proposal; and at once returned to the schooner and ordered the boat to
be hoisted to the davits.

It was evident that my endeavour to excite Matadi's curiosity had been
completely successful; for no sooner was the gig out of the water than a
large canoe was launched, into which Matadi and three or four other
negroes--presumably subordinate chiefs--scrambled, when she was at once
shoved off and, paddled by twenty natives, brought to within about
twenty yards of the schooner, that being considered, I suppose, about
the shortest distance within which it would be safe to approach us. I
tried to persuade them to come a little nearer, if not actually on
board, but Matadi resolutely refused; and as he seemed half inclined to
go back again without even waiting to see what I had to show him, I
ordered the steward to open the boxes at once, and forthwith proceeded
to exhibit my coils of wire, strings of beads, bandana handkerchiefs,
rolls of gaudily-coloured prints, old military uniforms, and muskets,
and other odds and ends, the exhibition proving so attractive that
before its conclusion the canoe had been gradually sheered nearer and
nearer to the schooner until she was brought fairly alongside, and they
had even consented to accept a rope's-end to hang on by. Matadi badly
wanted us to pass some of the articles down over the side that he might
examine them still more minutely, but I would not permit this, thinking
it best to still leave some of his curiosity unsatisfied, and at length,
after they had been alongside nearly an hour and a half, and had asked
for a second and even a third sight of most of the goods, they
reluctantly retired, their eyes glistening with cupidity, Matadi
promising to institute an immediate inquiry as to the whereabouts of the
white men, and to let me know the result as soon as possible.

I was very well satisfied with this interview, for I felt convinced that
I had so powerfully excited the covetousness of the savages that they
would determine to possess the goods that I had shown them at any cost.
And so, as it turned out, I had, although, consequent upon my omission
to take into consideration the natural treachery of the savage
character, I was wholly mistaken as to the form in which that
determination would manifest itself.

It was clear that Matadi still entertained a wholesome, whole-souled
distrust of us; for when he landed the troops of warriors were still
left drawn up along the river bank