-Fan Blacksmiths. - Bellows and
other Tools.-Pottery.-Agriculture.-Food.-Slavery.-The Oshebo.-Beyond.
-Superstitions.-Sorcery.-Charms.-Idols...
CHAPTER IX.
.............
112
The return Trip.-Climate of the mountain Region.-Native Courage.-Mode of
Warfare.-Heavy Rains.-On the Noya.-Visits to native Chiefs.-Ezongo.-
Attempt at Black-mail.-Alapay.-The Mbicho.-Net-hunting.-Bad Shooting of
the Negroes.—Attacked by the Bashikouay Ants.-Toilet of the Mbicho.-Super-
stition about the Moon.-Ivory of this District peculiar.—Igouma.—Fan of the
Country.-An immense Cavern.-Crossing a mangrove Swamp....... 130
CHAPTER X.
Up the Moondah.-Vexations of a Traveler in Africa.-Mangrove Swamps.-
Mbicho Men run off.-Bashikouay again.-Missionary Station.—The Bar-wood
Trade.-Manner of getting Bar-wood.-The India-rubber Vine.-How Rubber is
gathered.—Torturing a Woman.—Adventure with a wild Bull.-Lying out for
Game.-Bullock and Leopard.-Birds............................
Creek Navigation.
CHAPTER XI.
150
- Nocturnal Habits of the Negroes.—A royal Farm.—Beach-
travel.-Canoe-building.-Ogoula-Limbai.-A great Elephant-hunter.-In the
Surf.-Shark River.-Prairies.-Sangatanga.-King Bango.-An Audience of
Royalty.-A Ball.-Barracoons.-Unwelcome Guest.-A Slaver in the Offing.-
Decline of the Slave-trade on this Coast.-Idols........
CHAPTER XII.
163
Set out for the Interior.-Prairies.-Odd Mistake.-Hippopotami.-Ngola.-Ne-
gro Theology.-Hunts.-Torture of a Woman.-Rum.-The Shekiani.-Appear-
ance, Manners, and Customs.-Polygamy.-Marriage.-Superstitions.-Bos bra-
chicheros.-Camp in the Woods.-African Humor.-Solid Comfort.-Hunting with
a Leopard.-Great Jollification.-Superstition about the Leopard.—Elephant-
shooting.-Meeting a Boa.-Stalking the wild Bull.-Return to Sangatanga.-I
am accused of Sorcery.-Idols.-Bango's Treasures.-Burial-ground of the Bar-
racoons.-Disgusting Sights.-Status of Slaves in Africa.-Oroungou Cemetery.
-An African Watering-place.-Fetich Point.....
CHAPTER XIII.
..Page 184
The "Camma Country."-Coast.-Surf.-Trade.—The Caroline.-A mixed Crew.
—A dusky Bride.—A Squall.—On her Beam-ends.—Native Traders.—Ranpano.
-Sangala Troubles.—Nearly a Fight.-The City of Washington.-Attempt at As-
sassination.-The Camma People.-Aniambie.-River Navigation. Men refuse
to advance.-King Olenga-Yombi.--A Dance.-Fetich-houses.-Spirit Wor-
ship.—A mad Bull.—Cheating the King.—Live Gorilla brought in.—How caught.
-Ferocity of the Animal.—Joe escapes.—Is recaptured.—Habits and Peculiari-
ties of Joe.-Hippopotamus-shooting.-Night-hunting.-Hippopotamus Meat.-
Habits of the Animal.—Hide.—Use of the Tusks.—They capsize Boats.—Peace-
able if not attacked.-Voice.-Combative.-Adventures with Hippopotami... 221
CHAPTER XIV.
To the Anengue.-Canoes.-River Scenery.-Nature of the Country.-The La-
goons.-Navigation.-India-rubber Vines.-Mercantile Products and Facilities.
-Porcupine-hunts.-Quengueza, the great King.-Change of Season.-Variety
in animal Life.-Birds of Passage.-Fish.-Bee-eater.-Curious Habits of this
Bird.-Serpents.-The Rivers in the dry Season.-The Lagoons in the dry Sea-
son.-Immense Numbers of Crocodiles.-Damagondai.—Witchcraft.-A Caudle
Lecture. Shimbouvenegani.-An Olako.-Royal Costume.-Discover a new
Ape. The Nshiego Mboure, or nest-building Ape (Troglodytes Calvus).-How
they build. Habits.-Food.-Description of the first Specimen.-A Crocodile-
hunt.-Anengue Canoes.-The Ogata.-Turtle.-How the Crocodile gets his
Prey.-A Fight looms up ahead.-Oshoria backs down.-People of the Anen-
gue.-Family Idols.-Worship.-Sickness.—Bola Ivoga.—African Festivals.—A
clear Case of Witchcraft.-A native Doctor.-Exorcising a Witch.-My Town
is deserted.—I am made a Chief.—We get a second young Gorilla.—I am poi-
soned with Arsenic.--Trial of the Poisoner.--Singular Effect of Arsenic..... 254
CHAPTER XV.
Message and Hostage from Quengueza.—Outfit.—Makondai.-Fame of Mr. Colt.—
Goumbi.-Reception.-Family Arrangements in Africa.-Intermarriage.—Driv-
ing out a Witch.-Riches among the Camma.-African Shams.-A Sunday Lec-
ture.-Gorilla shot.-The poison Ordeal.-Mboundou.-Effects of the Poison.-
Native Gorilla Stories.-Charms.-Young female Gorilla caught.-Superstitious
Belief.—Trouble in the Royal Family.—A holy Place.—Obindji's Town.-A royal
Introduction.-Houses.-Decency in Obindji's Town.-Surprise of the Negroes
at my Appearance.—Ordeal of the Ring boiled in Oil.—Bashikouay.-Kooloo-
kamba. - Another new Ape. - Gouamba, or Hunger for Meat. Grace before
Meat.-A Day's Work in Africa.-Checks.-I am counted a Magician....... 290
CHAPTER XVI.
-
Venomous Flies.-Gorilla.-Cutting Ebony.-The Ebony-tree.-Anguilai's Town.
Superstitions. Severe Sickness. Kindness of the native Women to me.
-Child murdered for Sorcery.-New Cure for Sterility.-Ivory-eaters.-Manioc,
B