90 JOURNAL OF THE 
which purpose, large casks lay on board, under roofs of 
matting. Abdh is on the opposite side of the shore, here 
intersected by several small creeks; otherwise it is covered 
to the water's edge with brushwood, behind which are the 
huts. I gathered on this occasion a few Mimosee, Sapinda- 
ceæ, and Rubiacée, but the most interesting was a shrub 
(Polyand. Pentag. fruct. placentis 5 parietalibus) apparently 
a new genus of Bizacee. In the main stream, and even in 
the smaller creeks was a Pistia, perhaps Pistia Stratiotes; 
it does not, however, seem to grow here, but to float down 
the Niger, where it may be seen drifting in large masses. 
Some specimens were in flower; -fruit I could not discover. 
In the morning we had a visit from King Obs son ; towards 
noon he came himself, with a lot of noisy followers, and 
henceforth we were constantly surrounded by many canoes. 
These people wear either a piece of cloth round the loins, or 
portions of European dresses; only King Obi had both 
coat and trowsers. Obi is between fifty and sixty, with a 
true Negro face, but cunning. The sonis a finely formed, — 
strong, powerful young man. King Obi brought with him — 
one of his wives, a very young person, and a daughter, - 
dressed in African style, i.e. sans géne. When this was 1 
observed, Commissioner Cook gave to the wife a red, and ~ 
Captain Allen to the daughter, a coloured gown; but the 
latter was not pleased with hers. One might mention several 
peculiarities about their attire; but such things, and their | 
smoking pipes, ete., did not particularly interest me. Several 
wore normous ivory rings round the. legs. The 
. ever they saw, was unequivocal; but I heard of no thefts. 
_ There were a good many tools scattered about on deck, 
_ which in the confusion might easily have been taken. The 
.. weather was rainy and very uncomfortable. 
~ Friday, August 27.—Through incessan 
~ got swampy, in fact so muddy, that it | 
make any extensive excursion: 
