I never saw so much tattooing in any of the tribes I visited as among the Apingi. They seemed to like it; and when I reproached them for spoiling their bodies in such a manner, they replied, "Why, we think it is beautiful." And, pointing to my clothes, "Why do you wear garments?" said they. "These tattooings are like your garments; we think they are very fine." Trouble loomed in the distance for me. The people insisted that I must get married. Remandji said that he must give me a housekeeper to keep my house and cook food for me. It was so; I must have a cook. The weather was hot and unpleasant, and it would be rather nice to have some one to attend to the kitchen. I smiled; it was a good idea. "Yes," I said, "I want a housekeeper." Remandji brought me a lot of women. I chose the ugliest, whose pretty good likeness you have below, and installed her as my housekeeper, cook, and maid-of-all-work. For two or three days all went well, when, one fine morning, a deputation of men and women from a neighboring village came to me, smiling and looking happy. They brought goats, fowls, and plantains; hailed me as their relative, and said that they came to ask for presents. [Illustration: MY HOUSEKEEPER.] I confess that I lost my temper. I took a stick from my hut, the sight of which drove my would-be relatives and my housekeeper out of the village. They fled in the utmost consternation. "Really," said I to myself, "these Apingi are a strange people." Remandji laughed heartily at the adventurers, saying to them, "I told you not to go to the spirit, as he would get angry at you." CHAPTER XXXI. A GREAT CROWD OF STRANGERS.--I AM MADE A KING.--I REMAIN IN MY KINGDOM.--GOOD-BY TO THE YOUNG FOLKS. The village was crowded with strangers once more. All the chiefs of the tribe had arrived. What did it all mean? They had the wildest notions regarding me. I was the most wonderful of creatures--a mighty spirit. I could work wonders--turn wood into iron, leaves of trees into cloth, earth into beads, the waters of the Rembo Apingi into palm wine or plantain wine. I could make fire, the matches I lighted being proof of it. What had that immense crowd come for? They had met to make me their king. A kendo, the insignia of chieftainship here, had been procured from the Shimba people, from whose country the kendo comes.