Iboko.
steamed from amongst the islands in view of Iboko,
whose multitudes pouring out over the river to war
I had no wish to see again. At the same time we
could not, while professing claims to manhood, for ever
stop in dread of the danger.
They were slow to make their appearance, those
terrible Bangala. Not a drum nor horn was sounded
to raise the alarm of war. Under the pendent green
banana fronds on the banks the aborigines seemed to
be gathered in idle crowds, as though they had no concern
with us, even as though a flotilla of smoke-boats
was an everyday occurrence to the tribe of Iboko.
We were approaching the first projecting point up
the shore—which I remembered very well as a place
whence the real fury of the battle in 1877 was met
by us—when three canoes dashed out with something
of élan in their movement. I detached the En Avant
from the flotilla and went out to meet them, Miyongo’s
guide taking position on the cabin deck.
“ Who are you ? ” was shouted.
“ Bula Matari; come to see Mata Bwyki” (lord of
many guns).
“ Ah—h—h ! Mata Bwyki is not at home ; he is
gone a-fishing.”
Y Is Boleko at home, then ? I am the slave of his
brother Miyongo of Irebu.”
“ Yes ; he is in his village.”
This was all. They had no more to say, and we
passed on. They returned to the shore, and in an
incredibly short time all Iboko seemed to know that
the curious smoke-boats contained friends, and great 1883. '
_ October 21.
and ’small canoes darted out from the shore to bear us Iboko<
company, until the number of them was absolutely
oppressive. How many scores of canoes were out upon
the water, ahead, on either side, and astern, we could
not begin to estimate. Almost anything answered the
purpose for a canoe—from the mere dough troughs of
PLAÎT OF THE BANGALA SETTLEMENTS.
bakers to the crocodile-snouted war-canoe impelled by
forty stout muscular fellows, who sent her skimming
gaily past the steamer.
Some idea of this immense settlement may be gained
when I state that at noon we were abreast of its lower
extremity, and at five o’clock we were still two hours
VOL. II. G