MONBUTTU CHIEFS. 447 also throughout the country. You know, of course, what an important position women occupy as a rule in Monbuttu. Munza’s daughter is married to Gambari. She is a very aristocratic and conceited person, and tries to hide her twin sons’ mixed blood by bandaging their heads all the tighter. It is very noteworthy how much importance is attached to pure descent in Monbuttu, and indeed among the Zandé also, of course only on the father’s side. Munza’s sons, of whom there are about fifteen living, are dispersed among the chiefs. The three elder, Mbala, Bomba, and Bebe, have founded a village on the Nomayo, where, according to the general rumours, they perform wonders in cannibalism, and wait for the restitution of their paternal inheritance. I was by no means favourably _ unpressed by Mbala.

Munza’s brother, Asanga (Sanga), is certainly pre-eminent among the Monbuttu chiefs of the present day. He hastened to Tingazi from his residence, which lies two or three days’ journey to the south-south-west. We were unknown to each other when I caused him to be released from his long and unmerited captivity, and sent him back to his country, and now he came to make my acquaintance. He quite corresponds with one’s conception of what a Negro prince should be. He was accompanied by a crowd of men, among whom was an Albino with a long fair beard, and he brought with him about twenty very elegantly painted ladies. It was long since I had had the pleasure of seeing so elegant and fair a company as the one which now came to visit me, and which was reinforced by Yangara and some forty of his wives. From the multitude of chignons, I might have fancied myself at an esthetic kettledrum, had it not been for the apologies for aprons, which reminded me too forcibly of Africa. After I had presented my amiable visitors with a few glass beads and copper bangles, I brought out your book in honour of the occasion, and you would have felt well repaid for your trouble could you have seen the transports of delight caused by your pictures, especially the Zandé and Monbuttu portraits. I can assure you that the “ Mbarik Pah”* is very warmly * That is, “leaf-eater,” a nickname given to Dr. Schweinfurth in allusion to his botanical occupations.