88 CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE, 
breeze, but being as unmanageable as ever, she ran on 
Shark Point, where she lay half an hour, when the tide 
flowing, she went off without the smallest damage, and by 
the great exertion of the master of the Congo, was brought 
to an anchor two miles within the point, 
We had now visitors arriving hourly, all of whom. pre- 
tended that they were sent by the Mafook of EKmbomma, 
to see the vessels safe up the river, and each of these gen- 
tlemen assured us that all the others were impostors, and 
only came on board to get brandy, so that I had a difficult 
task to keep clear of offending them, and at the same time 
avoid imposition. I however succeeded in getting rid of 
them all, by telling them that they should remain on board 
until we reached the town, when the Mafook would decide 
who were and who were not impostors, and doubtless would 
punish the latter. From them we learnt that an express had 
been sent from Cabenda to notify our approach, and that 
on this intelligence all the Portuguese vessels at Embomma, 
had precipitately Jeft it, and quitted the river, passing us 
no doubt in the night. J had however expressly declared 
to the Malemba and Cabenda people who visited us, that 
I should not in any manner interfere with the slave traders, 
of whatever nation they might be. 
‘The transhipping the stores and provisions being finished 
