rought word that there were still more
elephants a short distance off, which had come to feed on the leaves of
certain trees of which they are very fond. We tried to get off
attending his majesty, and Charley suggested that if he made no
objection we should return to the village, where, having rejoined Tom,
and taken our packs, we might endeavour to make our way northward. Our
friend, however, suspected the trick we intended to play him.

"King say `No good,'" observed Aboh, while his majesty put on a knowing
look; and we had to yield to circumstances.

Next day it rained, and we were compelled to keep beneath the shelter of
our lean-to's, with nothing to do except to listen to the unintelligible
jokes of the king, many of them we suspected at our expense, although
Aboh was too polite to say so. It cleared up in the evening, but it was
then too late to start. In the morning we proceeded, after a plentiful
breakfast, to the north-east. We observed that the hunters advanced in
a more cautious way than before, and we soon discovered that we were
entering the territory of another sable monarch, who was not likely,
should he discover it, to be well pleased with our proceeding. Having
advanced all the day, we at length encamped, much in the same manner as
before. Fires were lighted, and huge pieces of elephant flesh placed to
cook before them. A party of carriers had followed us, bringing more
delicate provisions, and among them some jugs of palm-wine, with which,
after the feast, the king and his more special favourites regaled
themselves.

We each of us had brought some tobacco, which we thought this a
favourable occasion to produce, and great was the delight of the king
and his courtiers when they observed it. Pipes were brought forth,
which we filled as they were handed to us. All those thus favoured
collected round one fire. There are few things an African hunter
delights in more than sitting round a blazing fire at night with a pipe
in his mouth, and narrating for the hundredth time, perhaps, his various
exploits. We regretted not having a sufficient knowledge of the
language to make out what was said, but, from the shouts of laughter
uttered by our black friends, the yarns were highly amusing to
themselves, if not edifying to us. The shades of evening were
approaching, a few rays of the setting sun penetrating amid the trees,
cast a bright light on the boughs above us. A portion of the hunters
were eng