June 27, 1859.] . ADDITIONAL NOTICES. 383 



makes the small grain planted in the ground to yield a vast increase." I was 

 esjjecially struck with this remark. Various figures of singular and disgusting 

 appearance were carried before, in rear, and about the king ; four images 

 resembling monkeys, dressed in a brazen bowl, were placed always at his side ; 

 and a favourite slave with a bag of gre-gres sat at the king's back. To have 

 touched any of these idols would have been death. 



Intimating a wish to end the palaver and give my presents, the king ordered 

 the old men to make the gre-gre to ensure that all should prove fortunate for 

 us. We were collected in a circle in front of a building that turned out to be 

 the temple. A white cock was brought in by an old chief and handed to the 

 priest in the temple, who returned the bird. Another chief caused the cock to 

 peck the idols, particularly the monkey images, and then cut off his head and 

 flung the body on the ground, which, struggling and fluttering round, at last 

 died at my wife's feet, sprinkling her dress with blood ; this was universally 

 hailed as a most fortunate omen. We adjourned to another palaver-place and 

 distributed the presents. The cost of these paid to the merchant by govern- 

 ment might amount to about 20?., but if used in trade at " Orango " would 

 have fetched from 500Z. to 600Z. 



After almost endless expressions of friendship, we took our leave of King 

 Neeocesar, who, feeble as he was, accompanied us to the boundary of his town, 

 the highest mark of friendship and respect. Escorted by a multitude of the 

 natives we reached the beach, and were received and welcomed by " Oronto," 

 the prince next in succession to the crown, which does not descend from father 

 to son. 



The following forenoon the king and chiefs came on board the steamer in 

 large war canoes, capable of carrying one hundred paddlers. Each canoe had 

 a large carved figure-head of a sea-horse, an ox, or a bull with immense horns, 

 and an ornamental wheel at the stern. The " Orango " islanders use their 

 paddles like oars, spring up and sink on the bench at each stroke, and appeared 

 to me the most skilful rowers on the coast. Although the king and chiefs had 

 never seen, much less been on board a steamer, little surprise was exhibited by 

 them, but their followers were astonished with the machinery, and the paddle 

 wheels were evidently a source of vast wonder — " the big canoe's feet." The 

 king went over the steamer, examining minutely every portion of it, and 

 measured the deck with a spear. His Majesty sang the old song of poverty, 

 was most anxious I should stay for four or five days, repeatedly promised me 

 to protect all white men who were wrecked on his shores or came to trade^ pre- 

 sented me with a white bullock as the emblem of peace, and my wife with a 

 singular cow, not forty inches high. His Majesty took his departure under a 

 salute of seven guns. Next morning five bullocks were sent on board as a 

 present, and we cleared the dangerous channel and anchored before sunset. 



In n\y humble opinion this visit to " Orango " may hereafter be productive 

 of some importance. It pioneers a channel hitherto not attempted, disabuses 

 the long and universally circulated report of all travellers, — " That the 

 Bissagoes were the most ferocious savages, cannibals not to be approached or 

 trusted ; that no social intercourse could be held with them ; and as to com- 

 mercial reciprocity, such a desperate and hazardous proceeding could never be 

 attempted." It proved to the most powerful king of the " Bijuga " islands 

 (for " Orango " is double in extent, population, and influence any of the other 

 numerous clusters) that the white man did not fear him or his people. 



Last, not least, by exhibiting articles of civilized society attainable frequently 

 and easily by the means of fair barter, instead of the sometimes difficult and 

 precarious chances arising from shipwreck and plunder, it induced the belief it 

 woidd be his interest and the interest of his subjects to exchange with the 

 white traders the various superfluous productions of their fertile and fruitful 

 island — ivory, oxen, hides, wax, corn, maize, ground-nuts, poultry, and a 



