one hand, and walking up to Captain Coquilhat, who was dressed in the full uniform of "Capitaine d'Etat-Major de l'Etat Indépendant du Congo," enfolded him in his arms. From this bear's hug Captain Coquilhat emerged with great red patches over his blue coat and gilt facings, and "Le Roi des Ba-Ngala" turned his attention to the rest of the company, who were doubtless as glad as I was to escape with a shake of his huge paw, without undergoing the same ceremony as the captain. When he had gone the round of the table, his wives brought the massanga-pots, and Mata Bwyki began to pour the stuff down his throat by quarts at a time. He was a tremendous toper, and could consume enormous quantities of his favourite beverage. His death, which took place about two months later, was an occasion of great excitement amongst the Ba-Ngala. It is their custom, on the death of a chief, to kill as many slaves over his grave as the said chief had wives during his lifetime. Cannibal feasts were doubtless also indulged in, but this has been disputed. Now Mata Bwyki had fifty wives fifty slaves had therefore to be provided for the sacrifice—-one by the parents of each wife.1 This great massacre was, however, happily averted by the officer in command of the station, who, 1 The slaves were probably substitutes for the wives, who would perhaps themselves have been sacrificed in former times. |