13 i CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



Diamond Rock they name Salan Koonquotty, or the strong 

 feather, alluding probably to the strength of the current, 

 uhich is doubtless much encreased in the rains, it being now 

 about 3^ miles an hour, running directly on the rocks, and 

 forming a strong upward eddy on its west side, where 

 ihe ground is verj'^ foul and shoal, so that no vessel should 

 attempt this channel without a breeze sufficient to ensure her 

 goino; over the current. 



On the summit of one of the hills which we passed close 

 under, were upwards of twenty monkeys, which, had we 

 not seen their tails, we should, from their great size and 

 black faces, have taken for negroes. 



Aug. 8. The hills which surround our last night's station 

 are more barren than lower down, the strips of reedy grass 

 and vallies less numerous, the palm trees are no longer seen, 

 nor is there any cultivation whatever on the banks. Seve- 

 ral persons came on board this morning from banza Noki, 

 and from them we received the first coherent information 

 respecting the obstruction in the river, higher up, by what 

 they state to be a great cataract named Yellala, only one 

 day's march from Noki. 



At 10 weighed with a light breeze, and with the aid of 

 the oars reached the spot named Condo Sono, where the 

 European slave traders formerly transacted their business, 



