Part 17 (1/2)

Then we pa.s.sed by numerous villages, skirting most of the hills at their base, and crowds of people every where cried out, ”The moguizi is coming! the moguizi is coming!”

All these villages were surrounded by groves of plantain and banana trees.

After a journey of about ten miles, we came, at the foot of the cloud-capped Mount Andele, to the village of Mouendi, whose chief, Mandji, came forth with great joy to meet me, for he was a great friend of Adouma. He sang, as he came forward with his people, ”It is good that the moguizi comes to see our town.”

To the rear of the village, on the slope of the mountain, the forest had been cleared, and the s.p.a.ce occupied by plantations, where tobacco, peanuts, plantains, yams, and sugar-cane were grown to an extent which makes this a land of plenty where no man starves. Bushes of wild cotton were seen now and then, but not in great numbers.

I was glad that I had reached a country where I should not readily starve--plantains and goats were plentiful. As I stood and cast my eyes over the scene, the yellow waving gra.s.s, with now and then a dark green patch in low land between the hills, where water stood, and the cane-fields contrasting with the dark green of the forest, reminded me of rural scenes at home; but I looked in vain for cattle; none were to be seen.

I had a great time at Mouendi; Mandji, its chief, was very kind to me. I had more goats and plantains given to me than my men and myself could eat. The Goumbi people were in great glee; that was just the country for them, and, I may now say it, it was just the country for me also. I was in clover, I thought.

CHAPTER XXV.

ASCENSION OF THE OFOUBOU-OReRe AND ANDELe MOUNTAINS.--THE As.h.i.+RA BLEED THEIR HANDS.--STORY OF A FIGHT BETWEEN A GORILLA AND A LEOPARD.--THE GORILLA AND THE ELEPHANT.--WILD BOARS.

The day arrived when we were to ascend the Ofoubou-Orere and Andele Mountains, which were the highest peaks of that range. Mandji, who is really a nice chief, had given me the necessary people, and I longed to reach the summits of these woody regions. We intended to hunt there also while we looked around.

Every one prepared himself for several days' hard work, and finally, when every thing was ready, each being loaded with a good stock of provisions, we bade good-by to the villagers.

The As.h.i.+ras, before starting, covered themselves with fetiches, as usual, and drew blood from their hands by cutting small gashes on them, in order to insure good luck in the hunt. They were in great spirits, for the idol of the village had told the people that we should kill much game. The first night after we camped a tremendous tornado blew from the northeast, leaving us safely in our leafy shelter, however, and then the men began to tell stories of the gorilla.

Oyagui was the first to get up. He was a splendid story-teller; but, before he began, he swore that he was going to tell a true story, part of which he saw, and a part was seen by his brother, which was the same as if he himself had seen it. A smile stole over the faces of all present, for Oyagui was known to tell tremendous big stories, and a great deal of faith was required before one could believe them.

”One day,” said he, ”a gorilla was walking in the forest, when he met a ngego (leopard). The gorilla stopped, and so did the leopard. The latter, being hungry, crouched for a spring at his foe, whereat the gorilla set up a hideous roar. Undismayed by that terrific noise, the leopard made his leap, but was caught in mid air by the gorilla, who seized him by the tail, and whirled him round his head till the tail broke off and remained in his hand, and the animal escaped, leaving his brush in the big hands of the gorilla. How funny the leopard did look, as he ran off without his tail!”

”You never saw that,” exclaimed one of the party.

”I did,” said Oyagui; ”I did, as sure as I live. The leopard ran away to his companions, who, when they saw him, asked, 'What is the matter?'

whereupon the unfortunate beast recounted his defeat.”

”How do you know,” said another, ”that the leopards asked the one without a tail 'What is the matter?' You can not understand leopard talk.”

”Oh,” said Oyagui, undismayed, ”they looked at each other, and I am sure they said what I have told you, or something of the kind, for immediately the chief ngego began howling till all the leopards of the forest came, who, when they saw their brother thus injured, and without a tail, vowed vengeance, and set out to find the gorilla. This my brother saw,” said Oyagui, talking louder than ever, ”and he followed the leopard, while I was watching the gorilla.”

”They had not long to hunt. When the gorilla saw them coming he broke down a tree, of which he made a club, and then swung it round and round his head, keeping the troop of leopards at bay. At last, however, the gorilla grew tired, his efforts began to slacken, and he whirled round his tree with less force. He stopped, and then the leopards rushed on him with one accord, and soon killed him. They sprang on his head, on his breast, on his arms, and on his legs.”

”You never saw this!” shouted all the As.h.i.+ras together.

”I have!” bawled Oyagui, as loud as he could.

Then they all said, ”Oyagui, tell us another story.” There was a pause and a short silence while we gave another start to the fires, for, at any rate, Oyagui had succeeded in making us think of leopards in telling us his story. Then Oyagui began again.

”A great gorilla was once walking in the forest with his wife and baby, when they came upon a huge elephant, who said, 'Let me pa.s.s, gorilla; move off, for these woods belong to me!'

”'Oh, oh!' said the gorilla, 'how do the woods belong to thee? Am I not the master here? Am I not the Man of the Woods? Do I not roam where I please?'”

”Oh!” once more exclaimed the As.h.i.+ras, ”this can not be, for you do not talk gorilla; you can not understand gorillas' or elephants' talk.”