PROFESSOR SMITH’S JOURNAL, 265 
At noon we went all upon deck on hearing the Captain 
hailing some canoes that were in sight. ‘They soon came 
along-side. ‘I'his circumstance, more than the aspect of 
the country, reminded us of the place in which we were. 
On looking at the hollow trunks of which their canoes 
were made, each pushed forwards by two or three naked 
negroes, who stood upright in them, the figures resembling 
those I had seen in South-sea voyages were brought to 
my mind. ‘lhe canoes were from twelve to fourteen feet 
in length, and from one to one foot and a third in breadth, 
and about as much in depth; the upper part of the sides 
were somewhat bent outwards, the bottom was flat, and 
both ends pointed. ‘The oars were made of a rounded 
flat piece of wood, fastened to a staff. A half-dressed 
negro addressed us in English, and appeared very much 
pleased by being answered in the same language, and in- 
-yited on board. He called himself Tom Liverpool, and 
said he was the interpreter of the Mafook, whose visit he 
came to announce ; but he appeared to be greatly astonish- 
ed on being told that we were not come for the sake of 
trade... The Mafook came soon after in an European 
boat, bearing a small white flag, and he had an umbrella 
over his head. He welcomed us in the English language. 
They were all invited into the cabin, and the conversation 
became general, partly in broken English, and partly in 
somewhat better French. They were very much alarmed 
on hearing from us, that hereafter no other nation except 
the Portuguese, could carry on the slave-trade with them ; 
and one of them, considering the King of England as the 
Mim 
