warriors of Marunja, their cry ought to be spelled
“ Yaha-ha-ha.” But in tone it was marvellously
like a neighing .chorus of several full-blooded
stallions. Had I riot been able to ascertain the
names of these tribes, I should certainly have
been justified in stating that after the “ Ooh-hu-
hus” we encountered the “ Bo-bo-bos,” and after
a dire experience with the fierce “Bo-bo-bos”
we met the terrible “ Yaha-ha-has.” Any traveller
who should succeed me Would be certain to
remark upon the fidelity of the novel classification.
For my part I must confess to having. been
charmed into a dangerous inactivity by the
novelty of the human cries, so much so that,
before I was on the alert, there were' three
canoes in front of me, and over the gunwales
I saw nine bright musket-barrels aimed at me.
As my position was in the bow of the boat
while leading the Expedition down river, I soon
became a target for a few moi ., as the swift
gliding canoes were propelled in a crescent form
in our front. But, as on several other occasions,
I was saved, because my very appearance startled
them. Had I been a black man I should have
long before been slain, but even in the midst of
a battle curiosity stronger than hate or bloodthirstiness
arrested the sinewy arm which drew
the bow, and delayed the flying spear. And
now,. while their thin flint hammers were at full
f Feb. 13. >877-l t h e s t r a n g e w h i t e b e in g s . * 7
[ Marunja. J
cock, and the fingers pressing the triggers of
the deadly muskets, the savages became absorbed
in contemplating the silent and still form of a
kind of being which to them must have appeared
as strange as any unreal being the traditions of
their fathers had attempted to describe. “ White T
Of course the slightest movement on my part
would have been instantly followed by my death.
Though it was unpleasant to sit and feel oneself
to be a target for so many guns, yet it was
the wisest plan. While I was the object of
curiosity to a large party, Frank was no less
the centre of attraction to a number of men that
hovered on our left flank, and our asses shared
with us the honour of being wonders to the
aborigine. Katembo attempted to open a conversation
with them, and by surprising them
with the question if they were Marunja we obtained
a knowledge as to whom we were indebted
for these unpleasant honours. And I believe it
was to Katemb - that we owed the rupture of
the charm of curiosity, for five minutes afterwards,
when we had descended nearly two
miles in silence below their villages, a vicious
black aborigine fired and killed Reham, one of
our finest men. Instinctively the Wangwana
raised their shields, and, rowing up swiftly to
meet them, to defend the people like a hen her
chickens, the boat opened its battery of small-
arms to avenge the death of Rehani, and in thirty
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. VOL. IV.