Page:Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 1 (2nd edition).djvu/217

Rh our course was in a south-westerly direction, on what we considered to be the main body,—the whole forming, in fact, three rivers of no small magnitude. We wished to be more particular in our observations of this interesting part of our journey, but were compelled to forego this gratification on account of the superstitious prejudices of the natives, who affected to be displeased with the attention with which we regarded the river. The opposite shores of the lake were not seen from our position, nor was the branch which runs to the S.E. Several small rivers are also said to fall in on its N.E. shore. Eboe is a large straggling town, one mile W. from the river. The branch of the river on Which we had now to proceed is narrower than above the lake, and at its issue from the lake is not more than two miles wide. The banks in many parts are low, swampy, and thickly wooded. At Eboe, which we reached ouon [sic] the 12th November by a shallow canal, we found many large canoes frown the coast, with palm-oil puncheons in them, housed over, and each containing about fifty or sixty persons.'

Nov. 12.—At seven in the morning we left Eboe. King Boy and his wife also embarked. Our canoe, which was heavily laden, was paddled by thirty-eight men and two steersmen—one in the bow and the other in the stern. We had three captains with speaking-trumpets to give orders, one drummer, the king's steward, and his lady's waiting-maid, a cook, and two fellows for baling the boat. At seven we started; the captains calling out with all their might, through their speaking-trumpets, to their fetish, for a prosperous journey. We soon glided along, at a great rate, passing towns and villages at every two or three miles, and more cultivated land than we had seen for fifteen days past. It contained large plantations of yams, bananas, plantains, Indian corn, but no rice; nor did we see any kind of grain after leaving Kacunda, although the soil on the banks of this river would grow all kinds well. The river was not very wide, and narrowed fast: the widest part I do not think was more than two miles, and the narrowest not quite half a mile. At three, its beauty was mostly gone. In many places it had overflowed its banks, through trees and thick underwood, and in the widest part was not more than a mile and a half across. Saw a small branch running off to the west.'

Nov. 14, 7 —We turned out of the main river, and proceeded up a small branch, towards Brass Town, which runs in a S.E. by E. direction from the main river. Our course this day was due south, and the river continued to run in the same direction when we left it, overflowing its banks, but much diminished in volume. In the widest part it was not more than half a mile across, audand [sic] the narrowest about 300 yards. As usual, we