On this occasion
the sister of a young "brave" had just now been killed and
"chopped" by the king of Sankwi, a neighbouring settlement of
Oshebas, and the bereaved brother was urging his comrades with
vociferous speeches to "up and arm." Usually when a man wants
"war," he rushes naked through his own village, cursing it as he
goes. Moreover, during the last war Mayyan lost five men to three
of the enemy; which is not fair, said the women, who appeared
most eager for the fray. All the youths seized their weapons; the
huge war-drums, the hollowed bole of a tree fringed with Nyare
hide, was set up in the middle of the street; preparations for
the week of singing and dancing which precedes a campaign were
already in hand, and one war-man gave earnest of blood-shed by
spearing a goat the property of Mr. Tippet. It being our interest
that the peace should be kept till after my proposed trip into
the interior, I repaired to the palaver-house and lent weight to
the advice of my host, who urged the heroes to collect ivory,
ebony, and rubber, and not to fight till his stores were filled.
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