110 FATE OF MR. LANDER. 



with valuable property in his possession, without the means 

 of defence, may be, and constantly is, exposed to robbery 

 and assassination in the most civilised countries of the world. 

 Mr. Lander was ascending the river in an open boat, with a 

 quantity of cowries, the specie of the country ; his boat 

 grounded on a bank near a small town; the temptation of 

 plunder was too great for the natives to withstand, and he 

 was sacrificed. But if Mr. Lander had been on board his 

 steam-vessel, the result would have been very different : it is 

 very unlikely he would have been attacked at all. 



