372 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD, 



-was of the beautiful deep blue colour one rarely 

 sees except in the Mediterranean. At 8.30 a.m. 

 we anchored in Clarence Cove, one of the most 

 beautiful spots on the West Coast, and here we 

 found two gun-boats of the slave squadron, the 

 "Wrangler" and the "Ranger," taking in coals 

 and supplies. What a contrast the richly-coloured 

 cliiFs and verdant-looking wood presented after the 

 dreary low land we had so lately left ! The very 

 sight of the one appeared to raise the spirits as 

 much as the other depressed it. Yet all is not 

 gold that glitters, and Fernando Po, in spite of its 

 beautiful appearance, bears an infamous reputation 

 for its unhealthiness. 



The Consul, Captain Burton el Meccawi, was 

 unfortunately at the Camaroons when we arrived, 

 but. his representative and locum tenens, Frank 

 Wilson, who came on board the steamer, offered 

 us hospitality, so we landed and put up at the 

 Consulate. Here everything in the house bore 

 evidence as to the peculiar tastes of the owner ; 

 and a glance round the place would have impressed 

 me with the conviction that he was a deep scholar 



