KING OBIE. 97 



hour, and I was much struck with the gentle- 

 manly and agreeable manner of Obie. The term 

 'gentlemanly' may appear misapplied to an untu- 

 tored African negro ; but King Obie displayed 

 towards us the very essence of gentility, in the 

 most lively attention to our wants and comforts.* 

 After the conference he accompanied us to the 

 boats, walking familiarly with his arm round Mr. 

 Lander's neck. I could not help being amused 

 with Boy's conduct during our interview. This 

 man never spoke to Obie without going down on 

 his knees, and touching the ground with his head. 

 Boy walked down to the boat with me; and on 

 my joking him on his abject behaviour, he, 

 courtier-like, replied, "King Obie too much palm- 

 oil. King Boy too little." We embarked in our 

 boats, and on quitting the landing-place there 

 could not have been less than between two and 

 three thousand people present : we gave them 

 three cheers, and they, with their monarch at 

 their head, heartily returned them. Although 

 much gratified by the kind and cordial reception 

 we had met with, I was glad to get on board my 



* I found afterwards that he was equally attentive to us 

 in distress. 



VOL. I. H 



