They paddled along the banks at a distance of not less than thirty
miles, every inch of which they had attentively examined, but not a
bit of dry land could anywhere be discovered, which was firm enough
to bear their weight. Therefore, they resigned themselves to
circumstances, and all of them having been refreshed with a little
cold rice and honey, and water from the stream, they permitted the
canoe to drive down with the current, for their men were too much
fatigued with the labours of the day to work any longer. But here a
fresh evil arose, which they were unprepared to meet. An incredible
number of hippopotami arose very near them, and came plashing and
snorting and plunging all round the canoe, and placed them in
imminent danger. Thinking to frighten them off, they fired a shot or
two at them, but the noise only called up from the water, and out of
the fens, about as many more of their unwieldy companions, and they
were more closely beset than before. Their people, who had never in
all their lives been exposed in a canoe to such huge and formidable
beasts, trembled with fear and apprehension, and absolutely wept
aloud; their terror was not a little increased by the dreadful peals
of thunder, which rattled over their heads, and by the awful darkness
which prevailed, broken at intervals by flashes of lightning, whose
powerful glare was truly awful.
However, the hippopotami did them no kind of mischief whatever; no
doubt at first when they interrupted them, they were only sporting
and wallowing in the river for their own amusement, but had they
upset the canoe, the travellers would have paid dearly for it.
Having travelled, according to their own computation, a distance
little short of a hundred miles, they stopped at a small
insignificant fishing village called _Dacannie_, where they were very
glad to land. The Niger here presented a very magnificent appearance;
and was reckoned to be nearly eight miles in breadth.
Whilst they were at breakfast, under the shelter of a tree, the
promised messenger from Zagozhi arrived, and introduced himself to
them. He said that he had followed their track during the night, and
had heard the report of their guns, but though he strove to come up
with them, yet he had not been able.
It was between nine and ten in the morning, that the guide desired
them to proceed onwards, promising to follow them in a few minutes.
With this arrangement they cheerfully complied, and instantly pushed
off the shore, for of all persons, a messenger is the most unpleasant
companion; he is fond of procrastination, sullen when rebuked, and
stops at every paltry village wherein he fancies that he can levy his
contributions without the fear of interruption.
The messenger, whom they had left at Dacannie, soon overtook them,
and kept company with them till they drew near to two cities of
prodigious extent, one on each side of the river, and directly
opposite each other. To that lying on the right, the guide expressed
his intention of going, and endeavoured to entice the Landers with
many promises to accompany him there, but they refused, for they had
formed a resolution to husband their resources to the utmost of their
ability, and consequently to land at little hamlets only, where they
might do just as they pleased, without being amenable for their
actions to those powerful beings, who are styled "the mighty" of the
earth.
They now took leave of the Zagozhi messenger, who promised to follow
them as before, and in an hour afterwards they put into a small
village, situated on an island called Gungo, the natives of which
appeared to be a mild, inoffensive, quiet, and good-natured people.
About sunset, the inhabitants of the whole island, amounting to about
a hundred men, women, and children, dressed in very decent apparel,
and headed by their chief, a venerable old man, paid them a visit.
The chief was dressed in the mahommedan costume, and he arranged his
people, and made them sit down round the hut which the Landers
occupied, in the most orderly manner. The men evinced no alarm, but
the women and pretty little plump-faced children were much frightened
at their white faces, and seemed not a little glad to get away.
Before they retired, they distributed about two hundred needles among
them, and they went away highly pleased with their present.
At Zagozhi, they had been strongly recommended to put into a large
and important trading town called _Egga_, which was reported to be
three days journey down the river from thence, and they had been
promised a guide or messenger to accompany them thither, but they had
neither heard nor seen any thing of him since the preceding day. From
motives of prudence, however, they thought proper to make inquiries
concerning the Egga, of which they had been told, lest by any means,
they should pass it without seeing it.
About mid-day they touched at a large village to inquire whereabouts
Egga lay, and they were informed that they had not a long way to go.
They journeyed onwards for about an hour, when they perceived a
large, handsome town, behind a deep morass. It was the
long-sought-for Egga, and they instantly proceeded up a creek to the
landing place. The town was upwards of two miles in length, they
halted a few minutes before landing, no one having conveyed
intelligence of their arrival to the chief. A young Fellata was the
first who invited them on shore, and they despatched Pascoe to the
chief to tell him who they were, and what they wanted. He quickly
returned, saying that the old chief was ready to receive them, and
they immediately proceeded to his residence.
In a few minutes, they arrived at the Zollahe or entrance hut, in
which they found the old man ready to receive them. They discovered
him squatting on a cow's hide, spread on the ground, smoking from a
pipe of about three yards long, and surrounded by a number of
Fellatas, and several old mallams. They were welcomed in the most
friendly and cordial manner, and as a mark of peculiar distinction,
they were invited to seat themselves near the person of the chief. He
looked at them with surprise from head to foot, and told them that
they were strange-looking people, and well worth seeing. Having
satisfied his curiosity, he sent for all his old wives, that they
might do the same; but as they did not altogether relish so much
quizzing, they requested to be shown to a hut. A house, "fit for a
king," to use his own expression, was speedily got ready for their
reception, and as soon as he had learnt with surprise, that they
subsisted on the same kind of food as himself, they were led to their
dwelling, and before evening received a bowl of tuah and gravy from
his wives. They were soon pestered with the visits of the mallams and
the chief's wives, the latter of whom brought them presents of goora
nuts as a sort of introduction to see them. As soon as the news of
their arrival spread through the town, the people flocked by hundreds
to their hut, for the purpose of satisfying their curiosity with a
sight of the white people. The mallams and the king's wives had given
them trouble enough, but the whole population of Egga was too much
for them, so that they were literally obliged to blockade the
doorways, and station three of their people at each to keep them
away.
The Landers were extremely anxious to expedite their departure from
Egga, for although the old chief was extremely kind and hospitable,
yet the annoyance from the natives was more than could be borne; for
they never could have a moment of rest, their windows and doorways
being blocked up by visitors, so that they were literally prevented
from inhaling the fresh air, but were like prisoners in a cage to be
examined and quizzed by every one, who thought they could pass their
jokes with impunity.
Having expressed their intention of continuing their journey, the
elders of the town remonstrated with them, that it would be highly
dangerous to go by themselves, and endeavoured to persuade them to
alter the arrangement for their own sakes. They promised to procure
them a convoy of traders, if they would consent to wait three days
longer, which was to leave Egga at the end of that time to attend a
famous market called Bocqua. When they sent word to the chief that
they intended departing on the following day, he begged of them to
remain a few days longer, declaring the banks of the river to be
inhabited by people, who were little better than savages, and
plundered every one that came near them. He was then asked, if he
would send a messenger with them, but he refused, saying, that the
Fellata power and his own extended no further down the river; that
Egga was the last town of Nouffie, and that none of his people traded
below it. "If that be the case," said Richard Lander, "it will be as
safe for us to go to-morrow as any other day," and with this
determination he left him.
He then proceeded to give directions for his people to prepare
themselves for starting, when to the great astonishment of himself
and his brother, Pascoe and the mulatto Ibrahim were the only two who
agreed to go, the rest of them refusing to a man. Richard said all he
could to them to change their determination; he talked to them half
an hour, telling them they were cowards, and that his life and that
of his brother were as good as theirs, but he could not make the
slightest impression upon them, and therefore told them to go out of
his sight, and that they would do without them. Partly, however, by
threats, and partly by bribes, the men agreed to accompany them,
although the impression could not be effaced from their minds, that
they were going where they should be murdered, or at least sold as
slaves.
At length every thing being in readiness, they bade farewell to the
old chief, and several of the principal inhabitants came hurrying
down to the waterside to take their leave, to give them their
blessing, and to wish them a successful voyage. The men at first
paddled sluggishly, and the canoe went slowly through the water, for
which reason they were two hours before they reached the middle of
the river. A few miles from the town, they saw with emotions of
pleasure a seagull, which flew over their heads, which to them was a
most gratifying sight, for it reminded them forcibly of the object
which they had in view, and they fondly allowed it to confirm their
hopes, that they were drawing very near their journey's end.
For many miles they could see nothing but large, open, well-built
villages on both banks of the river, but more especially on the
eastern, yet they touched at none of these goodly places, but
continued their journey till the sun began to decline, when they
stopped at a small hamlet on an island, with the intention of
sleeping there, cut the inhabitants mistrusted their intentions, and
were alarmed at their appearance; they would not even grant them an
accommodation for the night, although they assured them, that the
most homely, the most shattered hut would answer their purpose;
fearing, however, that they might enforce their request, they did all
they could to induce them to proceed onwards a little further, when
they would arrive at a city of considerable importance called
Kacunda, where plenty of provisions could be obtained, and where the
inhabitants would pay the greatest attention to them.
Kacunda is situated on the western bank of the river, and at a little
distance, it has an advantageous and uncommonly fine appearance. The
only access to the town was by winding channels, that interspersed an
unwholesome swamp, nearly two miles in breadth. It was evening when
they arrived there, and the people at first were alarmed at their
appearance, but they were soon welcomed on shore by an old mahommedan
priest, who speedily introduced them into an excellent and commodious
hut, once the residence of a prince, but then the domicile of a
schoolmaster.
Kacunda, properly speaking, consists of three or four villages, all
of them considerably large, but unconnected, though situated within a
very short distance of each other. It is the capital of a state or
kingdom of the same name, which is quite independent of Nouffie, or
any other foreign power. The only dress that the natives wear, is a
piece of cotton cloth round the loins. The women wear small ear-rings
of silver, but use no paint, nor do they bedaub their persons with
any sort of pigment.
On the morning subsequently to their arrival, a large double bank
canoe arrived at Kacunda, and they shortly found that the king's
brother had come in her to pay them a visit. He was saluted on
landing with a discharge from five old rusty muskets. A messenger was
immediately despatched to the Landers, announcing that he was ready
to see them. Their meeting was very cordial, and they shook hands
heartily with him, and explained to him their business. He brought a
goat as a present, and in return Richard Lander presented him with a
pair of silver bracelets, but he did not appear to be much interested
about them, or indeed to care at all for them, but looking round
their room, he perceived several little things to which he took a
fancy, and which being of no value whatever to them, were readily
presented to him.
They had now become great friends, and he commenced giving them a
dreadful account of the natives down the river, and advised them by
no means to go amongst them, but return by the way they had come. He
said to them with much emphasis, "If you go down the river, you will
surely fall into their hands and be murdered." "Go we must," said
Richard Lander, "if we live or die by it, and that also on the
morrow." He was then asked if he would send a messenger with them,
for that he might ensure their safety, coming from so powerful a
person as the chief of Kacunda. But he replied directly, "No, if I
were to do such a thing, the people at the next town would assuredly
cut off his head;" but, he added, "if you will not be persuaded by me
to turn back, and save your lives, at least you must not leave this
by day light, but stop until the sun goes down, and then you may go
on your journey, you will then pass the most dangerous town in the
middle of the night, and perhaps save yourselves." He was asked, if
the people of whom he spoke had muskets, or large canoes. To which he
replied, "Yes, in great numbers, they are very large and powerful,
and no canoe can pass down the river in the day time, without being
taken by them and plundered; and even at night, the canoes from here
are obliged to go in large numbers, and keep close company with each
other to make a formidable appearance in case of their being seen by
them."
The Landers had no reason whatever to doubt this information, and
being aware how little they could do, if they should be attacked by
these formidable fellows, they determined on going at night,
according to the custom of the natives, and proposed starting at four
o'clock on the evening of the morrow. The chief's brother was
apprised of their intentions, at which he seemed quite astonished,
and they doubted not that this determined conduct, which they had
every where shown, and apparent defiance of all danger, in making
light of the dreadful stories, which were related to them, had great
influence on the minds of the people, and no doubt inspired them with
a belief that they were supernatural beings, gifted with more than
ordinary qualifications. Having communicated their intentions to
their friend, and given him all the little trifling things he wished
for, he departed with the present for his brother the chief.
On the following day, he again paid them a visit, urging them by
every argument which he could think of, to defer their departure for
their own sakes for two or three days, in order that canoes might be
got ready to accompany them on their voyage, and he endeavoured again
to impress upon their minds the danger, which they should inevitably
incur, if they were determined to go alone. They, however, paid
little attention to his remarks, further than that they consented to
wait till the afternoon, for a man to accompany them in the capacity
of messenger, to the so much talked of Bocqua market, where, it was
asserted, they should be perfectly safe, and beyond which place the
people were represented as being less rapacious, so that little fear
was to be entertained from them. As the afternoon approached, they
inquired in vain for the promised guide, and when they found that the
chief, or rather his brother, felt no disposition whatever to redeem
his pledge, they made immediate preparations to leave the town, to
the manifest disappointment of the latter, who made a very dolorous
lament, and did all in his power, except employing actual force, to
induce them to change their resolution.
They now ordered Pascoe and their people to commence loading the
canoe, but the poor fellows were all in tears and trembled with fear;
one of them in particular, a native of Bonny, said, that he did not
care for himself, as his own life was of little consequence, all he
feared was, that his masters would be murdered, and as he had been
with them ever since they had left the sea, it would be as bad as
dying himself, to see them killed.
In pursuance of their plans, on the same afternoon, they bade adieu
to the inhabitants of Kacunda, and every thing having been conveyed
to the canoe, they embarked and pushed off the shore, in the sight of
a multitude of people. They worked their way with incredible
difficulty through the morass, before they were able to get into the
body of the stream, and being now fairly off they prepared themselves
for the worst. "Now," said Richard Lander, "my boys," as their canoe
glided down with the stream, "let us all stick together; I hope that
we have none amongst us, who will flinch, come what may."
They had proceeded some distance down the river, when seeing a
convenient place for landing, the men being languid and weary with
hunger and exhaustion, they halted on the right bank of the river,
which they imagined was most suitable for their purpose. The angry
and scowling appearance of the firmament forewarned them of a shower,
or something worse, which induced them hastily to erect an awning of
mats under a palm tree's shade. The spot for a hundred yards was
cleared of grass, underwood, and vegetation of all kinds: and very
shortly afterwards, as three of their men were straggling about in
the bush, searching for firewood, a village suddenly opened before
them; this did not excite their astonishment, and they entered one of
the huts which was nearest them, to procure a little fire. However,
it happened only to contain women, but these were terrified beyond
measure at the sudden and abrupt entrance of strange-looking men,
whose language they did not know, and whose business they could not
understand, and they all ran out in a fright into the woods, to warn
their male relatives of them, who were labouring at their usual
occupations of husbandry. Mean time, their men had very composedly
taken some burning embers from the fire, and returned to their
masters, with the brief allusion to the circumstance of having
discovered a village. This at the time was thought lightly of, but
they rejoiced that they had seen the village, and immediately sent
Pascoe, Ibrahim and Jowdie, in company to obtain some fire, and to
purchase some yams. In about ten minutes after, they returned in
haste, telling them that they had been to the village, and asked for
some fire, but that the people did not understand them, and instead
of attending to their wishes, they looked terrified, and had suddenly
disappeared. In consequence of their threatening attitudes, Pascoe
and his party had left the village, and hastened back to their
masters.
Totally unconscious of danger, the Landers were reclining on their
mats, for they too, like their people, were wearied with toil, and
overcome with drowsiness, when in about twenty minutes after their
men had returned, one of them shouted with a loud voice, "War is
coming, O war is coming!" and ran towards them with a scream of
terror, telling them, that the natives were hastening to attack them.
They started up at this unusual exclamation, and looking about them,
they beheld a large party of men, almost naked, running in a very
irregular manner, and with uncouth gestures, towards their little
encampment. They were all variously armed with muskets, bows and
arrows, knives, cutlasses, barbs, long spears, and other instruments
of destruction; and as they gazed upon this band of wild men, with
their ferocious looks and hostile appearance, which was not a little
heightened on observing the weapons in their hands, they felt a very
uneasy kind of sensation, and wished themselves safe out of their
hands.
Their party was at this time much scattered, but fortunately they
could see them coming to them at some distance, and they had time to
collect their men. They resolved, however, to prevent bloodshed, if
possible; their numbers were too few to leave them a chance of
escaping by any other way. The natives were approaching fast, and had
nearly arrived close to the palm tree. Not a moment was to be lost.
They desired Pascoe and all their men to follow behind them at a
short distance, with the loaded muskets and pistols; and they
enjoined them strictly not to fire, unless they were first fired at.
One of the natives, who proved to be the chief, was perceived to be a
little in advance of his companions, and throwing down their pistols,
which they had snatched up in the first moment of surprise, the two
Landers walked very composedly and unarmed towards him. As they
approached him, they made all the signs and motions they could with
their arms, to deter him and his people from firing on them. His
quiver was dangling at his side, his bow was bent, and an arrow,
which was pointed at their breasts, already trembled on the string,
when they were within a few yards of his person. This was a highly
critical moment--the next might be their last. But the hand of
Providence averted the blow, for just as the chief was about to pull
the fatal cord, a man that was nearest him rushed forward and stayed
his arm. At that instant the Landers stood before him, and
immediately held forth their hands; all of them trembling like aspen
leaves; the chief looked up full in their faces, kneeling on the
ground; light seemed to flash from his dark rolling eyes; his body
was convulsed all over, as though he was enduring the utmost torture,
and with a timorous, yet indefinable expression of countenance, in
which all the passions of human nature were strangely blended, he
drooped his head, eagerly grasped their proffered hands, and burst
into tears. This was a sign of friendship, harmony followed, and war
and bloodshed were thought of no more. Peace and friendship now
reigned amongst them, and the first thing that they did was, to lift
the old chief from the ground, and convey him to their encampment.
The behaviour of their men afforded them no little amusement, now
that the danger was past. Pascoe was firm to his post, and stood
still with his musket pointed at the chief's breast during the whole
of the time. He was a brave fellow, and he said to his masters, as
they passed him to their encampment with the old man, "If the _black_
rascals had fired at either of you, I would have brought the old
chief down like a guinea fowl." As for their two _brave_ fellows,
Sam and Antonio, they took to their heels, and scampered off as fast
as they could, directly they saw the natives approaching them over
the long grass, nor did they make their appearance again, until the
chief and all his people were sitting round them.
All the armed villagers had now gathered round their leader, and
anxiously watched his looks and gestures. The result of the meeting
delighted them, every eye sparkled with pleasure; they uttered a
shout of joy; they thrust their bloodless arrows into their quivers;
they ran about as though they were possessed of evil spirits; they
twanged their bowstrings, fired off their muskets; shook their
spears; clattered their quivers; danced, put their bodies into all
manner of ridiculous positions; laughed, cried, and sung in rapid
succession; they were like a troop of maniacs. Never was a spectacle
more wild and terrific. When this sally of passion to which they had
worked themselves, had subsided into calmer and more reasonable
behaviour, the Landers presented each of the war-men with a number of
needles, as a farther token of their friendly intentions. The chief
sat himself down on the turf, with one of the Landers on each side of
him, while the men were leaning on their weapons on his right and
left. At first, no one could understand what the Landers said, but
shortly after an old man made his appearance, who understood the
Houssa language. Him the chief employed as an interpreter, and every
one listened with anxiety to the following explanation given by the
chief.
"A few minutes after you first landed, one of my people came to me,
and said that a number of strange people had arrived at the market
place. I sent him back again to get as near to you as he could, to
hear what you intended doing. He soon after returned to me, and said
that you spoke in a language which he could not understand. Not
doubting that it was your intention to attack my village at night,
and carry off my people, I desired them to get ready to fight. We
were all prepared and eager to kill you, and came down breathing
vengeance and slaughter, supposing that you were my enemies, and had
landed from the opposite side of the river. But when you came to meet
us unarmed, and we saw your white faces, we were all so frightened
that we could not pull our bows, nor move hand or foot; and when you
drew near me, and extended your hands towards me, I felt my heart
faint within me, and believed that you were _Children of Heaven_, and
had dropped from the skies." Such was the effect that the Landers had
produced on him, and under this impression, he knew not what he did.
"And now," said he, "white men, all I want is your forgiveness."
"That you shall have most heartily," said the Landers, as they shook
hands with the old chief; and having taken care to assure him that
they had not come from so good a place as he had imagined, they
congratulated themselves, as well as him, that this affair had ended
so happily. For their own parts, they had reason to feel the most
unspeakable pleasure at its favourable termination, and they offered
up internally to their merciful Creator, a prayer of thanksgiving and
praise for his providential interference in their behalf. It was
indeed a narrow escape, and it was happy for them that their white
faces and calm behaviour produced the effect it did on these people;
in another minute their bodies would have been as full of arrows as a
porcupine's is full of quills.
They now ascertained that the place where they now were, was the
famous Bocqua market place, of which they had heard so much talk, and
that the opposite bank of the river belonged to the Funda country.
Their interpreter was an old Funda mallam, who understood the Houssa
language perfectly, and was come to Bocqua to attend the market,
which was held every nine days. The old mallam was asked the distance
from Bocqua to the sea, and he told them about ten days journey. The
Landers then pointed out the hills on the opposite side of the river,
and asked him, where they led to. "The sea," was his answer. "And
where do they lead to?" they inquired, pointing to those on the same
bank of the river as themselves. He answered, "They run along way in
the country we do not know." Their next concern was about the safety
of the river navigation, and they anxiously inquired his opinion of
it lower down, and whether there were any rocks or dangerous places.
As to the river navigation, he satisfied them by saying, that he knew
of no dangers, nor had he ever heard of any, but the people on the
banks, he said, were very bad. They asked him, if he thought the
chief would send a messenger with them, if they were to request him,
even one day's journey from this place. Without the least hesitation,
he answered: "No; the people of this country can go no further down
the river; if they do, and are caught, they will lose their heads."
Every town that he knew of on the banks of the river, was at war with
its neighbour, and all the rest likewise. They then asked him how far
Bornou was from Funda. To which, he replied, "Fifteen days journey."
Here their conversation was interrupted by the old chief, who wished
to return to the village, and the mallam was obliged to accompany
him. They likewise learnt from other persons, that directly opposite,
on the eastern bank, was the common path to the city of Funda, which,
as they had been told at Fof, was situated three days journey up the
Tshadda from the Niger; that the large river which they had observed
on their course, was the celebrated Shar, Shary, or Sharry of
travellers, or which is more proper than either, the Tshadda, as it
is universally called throughout the country. They were also informed
that the smaller stream which they passed on the 19th, flowing from
the same direction, was the _Coodania_.
On Wednesday the 27th October, they made preparations for starting,
and after experiencing rather hostile treatment from the natives,
they arrived at a village called Abbazacca, where they saw an English
iron bar, and feasted their eyes on the graceful cocoa-nut tree,
which they had not seen so long.
It was the intention of the chief of Abbazacca to send a man with
them as messenger, to a large town, of which he said that his brother
was governor, but on maturer reflection, he determined to accompany
them himself, expecting to obtain an adequate reward. In consequence
of the lightness of his canoe, and its superiority to the old one,
which they had got at Zagozhi, the chief passed them with the utmost
facility, and touched at various towns and villages, to inform their
inhabitants of the fact of the Christians journeying down the river,
and that they had come from a country he had never heard of.
In the course of the day they came abreast of a village of pretty
considerable extent, intending to pass it by on the other side; they
had, however, no sooner made their appearance, than they were lustily
hailed by a little squinting fellow, who kept crying out as loud as
is lungs would permit him: "Holloa! you Englishmen, you come here!"
They felt no inclination to obey the summons, being rather anxious to
get to the town mentioned to them by the chief of Abbazacca; and as
the current swept them along past the village, they took no notice of
the little man, and they had already sailed beyond the landing place,
when they were overtaken by about a dozen canoes, and the people in
them desiring them to turn back, for that they had forgotten to pay
their respects to the king. The name of the village was Damaggoo.
Being in no condition to force themselves from the men, who had
interrupted them with so little ceremony, they pulled with all their
strength against the current, and after an hour's exertion landed
amidst the cheers and huzzas of a multitude of people. The first
person they observed at the landing place, was their little friend in
the red jacket, whom they found out afterwards was a messenger from
the chief of Bonny.
Whilst a hut was preparing for them, they were conducted over a bog
to a large fetish tree, at the root of which they were made to sit
down, till the arrival of the chief, who made his appearance in a few
minutes, bringing with him a goat and other provisions as a present.
He put a great many questions respecting themselves and their
country, the places they had come from, their distance up the river,
and also concerning the river itself, and was astonished at their
answers.
They were now conducted through filthy streets of mud to a very
diminutive hut, which they found excessively warm, owing to the small
quantity of light and air, which were admitted into it only through a
narrow aperture, opening into a gloomy and dismal passage. The
appearance of the inside was better than that of the outside, being
rudely plastered with clay, and surrounded with indifferently carved
fetish figures, either painted or chalked a red colour.
As signs of European intercourse, with which the Landers, as it might
be reasonably supposed, were highly delighted, they received from the
chief as a present some fofo, a quantity of stewed goat, sufficient
for thirty persons, and _a small case bottle of rum_, a luxury which
they had not enjoyed since they left Kiama; the latter was a treat
that they did not expect, although it was of the most inferior kind.
Early on the morning of the 28th, the chief paid them a visit,
accompanied by a Nouffie mallam; he gave them a pressing invitation
to come and see him, which was readily accepted, and on proceeding
to the residence, they passed through a variety of low huts, which
led to the one in which he was sitting. He accosted them with
cheerfulness, and placed mats for them to sit upon, and rum was
produced to make them comfortable withal. He wished to know in what
way they had got through the country, for he had learnt that they had
come a long journey; and after having related to them some of their
adventures, he appeared quite astonished, and promised as far as he
was able to imitate those good men in the treatment of his guests.
When Antonio, their interpreter, explained to them that they were
ambassadors from the great king of white men, he seemed highly
delighted, and said, "Something must be done for you to-morrow;" and
left them to conjecture for a short time what that something would
be, but they soon learnt that he intended to make rejoicings with all
his people, that they would fire off their muskets, and pass a night
in dancing and revelry. He requested them to wait eight days longer,
when he expected his people back from the Bocqua market. "I think,"
he added, "that the chief of Bocqua's messenger and our people will
be a sufficient protection." The Landers readily assented to his
proposal, and told him that as all their presents were expended, they
would send him some from the sea coast, if he would allow a person to
accompany them thither, on whom he could depend to bring them back to
him. He expressed himself much gratified with this offer, and said
that his own son should accompany them, and that although his people
had never been lower down the river than to a place called Kirree,
about a day's journey from hence, he had no doubt that they should
reach the sea in safety. He then promised with solemnity, that he
would consent to their departure in the time that he had specified,
and having shaken hands, they parted.
The Landers, however, found that the old chief was not so punctual to
his word as they had a right to expect, for he was every day
consulting his fetish and his mallams, and they were all unanimous in
their opinion, that the departure of the white men should be delayed
for a short time. This to them was a most vexatious proceeding. Their
determination of departing was not, however, to be shaken, although
the entrails of some fowls which the chief consulted, declared that
the time of their departure was very inauspicious. According to the
chief's own arrangement, the people of the Landers were to embark in
the leaky canoe, with the heaviest of the luggage, and themselves
were to travel in one of the chief's canoes, and to take along with
them whatever was of most consequence. To this regulation they could
not raise any plausible objection, because their old canoe had been
partially repaired.
A little after four in the afternoon of the 4th November, their
luggage was conveyed to the river side, and they proceeded to load
the canoes. Long before five, every thing on their parts had been got
in readiness for quitting the town, and they sat in the canoe till
after sunset, waiting the arrival of the boatmen, who did not seem at
all disposed to hurry themselves in making their appearance. They
began at length to be wearied with anxiety, and impatient to be
stirring. Hundreds of people had been gazing on them for a long
while, many of whom had taken the pains to come, from different parts
of the town in boats for that purpose and the curiosity of all having
been amply indulged, they were moving off in all directions, so that
the Landers were almost deserted.
At length when their uneasiness was at its height, they saw the chief
advancing towards them with a train of followers. The mallam and all
his principal people were with him, bringing numerous jars of palm
wine. A mat was spread near the water-side, whereon the chief sat
himself, and the Landers were instantly desired to place themselves
one on each side of his person. The palm wine, and some rum were then
produced, and as they were about to take a long farewell of their
hospitable host, they drank of his offering, rather than give offence
by a refusal. They drank and chatted away until half-past six in the
evening, when they sent Pascoe on before them in their own old canoe,
telling him that they should overtake him. It was, however, nearly
dark before they were allowed to depart, and as they lay at a short
distance from the bank, all the fetish people walked knee deep into
the river, and muttered a long prayer, after which they splashed the
water towards their canoe with each foot, and then they proceeded
on their voyage.
On the following day, they observed a large market close to the banks
of the river, which they were informed was Kirree. A great number of
canoes were lying near the bank, and in a short time afterwards, they
saw about fifty canoes before them coming up the river. As they
approached each other, the Landers observed the British union flag in
several, while others, which were white, had figures on them of a
man's leg, chain, tables, and all kinds of such devices. The people
in them, who were very numerous, were dressed in European clothing,
with the exception of trousers.
The Landers felt quite overjoyed by the sight of these people, more
particularly when they saw the English flag and European apparel
amongst them, and they congratulated themselves that they were from
the sea coast. But all their fond anticipations vanished in a moment
as the first canoe met them. A great stout fellow, of a most
forbidding countenance beckoned Richard Lander to come to him, but
seeing him and all his people so well armed, Lander was not much
inclined to trust himself amongst them, and therefore paid no
attention to the call. The next moment, he heard the sound of a drum,
and in an instant several of the men mounted a platform and levelled
their muskets at them. There was nothing to be done now but to obey;
as for running away it was out of the question, their square loaded
canoe was incapable of it, and to fight with fifty war canoes, for
such they really were, containing each above forty people, most of
whom were as well armed as themselves, would have been throwing away
their own and their canoe men's lives very foolishly.
By this time the canoes were side by side, and with astonishing
rapidity the luggage of the Landers found its way into those of their
opponents. This mode of proceeding was not relished by them at all,
and Richard Lander's gun being loaded with two balls and four slugs,
he took deliberate aim at the leader, and he would have paid for his
temerity with his life in one moment more, had not three of his
people sprung on Lander, and forced the gun from his hands. His
jacket and shoes were now plundered from him, and observing some
other fellows at the same time taking away Pascoe's wife, Lander lost
all command over himself, and was determined to sell his life as
dearly as he could. He encouraged his men to arm themselves with
their paddles, and defend themselves to the last. He instantly seized
hold of Pascoe's wife, and with the assistance of another of his men
dragged her from the fellow's grasp. Pascoe at the same time levelled
a blow at his head with one of their iron-wood paddles, that sent him
reeling backwards, and they saw him no more.
Their canoe having been so completely relieved of their cargo, which
had consisted only of their luggage, they had plenty of room on her
for battle, and being each of them provided with a paddle, they
determined, as they had got clear of their adversary, to cut down the
first fellow who should dare to board them. This, however, was not
attempted, and as none of the other canoes had attempted to
interfere, Lander was in hopes of finding some friends amongst them,
but at all events, he was determined to follow the people who had
plundered them, to the market, whither they seemed to be going. They
accordingly pulled after them as fast as they could, and they were
following the canoe that had attacked them, with the utmost
expedition, when they were hailed by some people from a large canoe,
which was afterwards found to belong to the New Calabar River. One of
the people, who was apparently a person of consequence, called out
lustily, "Holloa, white men, you French, you English?" "Yes,
English," Lander answered immediately. "Come here in my canoe," he
said, and their two canoes approached each other rapidly. Lander got
into the canoe, and put three of his men into his own, to assist in
pulling her to the market. The people of the canoe treated him with
much kindness, and the chief gave him a glass of rum.
On looking round him, Lander now observed his brother coming towards
him, in the Damaggoo canoe, and the same villain, who had plundered
his canoe was also the first to pursue that of his brother. The canoe
in which Richard was, as well as the war canoes, hastened to a small
sand island in the river, at a short distance from the market, and
John Lander arrived soon afterwards. In a short time the Damaggoo
people made their appearance, and also the chief of Bonny's
messenger, having, like themselves, lost every thing they had of
their own property, as well as of their masters.
The canoes belonging to the Landers had been lying at the island, but
now the canoes were all formed into a line and paddled into the
market-place before alluded to, called Kirree, and here they were
informed that a palaver would be held to take the whole affair into
consideration; and accordingly, a multitude of men landed from the
canoes, to hold, as it may be termed, a council of war. The Landers
were not suffered to go on shore, but constrained to remain in the
canoes, without a covering for the head, and exposed to the heat of a
burning sun. A person in a muhommedan dress, who they learnt
afterwards was a native of a place near Funda, came to them and
endeavoured to cheer them, by saying that their hearts must not be
sore, that at the palaver which would be held, they had plenty of
friends to speak for them. In the mean time about twenty canoes full
of Damaggoo people had arrived from the various towns near that
place. These persons having heard how the Landers had been treated,
also became their friends, so that they now began to think there was
a chance of their escaping, and this intelligence put them into
better spirits.
A stir was now made in the market, and a search commenced through all
the canoes for their goods, some of which were found, although the
greater part of them were at the bottom of the river. Those were
landed and placed in the middle of the market-place. The Landers were
now invited by the mallams to land, and told to look at their goods,
and see if they were all there. To the great satisfaction of Richard
Lander, he immediately recognized the box containing their books, and
one of his brother's journals. The medicine chest was by its side,
but both were filled with water. A large carpet bag containing all
their wearing apparel was lying cut open, and deprived of its
contents, with the exception of a shirt, a pair of trousers, and a
waistcoat. Many valuable articles which it contained were gone. The
whole of Richard Lander's journal, with the exception of a note book,
with remarks from Rabba to Kirree, was lost. Four guns, one of which
had been the property of the late Mr. Park, four cutlasses, and two
pistols were gone. All their buttons, kowries, and needles, which
were necessary for them to purchase provisions with, all were
missing, and said to have been sunk in the river.
They were now desired to seat themselves, which as soon as they had
done, a circle gathered round them and began questioning them, but at
that moment the sound of screams and the clashing of arms reached the
spot, and the multitude catching fire at the noise, drew their
swords, and leaving the Landers to themselves, they ran away to the
place whence it proceeded. The origin of all this, was a desire for
more plunder on the part of the Eboe people. Seeing the few things of
the white men in the marketplace, they made a rush to the place to
recover them. The natives, who were Kirree people, stood ready for
them, armed with swords, daggers, and guns; and the savage Eboes
finding themselves foiled in the attempt, retreated to their canoes,
without risking an attack, although the Landers fully expected to
have been spectators of a furious and bloody battle.
This after all, was a fortunate circumstance, inasmuch as the two
brothers, having unconsciously jumped into the same canoe found
themselves in each other's company, and were thus afforded, for a
short time at least, the pleasure of conversing without interruption.
The palaver not having yet concluded, they had full leisure to
contemplate the scene around them. They had moored a little way from
the banks of the river; in front of them was the marketplace, which
was crammed with market people, from all parts of the neighbouring
country of different tribes: a great multitude of wild men, of
ferocious aspect and savage uncouth manners. To these belonged the
choice either of giving them life and liberty, or dooming them to
slavery or death. In the latter determination, their minds might be
swayed by suspicion or caprice, or influenced by hatred. In the
former, they might be guided by the hopes of gain, or biassed by the
fear of punishment; for many of them had come from the sea-coast; and
such an adventure as theirs could not long remain concealed from the
knowledge of their countrymen. There happened to be amongst the
savages, a few well-dressed mahommedan priests, who had come late to
the market from the northward. These were decidedly the friends of
the Landers. Many times they blessed them with uplifted hands and
compassionate countenances, exclaiming, "Allah sullikee," _God is
king_. Nor did they confine themselves to simple expressions of pity
or concern; but as they subsequently learnt, they joined the assembly
and spoke in their favour with warmth and energy, taxing those who
had assaulted them, with cowardice, cruelty, and wrong: and proposing
to have them beheaded on the spot, as a just punishment for their
crime. This was bold language, but it produced a salutary effect on
the minds of the hearers.
In the afternoon, the Landers were ordered to return to the small
island whence they had come, and the setting of the sun being the
signal for the council to dissolve, they were again sent for to the
market. The people had been engaged in deliberation and discussion
during the whole of the day; and with throbbing hearts they received
their resolution, in nearly the following words:--
"That the king of the country being absent, they had taken upon
themselves to consider the occurrence, which had taken place in the
morning, and to give judgment accordingly. Those of their things
which had been saved from the water, should be restored to them; and
the person, who first commenced the attack on the white men, should
lose his head, as a just retribution for his offence, having acted
without the chief's permission: that with regard to themselves, they
must be considered as prisoners, and consent to be conducted on the
following morning to Obie, king of the Eboe country, before whom they
were to undergo an examination, and whose will and pleasure
concerning their persons would then be explained."
They received this intelligence with feelings of rapture, and with
bursting hearts they offered up thanks to their divine Creator, for
his signal preservation of them throughout this disastrous day.
The Kirree people are a savage-looking race; they are amazingly
strong and athletic, and are also well proportioned. Their only
clothing is the skin either of a leopard or tiger fastened round
their waist. Their hair is plaited, and plastered with red clay in
abundance; and their face is full of incisions in every part of it;
these are cut into the flesh, so as to produce deep furrows, each
incision being about a quarter of an inch long and dyed with indigo.
It was scarcely possible to make out a feature of their face, and
never were individuals more disfigured. The Eboe women have handsome
features; and the Landers could not help thinking it a pity, that
such savage-looking fellows as the men should be blessed with so
handsome a race of females.