98 INDUSTRY OF THE INHABITANTS. 



own vessel, being completely worn out with the 

 heat, and disgusted with the stench of the town. 

 We received from King Obie a fine bullock, five 

 goats, and three hundred yams ; and two of his 

 sons, both of them fine young men about sixteen 

 years of age, accompanied us on board. 



On the following morning, the 8th, we all of 

 us felt the effects of our roasting in the sun ; and 

 the little rest which we got during the night, 

 from the torments of sand-flies and mosquitoes, 

 who no doubt considered our arrival as a treat, 

 did not tend to promote our recovery. At day- 

 break I was much pleased to see a fleet of canoes 

 of all sizes leaving the town for the purpose of 

 collecting palm-oil, yams, and other provisions, 

 for it gave an assurance of the regular and indus- 

 trious habits of the people. There could not 

 have been less than from one hundred to one 

 hundred and fifty ; and in the evening they came 

 dropping in with their cargoes of yams, bananas, 

 and palm-oil in large gourds. It was the most 

 gratifying proof of regular and honest industry 

 that I had yet seen in Africa. 



At one p. M. we fired a royal salute in honour 

 of King Obie, who went on board the Alburkah 



