Chapter XI:
Oliver's Interior Trip
After mailing the letters to England, Oliver prepared to start upon his interior trip. Arriving at the Government railway station, he saw to the shipping of his large amount of supplies, and took the train with Eva, Lucrezia and Yanga in the first class carriage; and Varnee, Tobey and Fahn rode in the second class compartment.
Through woodland scenery and native villages, they rode for zoo miles until they reached the terminus at Pendembu.
Pendembu is a large African town of mud huts, many of which are plastered with kaolin clay and polished to a smooth and glistening surface.
The houses are arranged almost in circular rows, the center of which is the court, or open "kitchen," where the king holds audiences. Numerous palm trees surround the town and are enclosed by a heavily bordered forest.
King Kyndemah was also the caliph of the Mohammedan faith in that section. He was a tall, imposing, black man; clean faced and dressed in a long striped ulster robe of native manufacture under which was a white robe. Around his neck hung beads, several rows of leopard teeth and claws, and upon his feet were sandals. By his side lay an elephant tail, while behind him two boys in white robes fanned away the troublesome flies with palm leaf fans.
Seated upon a stool in his kitchen court sat the King with others as he received.
He received Oliver's party kindly after the exchange of gifts in the court and offered the hospitality of the village, as he made efforts to secure carriers and interpreters according to the Governor's previous instructions.
After two days the party began their journey; Eva was carried in a hammock by four men; Yanga with Lucretia in another, Oliver with a long staff with a sharp pointed iron on the bottom, walked between either at the side or behind, as the road permitted. He carried his coat across his arm, while a rifle was strapped to his shoulders and two revolvers and cartridges belted around his waist. He as well as Eva wore a helmet, while Lucretia wore a bonnet.
Varnee, Tobey and Fahn carried light articles for immediate use and a gun strapped upon their shoulders, while a caravan of 40 men carried the camp and mining supplies strapped to their backs in kingjars, palm leaf constructed articles for bearing heavy loads upon the back, and large packages upon their heads.
The party began their journey at 7 o'clock as the sun began to shed its beams across the high mountain peak towering in the distance.
Passing through the palm grove they penetrated the thick forest and disturbed the morning solitude of the birds and monkeys, which began loud chirping and chattering as they proceeded.
Traveling through the forest with no adventure other than the shooting of a few wild pigeons, wood chuck, some game and an antelope, which they ate in the afternoon in a temporary camp. Oliver had a little shock and was very much provoked when he saw Fahn about to kill a monkey, which held a baby monkey in her arms in an attitude of suppliance before her, and in spite of which and Oliver's warning, Fahn killed both monkeys and proceeded calmly in the midst of Oliver's imprecation to prepare them for a meal.
That was Oliver's first experience of the other side of African life.
Emerging from the forest about 5 o'clock, they heard the echo of the tomtom o'er the distant hill, sounding faintly and then louder as they approached the hillside.
Upon the summit, they entered a dark forest, when the weird music burst forth in confusing and loud minor strains.