How strange and wild-looking these two men appeared! Each carried an old-fashioned flint-gun. Their faces and bodies were painted with different colors. Each had round his waist a leopard-skin belt. They looked at me with amazement. I had long black hair, which fell on my shoulders, and this filled them with wonder. The houses of the village were built of the bark of trees; they had no windows and only one door. At the end of the street, which was not very long, there was a great crowd of people, and every man had one of those trade flint-guns. I did not like the looks of the people with those guns, for I would rather see natives armed with spears, even with poisoned arrows, than with guns. Then we passed by the idol-house, and I saw a big idol, of the size of a human being and representing a woman. How ugly she looked! One of her cheeks was painted yellow, the other white; she held in her hand a stick. Not far from the idol was a big veranda, under which my men put down their loads and, leaving me alone, went toward the crowd. Soon after, three bunches of plantains, a goat, two fowls, and six eggs were put at my feet. The King sent word that he could not see me that day. The next day he came and asked me why I came to his country. I replied: "King, I heard your village was filled with great hunters. I want to go into the forest with them, for I wish to kill all the wild beasts I can and stuff them. I want to kill all the birds I can and stuff them. Then I want to catch all the butterflies and insects I can and keep them." The King looked at me with wonder, and spoke to Mienjai, saying, "Does the spirit mean what he says?" After a little while he said, "Yes, I will give to the Moguizi the best hunters of our tribe." [Illustration: "HE WILL BE ONE OF YOUR HUNTERS," SAID THE KING.] The following morning he called his people and said, "We must provide hunters for the Moguizi who has come to live among us." Then he shouted: "Men who are brave and who are not afraid of wild beasts, come forward. Where is Okili?" shouted the King. Okili then came forward. A fine fellow Okili, I thought, as I surveyed him from head to foot. He was tall and slender. His limbs were strong, he had a keen eye, his body was tattooed all over. Then the King shouted, "Where is Mbango?" Then Mbango came forward. He was quite the opposite of Okili, short of stature and stout. I looked at him and saw that his eyes were full of daring, and that he appeared to be gifted with great determination. He was just the right kind of man I would choose to go with me. "He will be one of your hunters," shouted the King. Then Mbango went by the side of Okili.