Spears and clubs are all handy.
16_th_.--Ruatoka, Joe (an African), and I started at half-past ten for
Munikahila, where we hope to get carriers, our Moumiri friends objecting
to go. The first village we came to we found deserted, and in one old
house the skeleton of a child. We crossed to another village, and coming
suddenly upon the few who were at home, they were terribly frightened;
one woman danced up and down the village, and shouted to the people in
the neighbouring villages to come at once. We are 1170 feet above sea-
level, at a village called Keninuma. The people soon gathered round,
some with spears, clubs, and shields, others unarmed. Feeling cold after
the climb, I signed to be allowed to go into a house to change clothing,
and was given to understand that a very good place to do it was on the
verandah in front of the house, and before the assembly. When the chief,
Poroko Butoa, arrived, we were assigned a small house; a man during the
evening came rushing along with one piece of sugar-cane and calling out
for a tomahawk.
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