to De la Goa Bay. 63 



they dispatched a native with a note to its commander, for some 

 comforts, of which they were entirely destitute; but the poor 

 fellow, contrary to the orders of Cowie and Green, took it to 

 the Portuguese Governor, who sent them a handsome invita- 

 tion, and a present of sugar, coffee, and biscuit. Their envoy 

 not returning according to their " anxious expectation," on the 

 morning of the 23d they proceeded along the shore to within 

 sight of " the long -wished for havcv,'' where they slept, and 

 on the next morning he made his appearance with his missive, 

 and excuse, that nothing could induce him to go on board a 

 Portuguese vessel, as he knew he should then be trepanned 

 into slavery. 



On the 24th of March 1829, the Governor's boat transported 

 them across the La Koola or English river, after wading 

 through a mile of reedy marsh ; at which interesting and critical 

 point their notes conclude: the tone cf their diary changes 

 very considerably at the top of the Bombo-hills. Mr. Green's 

 horso there died, and he thanks God that that circumstance 

 does not depress his spirits, as he feels himself able to walk 

 better than he had for some time preceding; they also state 

 the nature of the precautions they intended to adopt to prevent 

 fever, viz, — never to travel fasting, nor to sleep in the open 

 air, and to smoke as much as possible; but one of these thay 

 could not accomplish, the huts being so infested by' worms' 

 and musquitos. From this period they frequently complain 

 of exhaustion and melancholy, and an ardent desire to reach 

 the long expected destination. 



Several months after the news of the fatal result of their 

 expedition had reached the Colony, a letter from Mr. Green, 

 dated the day after his arrival at the Portuguese fort at De la 

 Goa Bay, was received by one of his friends in Albany, by the 

 way of St. Helena, which had been forwarded by the Governor 

 Texeira. In this he complains bitterly of the treatment he had 

 received, and of his disgust at the Settlement. 



" Three weeks ago," he writes, " saw this place inhabited 

 by forty Europeans; this day six breathing ghosts are only to 

 be seen, the rest occupy a small eminence of red land at the 

 back of the village ; we therefore hasten to quit a spot not less 

 shocking through disease than from the character of its de- 

 graded population." — " It is beyond me to attempt to describe 

 the unfeeling meanness manifested towards us. It is true we 

 live at the Governor's table, but on such terms that if an 

 English ship touched here this moment, we should deem it no 

 breach of manners to put on our hats and depart, without so 

 much as a parting bow for all his friendship. This Governor 

 was the only shopkeeper in the place : he professes to treat us 



