willing to fight even had we possessed any, we were surprised at this;
but Whagoo insisted that it was necessary, and we were compelled to
comply. We marched on at a rapid rate till we reached a broad stream,
which separated, we learned, the territory of Paowang from that of Oamo.
On reaching the stream we caught sight of Oamo's forces drawn up on the
opposite side. The two armies then set to work to hurl abusive epithets
at each other, instead of, as we expected, making use of murderous
weapons. This had the effect, however, of exciting their courage and
working up their anger. Harry told me, that as far as he could make
out, each party was trying to induce the other to cross the stream and
fight.

At length Whagoo dared Oamo to come over and engage in single combat.
The challenge, after some deliberation, was accepted; and that chief,
with about twenty of his followers, wading across the stream, formed on
the northern bank, where they stood facing our party at about the
distance of fifty yards. The two champions then advanced to meet each
other, armed with the formidable carved clubs I have described, one blow
from which would, it appeared, quickly decide the contest. As they
advanced slowly, they narrowly eyed each other, waiting for a favourable
moment to deal the first blow. Whagoo was young and active, but Oamo
appeared to possess superior strength. Cautiously he advanced, holding
his club with both hands towards the ground; while Whagoo kept his
elevated above his shoulders, as if ready to bring it down on his
antagonist's head. For a minute or more they stood facing each other,
their eyes glaring like balls of fire, when like lightning Oamo bounded
towards his antagonist and dealt a blow of force sufficient to bring an
ox to the ground; but Whagoo, actively leaping on one side, avoided it,
and prepared to strike in return. In an instant Oamo, recovering
himself, lifted his club in a position to receive his enemy's attack.
They thus stood for another minute or more face to face, each unwilling
to risk defeat by giving a fruitless blow.

At length Whagoo, losing patience, gave a sudden bound for the purpose
of reaching the right side of Oamo, who, however, quickly faced him and
made a blow at his head; which he avoided by dropping on his knee,
receiving it on the blunt part of his club. In an instant he was again
on his feet, and with another bound attempted to reach Oamo's unguarded
shoulder. The lat