Thus fourteen men would be required as carriers, besides some for plantains and other provisions, together with the portmanteaus, rugs, and waterproof sheets of the travelers.

There were besides six great chests made of light iron.

Four of these were fitted with trays with cork bottoms, for insects.

The other two were for the skins of birds.

All the boxes and cases had strips of India rubber where the lids fitted down, in order to keep out both damp and the tiny ants which are the plague of naturalists in Africa.
Four or five days were occupied in getting together a crew, for the natives had an abject fear of entering the country of the cannibal Fans.