enable us to light a fire at night in the centre, to prevent the
unwelcome intrusion of wild beasts. Our habitation, though not very
imposing, was sufficiently strong to keep out the wet and rain, and, at
the same time, was tolerably cool.

The two young ladies had one house to themselves; Stanley, David, and
Senhor Silva another; the boys and I a third; Timbo and Chickango had
one to themselves; and Jack was left alone in his glory, he taking a
small one at the entrance, and having charge of the gate.

"You may depend upon me," he said. "I will always sleep with one eye
open; and if any strange black fellows come near us, or any savage
beasts, I will be up and have a crack at them before they know where
they are."

The bearers, having performed their contract very much to our
satisfaction, received from Senhor Silva a piece of calico, a knife, and
some tobacco, as their payment, with a few beads for their wives, either
present or prospective, with which they seemed highly pleased. When
they were about to take their departure, Chickango addressed them. What
he said we did not understand, but the result was that they agreed to
stop two or three days longer and assist us in hunting, whereby they
themselves were to benefit by a share of the spoil. They remained at
night in the huts they had previously occupied, while we took possession
of our new abode. Besides our sleeping houses, there was a large one
intended for what Leo called our banqueting-hall. In the centre we
constructed a long table, at which we could all sit, with two chairs at
the end for the ladies, Stanley, as our chief, having his seat between
them, somewhat in the fashion of ancient days, Jack and the two blacks
taking their places at the further one. Our bed-places were formed of
bamboos raised from the ground. Senhor Silva politely devoted some of
his calico to making curtains for those of the young ladies. He had
also brought some mosquito-curtains, which he presented to them; for we
found that even in that higher region we were not free from those pests
of a hot climate.

As I gazed round our new location, I could not help wishing that it was
the permanent abode of civilised men. Far as the eye could reach,
forest and prairie stretched away into the interior, capable of
supporting a dense population; and from the health we had hitherto
enjoyed, I saw no reason why even whites should not inhabit it; or, at
all events, a civilised black c