, 1869-08-27
VISITING AN AFRICAN KING.

humorous description Of his first meeting
with cannibal in the forests of Africa, and
of his interviews with the king of man
eating tribe and his wife. He had been
carefully looking into a tree, searching for
cbattering monkey concealed 10 its branches,
when one of the Fans, "a cannibal tribc,)
stood before him.
Tie was tall powerful looking man. His
mouth was wide open, and his teeth were
sharp and pointed. He was dressed in the
ekln Of wild animal, and had shield made
out of portion of an elephants hide.
looked at him, aud he at me, and don't
know which was the more astonished. 1
could not talk with him till my uaa came
up, and he then asked what kind of a spirit
| was.
Ny man replied that was q good spirit,
and was bound for their village.
We then went together, and at last emerg>
ed from the forest into an area, where tens
OF thousand Of trees had been cut down, and
plaintain trees (Which furnished food for the
natives, were growing.
As soon as the people saw me they yelled
at the top of their voices and their wild
shouts rang from mountain to mountain. I
began to feel a little uncomfortable a. this
reception but advanced and passed the gate
OF the village, for ii was fenced in. When
l entered, the most warlike sounds we're
made.
The people gathered around me, looked
at my boots, supposed they we're my feet and
did not know what to make of it as the feet
were black, and my face of another color.
Then | began to notice long poles with
human skulls on top of them. Human bones
were on every side. The women ran away
as fast as they could, but there were many
meD, all armed with arrows, spears, and
shields made of elephants hide, cross bows,
&c.
Every Fan had his teeth filed and pointed.
They were black, and all tattooed. | never
had seen such tall and fierce looking people
before, and never have since.
They led me to the Wausha of court house
! and there they talked and held a palaver.
While passing along the village street, the
people surrounded me, and shouted and hal,
lowed SO teri6cally, that | began to think
seriously, when looking at the skulls, that
mine would not remain on my shoulders very
long.
told the people that wanted to see the
king. He sent word be would not see me
for three days. l had come, he said, as
whirlwind, and in three days the strength of
the whirlwind would die away, and could
come 10 him.
He gave orders that could have house.
The single street of the village, and the
houses, were kept very clean. The latter
were made Of the barks of trees, and were
quite small.
got into the hut which had been assign.
ed to me, barricaded myself, and went to
bed. The bed consisted of six enormous
bambOos, with stick of wood for pillow.
The next morning got up and opened
my little back door. Just opposite there
were thirty human skulls to say good>morn.
ing to me. l can hardly say that 1 liked
their looks.
At last the three days were gone, and the
king came to me. He was accompanied by
two of his wives, and armed with long knife
and spear, had on necklace of tigers teeth
He looked at me for while with his arms
extended, and at last said that when sur
rounded by his people he was afraid of no.
body.
He then left and food was brought in.
When the afternoon came, towards night I
called the king and gave him presents. I
took a string of beads from my chest and
put them about his neck, and he seemed
much pleased. l handed him other trinkets,
and then thought would give him look
ing~glass, which was the greatest treat of all.
So taking it up quietly, placed it before bis
Vuh
Suddenly be made up three faces, and saw
the face in the looking glass do the same.
Then he began to look startled, aud in
moment became so wild and frightened, that
l am sure he'd have turned pale if he could.
He took the looking glass in one hand, and
put up one finger of the other hand, and saw
in the mirror. He then put up two, then
three, and saw them also. After this experts
tnent he dropped the looking-glass, uttered
a terrific yell, and shouted that the devil was
there.
took the glass, gave it to his majesty
again, and told him to open his mouth. He
opened it, and showed him his beautifully
flied and sharp teeth, and told him how hand
some he looked.
Then the kings wife came in and although
she was his chief wife, she was the ugliest
woman ever saw, and was tattooed all over.
She was kind-hearted woman, however. L
gave her a necklace of beads. She was so
much pleased with it, that l was afraid she
would hug me /; but she didn't.
Just then, cooked food was brought, and
knew trouble was coming. 1t is great in.
suit among these Africans 10 refuse to eat
food which is offered you. This, they said,
was antelope and planlain.
My objections could not very we'll be Civ
en-, but the fact is, didn't care to eat even
tender antelope, knowing that it was possible
; that mans head had been boiled in those
very pots, and didn't care for the gravy
at all.
1 refused as best l could, aud appeased
; her majesty with another necklace of beads,
and pat on the shoulder, so that she went
away well pleased. l pointed to my own
t pots, and told her was cooking the food