MESSENGER FROM THE KING. 129 



The scenery of the banks, but particularly the 

 western one, about this place is beautiful. We 

 passed one of the loveliest little towns I have yet 

 seen, which I called the Crow's Nest, from its 

 being seated on the summit of an almost perpen- 

 dicular rock about one hundred and eighty feet 

 high, and apparently of basalt ; but it was so over- 

 grown with vegetation, that the face of the stone 

 was scarcely visible. We found the navigation 

 difficult, the current stronger than below Attah ; 

 which we might have anticipated, as we were 

 now entering the valley of the Niger. The level 

 of the river appeared to be rising. 



After a few hours' steaming, we anchored in 

 a favourable position to obtain wood. Captain 

 Hill had a return of fever this afternoon. It is 

 something remarkable that this vessel, the Quorra, 

 seemed to make every one ill except Mr. Lander, 

 who continued in excellent health. Captain Hill 

 returned on board his iron vessel, the Alburkah, 

 vowing that he would never leave her again. 



In the evening a canoe arrived from Attah, 

 with his majesty's brother, stating his surprise at 

 our leaving so abruptly, and repeating his protes- 

 tations of friendship, with the assurance of his 

 willingness to trade if we would turn back. I was 



VOL. I. K 



