112
FIG. 6 (above):
“Inhabitants of the Ogooué
and Gabon basins,” 1899.
From Élisée Reclus, Africa and Its
Inhabitants, Virtue and Company,
London, 1899, vol. II, p. 395, fi g.
190.
FIG. 7 (right):
“Fan woman.”
From Élisée Reclus, Africa and Its
Inhabitants, Virtue and Company,
London, 1899, vol. II, p. 396,
fi g. 191. The Fang culture is
consistently rendered as “Fan” in this
publication.
is said to fl ow from the neighbourhood of the
Gabun River, a fact of importance, as the mouth
of the Ogowai is often obstructed, and communication
might be possible by this other channel.
The course of the Ogowai, as they proceeded,
proved to be studded with rocks and islets, and
numerous miserable villages were visible on the
banks. At Okota they turned aside to visit the
king of the country, and after a stormy discussion
were forbidden by his Majesty to proceed further.
A judicious use of threats, however, proved effectual,
and the party was allowed to proceed. Rapids
were continually met with, and the river here
appeared to burst through a mountain range. After
six days’ travelling the rapids ceased, and the
stream widened to about a mile in breadth, but
sandbanks and rocks were not unfrequent. Two
days later, on the 27th of January, they reached a
village called Lope, beyond which no whites had
ever penetrated. Here, the obstinacy of the carriers
detained them a whole month, and the time
was spent exploring the Okande country, which
extends for about 45 miles along the left bank of
the Ogowai. The Okandas treat traders well, but
are excessively lazy: their chief occupation is to
buy slaves, whom they resell to the coast tribes.
Eventually, on the 28th of February, 120 natives
agreed to escort the travellers as far as the Osyebo
country. On the 3rd of March they passed
a large tributary called Ofue, which is the line
of demarcation between the Okanda and Osyebo
countries, and which leads to the land of the
Shibe tribes, a race of remarkably fi ne men. The
banks here were well wooded and formed a shelter
for the Osyebo tribes, who often came down
to the river’s edge with an outward appearance
of friendship, which, however, the exploring party
did not venture to place trust in. On the 10th of
March, at about six o’clock in the morning, they
were assailed with fi ring from the bank, six men
were badly wounded, and the chief boat was upset.
After attending to the wants of the wounded,
they resumed their journey, and soon reached
the Ivindo River, a stream as large as the Ogowai,
with some dangerous falls and rapids, and extensive
lakes distant about four or fi ve days’ journey.
Here, again, another attack was made upon the
party by the Osyebos, and the canoe men, in great
OBJECT HISTORY