Chapter XI

Aboo Sammat’s territory—Jungle on the brooks—Discovery of wild
pepper—Giant trees—Modesty of the Niam-niam women—Fresh
danger from a bullet—A Bongo poisoned by manioc—Liberal
treatment of bearers—Nduppo’s disagreement with Wando—Savage
admiration of Europeans—The skin-trade—Wando’s braggings
and threatenings—Formation of columns for war—Natives
as soldiers—Difficulties of river-fording—Difference of
level of soil on the watersheds—Mohammed’s prelude to
drinking beer—Division of forces—Primeval forest on the
Lindukoo—Rikkete’s jealousy—Varieties of genets—Mohammed’s
_réveil_—Morning toilet of the Niam-niam—Waterfall on the
Lindukoo—Magic roots—Watershed of the Nile district—Simple
geological formation of Central Africa—The chimpanzee
and pandanus found only beyond the watershed—Confusion
in crossing the brook—Africa’s revenge on the white
man—Venturesome interview of Mohammed with Wando—Value of
ivory and copper—Definition of a “gallery-wood”—Duality of
vegetation—Wando visits my tent—Wando’s _nonchalance_—A
specimen of native cookery—Six Nubians murdered by
Niam-niam—The leaf-eater and grass-man 465