along the upright clay bank, which was from 8 to
12 feet above the river, enabled the natives to step
in and out of their canoes. Their dug-outs, though
numerous, appeared to be small, and only adapted for
fishing. Sloping roads had been carved out of the
bank here and there to enable them to drag their
vessels up to the safe level of their town, and to launch
their new canoes, many of which we saw in process of
construction.
I t was in the neighbourhood of Ndobo we saw the
first heap of oyster shells, which will no doubt long
remain there in evidence of a former population.
Early on the 7th we arrived at Bumba, which in size
was a real town. A fog had prevented us from seeing
anything until we were close upon it. By the tranquillity
of demeanour observed among the people we
deemed it opportune to test their hospitality and
friendliness, and succeeded in obtaining an invitation
to go alongside the tall bank. Myombi, the chief, was
easily persuaded by Tumbila to make blood-brother-
hood with me, and for the fiftieth time my poor arm
was scarified, and my blood shed for the cause of
civilisation. Probably one thousand people of both
sexes looked on the scene wonderingly and strangely.
A young branch of a palm was cut, twisted and a knot
tied at each end; the knots were dipped in wood ashes,
and then seized and held by each of us while the
medicine-man practised his blood-letting art, and
lanced us both until Myombi winced with pain. After
which the knotted branch was severed, and in some
incomprehensible manner I had become united for ever
to my fiftieth brother, to whom I was under the
obligation of defending against all foes until death.
Despite, however, these and sundry other precautions
against imaginary evil, the people were not quite
satisfied in their minds, for the dreaded Ibanza must be
concealed, they thought, in our boats. What was it
that they heard throb and sigh, and groan so heavily
as the En Avant came alongside their landing place ?
They ranged themselves over and above the boats, lost
in silent contemplation of the wonderful structures.
Their thoughts struggling for utterance were perplexing
them, and preventing the usual glib and noisy
interchange of ideas. The problems they have to
resolve are weighty and difficult, they know of nothing
to which they can compare the medley of strange noises
issuing from the huge iron pots which hiss incessantly.
What unseen power was it that revolved the wheels
they saw fly around with lightning speed? What
does that iron drum contain ? Why is that white
cook throwing in such large sticks ? Does the Ibanza
eat wood? Is it the Ibanza cooped up in the iron
rdrum who makes that squeaking noise escaping out
of the funnel? These and such like thoughts trouble
-the minds of the aborigines of Bumba, so that little
trade for food can be made although it is plentiful
and cheap.
On the 8th, bananas, goats, chickens, sugar-cane,
tobacco, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and yams are freely
sold, although the multitude is flighty and prone to
Bumba.