for me, which was amply large enough for all of
us. We could thus, we agreed, defend ourselves should the feelings of
the people assume any unpleasant change towards us; or we could, if
necessary, better arrange for making our escape should the king take it
into his head to detain us. At present everything appeared at pleasant
as we could desire.

Soon after we had taken possession of the house a number of girls
appeared with baskets of provisions on their heads, and bowls of farina.
There was flesh and fowl and fruits of all descriptions. We told Aboh
that we should be very glad if he would bring us some big bowls of water
in which we could wash our feet, and as he had before seen us perform
that operation, he at once understood what we wanted. Hastening out, he
quickly returned with a large gourd full of cool water, supplied by a
spring which ran from a hill close to the village. We were about to
perform our ablutions, when a damsel appeared carrying a basket of fruit
on her head. She approached accompanied by a white-haired old gentleman
clothed in one of the robes I have described. Looking up I recognised
Iguma. I asked Aboh who the old gentleman was, suspecting that he had
come with some object in view.

"That's her grandfather," he answered, looking very knowing. We, of
course, rose to greet the young lady, and to receive and open the basket
she had brought. The ebon damsel then said something, and stood with
her hands clasped before her. What it was about I, of course, could not
exactly make out, and Aboh did not appear inclined to translate it. Her
venerable grandsire then made a long speech. It was even more
unintelligible to us than were the words which had dropped from Iguma's
lips. At last we were obliged to apply to Aboh for information.

"Him say makee her wife," said Aboh at length. It was certainly a great
abridgment of what had been uttered by the old man, although probably it
contained the pith of the matter.

"Tell him," said Charley, pointing to me, "that I am his elder brother,
that he cannot marry without my leave, and that I consider him far too
young to think about taking upon himself the responsibilities of
matrimony. That he must come home first then, if he gets our parents
permission, that he will come back with chains and beads and
looking-glasses, and ornaments of all sorts for the young lady, and
guns, powder and shot, and a variety of other articles for her papa.
Make