CHAPTER XXXVI.

Hunting for food--We kill a female nshiego mbouvé--A young nshiego with a white face--He becomes my pet Tommy--His affection for me--His stealing pranks--Tommy gets drunk--His behaviour at meals--His sudden death--Conclusion 271

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

GORILLA HUNTING FRONTISPIECE

MY RECEPTION BY THE KING 3

ENTICING THE LEOPARD 23

FLOCKS OF BIRDS 29

SCENE WITH THE MBOUSHA 37

KILLING THE SNAKE 47

KING ASTONISHED AT LOOKING-GLASS 59

ENTRAPPING THE ELEPHANT 67

FAN BLACKSMITHS AT WORK 75

THE HANDJA 78

NET-HUNTING 83

MANGROVE SWAMP. TUMBLING AND FALLING 89

SLAVE BARRACOONS. BURIAL GROUND 97

EMBARKING SLAVES 103

THE GAZELLE 109

AFTER DINNER 117

A LEOPARD AND HER YOUNG ONE 125

ABOKO KILLS A ROGUE ELEPHANT 133

FISHING 143

TURNING TURTLES JUST BEFORE SUNRISE 149

OUR SCHOONER CAUGHT IN A TORNADO 157

AFRICAN BALL. KING OLENGA-YOMBI DANCING 169

CAPTURING A YOUNG GORILLA 179

HIPPOPOTAMI AT HOME 189

MARABOUTS, STORKS, AND PELICANS 199

THE KING RECEIVES ME 207

A CROCODILE HUNT 215

THE NSHIEGO MBOUVÉ 221

EXPIRATION OF MOURNING 227

WOLF HUNTING 237

AN INCANTATION SCENE 241

A TRIAL BY ORDEAL 253

THE GORILLA MARCHES UPON US 259

MEETING THE MBUITI 265

A YOUNG NSHIEGO MBOUVÉ WITH A WHITE FACE 272

Stories of the Gorilla Country.

PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.

I had passed several years on the African Coast before I began the explorations recorded in my first book. In those years I hunted, traded with the natives, and made collections in natural history.

In such a wild country as Africa one does not go far without adventures. The traveller necessarily sees what is strange and wonderful, for everything is strange.

In this book I have attempted to relate some of the incidents of life in Africa for the reading of young folks. In doing this I have kept no chronological order, but have selected incidents and adventures here and there as they seem to be fitted for my purpose.

I have noticed that most intelligent boys like to read about the habits of wild animals, and the manners and way of life of savage men; and of such matters this book is composed. In it I have entered into more minute details concerning the life of the native inhabitants than I could in my other books, and have shown how the people build their houses, what are their amusements, how they hunt, fish, eat, travel, and live.

Whenever I am at a friend's house the children ask me to tell them something about Africa. I like children, and in this book have written especially for them. I hope to interest many who are yet too young to read my larger works.