CHAPTER XXVIII.

How we were received at Camp.—Threatened with Starvation.—A Night in Camp.—Malaouen’s Story 215

[Illustration: [Fleuron]]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE UNDER WAY IN AFRICA _Frontispiece._ PARROT ISLAND 21 AN AFRICAN WAR DANCE 27 ENCOUNTER WITH A LEOPARD 30 LYING LOW FOR ELEPHANTS 35 THE SNAKE CHARMER 41 APPEARANCE OF THE KING AND HIS COURT 45 FIERCE ATTACK OF A GORILLA 55 EVENING AMUSEMENTS IN AFRICA 63 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI 71 HEAD OF HIPPOPOTAMUS 74 FOOT-PRINTS OF THE GORILLA 76 FEMALE GORILLA AND HER YOUNG 79 MOURNING THE DEAD 84 A NIGHT STORM IN AFRICA 89 IN THE CREEK OF SNAKES 95 DRINKING THE MBOUNDOU 103 MARCH OF BASHIKOUAY ANTS 119 THE BASHIKOUAY ANT, MAGNIFIED TO TWICE ITS NATURAL SIZE 123 THE BARBATULA WORKING 131 AFRICAN HANGING BIRDS’ NESTS 133 HUNTING ELEPHANTS 143 INTERIOR OF THE NJAMBAI-HOUSE 154 CHARMING THE SQUIRREL 161 THE TRIAL OF PENDÉ 165 DEATH OF A MALE GORILLA 173 DANCING AROUND THE ELEPHANT MEAT 186 KILLING FOUR WILD BOARS 195 SMOKING OUT THE BEES 204 TRAPPING THE MONKEY 206 WE DISCOVER FOOT-PRINTS 209 ARRIVAL AT THE STOCKADE 217 GOOD-BYE TO THE BAKALAIS 227

[Illustration: [Fleuron]]

[Illustration: [Fleuron]]

WILD LIFE UNDER THE EQUATOR.

PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.

Dear young folks!—In the book I wrote for you last _year_, called “Stories of the Gorilla country,” I said to you “_au revoir_:” that means good-bye till I come again.

I have come again to my publishers, who are also my good friends, and who have let me have my own way about the illustrations of this book; they have told me that you were pleased with the last book. Not only have they told me so, but many of you have said the same thing to me.

This was good news, for I delight to tell stories to young folks, and “Stories of the Gorilla Country” being the first book I ever wrote for you, I was delighted to hear of its success.

I felt quite happy when I learned that I had been able to interest you in what interested me, while travelling in far-distant countries.

I have taken my pen once more. I am going to lead you into the great forest of Equatorial Africa. I am going to try to make you travel with me in the wild country I have explored. I am going to bring you face to face with the gorilla, and lead you into the midst of the wild tribes of men I have discovered. I will tell you how they live, what queer superstitions they have, and what sort of people these poor savages are.

I shall tell you about snakes, leopards, elephants, hippopotami, and other wild beasts of the forest. About insects, wonderful ants, and many other curious things.

You will follow me in that great jungle; you will get lost in it; you will build your camp with me, and you will hunt with me; you will be hungry with me; you will have the flies to plague you; you will have lots of adventures, and perhaps when you close this book you will shout, “What a glorious time we have had with our friend Paul!” I hope you will not only be amused, but that you will be also instructed.

I have written two large volumes—“Explorations in Equatorial Africa” and “Journey to Ashango Land”—for older people than yourselves, and I do not see why I should not write for young folks. Now let me lead you into that land of wonders, where no civilized man had ever trodden before me.

[Illustration: [Fleuron]]

[Illustration: [Fleuron]]