within three or four yards of us, with their murderous little spears pointed for our destruction.

And, indeed, their success was often extraordinary enough to make one almost doubt their being human. Our march from here to N'Gandu, Gongo's capital on the Lomami River, was through a country devastated by the slave-raiders in Tippu Tib's employ. Ever since we left Pania Mutumba's, with the exception of the small district in which Mono Kialo's village was situated, this vacancy, devoid alike of men and food, surrounded us. Every height was covered with splendid palm plantations; and the remains of villages, whose precise extent was indicated by the bomas, or palisade fortifications, which had taken root and grown into ring fences.

Our caravan did not suffer hunger, for the Commandant had