Leopoldville.
pendent aboriginal chief could well be. He knew bis
Sundays as well as any of us, and kept due observance
of them by hoisting tbe gold-star flag at sunrise; be
paid friendly visits without requiring hostages, and
was not averse to picking up trifles of information
respecting the sea-lands; he had dropped his natural
petulance and inordinate heroics, and now exchanged
gifts without expecting more than their value. A
few times also he had surprised me by the utterance
of sentiments that caused me to glance sharply at him
to detect if possible the spirit that prompted them.
For instance, it sounded oddly to be told by Ngalyema
that the “ gifts of friends should not be examined as
to their worth.” “ A pea-nut from a true friend is
better than a bunch of bananas from an enemy.”
“ Among friends you may sleep with open doors.”
“ A look into a friend’s eyes is better than a treasure
of cloth from a man you doubt.”
When I had drawn my men in line, Ngalyema
pressed forward for a last word. He wished me to
charge my white sons whom I was to leave behind not
to be rude to him and his people, now that the father
was going away; not to push and smack his children
when they came to visit the station, for, said he, “ White
men differ from one another as much as black men.
We are all friends and brothers now, but when the
old man is gone the young man’s head grows large,
and he speaks with a loud tongue; charge the sons
you leave behind that they do not forget that we are
Bula Matari’s brothers.”
Whereupon I called Captain Seymour Saulez up, 1884.
r r v j March 20 and presented him to Hgalyema for final words. Leopold-
“ See, Ngalyema, this son of mine. Believe in him Vl1 e'
as you would believe in me. He is slow to anger, not
apt to break his word. While he wears this face be
not afraid of him. If it turns black you will know
that he has become your enemy. Watch it daily, and
when it begins to change its colour you will know that
the evil spirit is in him ; until that time sleep in peace.
Fare you well, Ngalyema, Makabi, Mubi, old Ngako,
and you Manswala, Ganchu, Enjeli—good-bye all of
you !! m.
The large caravan lifted its burdens and struck out
along the road leading to the coast, many of the men
never again to see Leopoldville, which they had assisted
to build. The parting with the Europeans was
affectionate. With Captain Saulez’s promise ringing
in my ears, that he would distinguish his governorship
by the industrious improvement of Leopoldville,
until it became a model station ; and the assurance of
Dr. van den Heuvel that he would complete his sanatorium
on the summit of Leopold Hill, and perform-
his duties manfully and nobly; with the carpenter
Schnoor’s promise that I should hear no ill repute of
him ; with Captain Hanssens’ declaration that he would
be wary and watchful on the Upper Congo, and patient
with the natives;—with good words, in short, of noble
resolves from each and all, and loud cheers from the
garrison, and waving of hands from the throngs of
natives, I followed my caravan now travelling eastward.