146 PREPARE FOR THE RAINY SEASON. 



York, thinking our expedition was a favourable 

 opportunity for his return, let us have him. It 

 may be needless to add, that the story of his 

 royal descent was his own invention. But he 

 proved a useful and apt servant, and I intended, 

 if he continued so, to bring him to England. 



On the 9th, Mr. Lander came down to us 

 from the Alburkah, looking much reduced by his 

 attack of intermittent fever. He appeared in very 

 low spirits about our prospects, which certainly 

 were bad enough. He had been up to within 

 six miles of Cuttum-Curaffee, which town he 

 reports as being that distance from the river. 

 It has lately been burnt and plundered by the 

 Felatahs, and, in consequence, nothing was to 

 be had there. It was expected by the natives 

 that the rains would commence in the following 

 month, and he had begun to house in the Albur- 

 kah, recommending me to do the same with the 

 Quorra. It was a measure absolutely necessary 

 with us, for our decks were like sieves, and how 

 we were to caulk them was beyond my compre- 

 hension, as not one of my men was able to do 

 any work without great risk of a relapse. 



A messenger from our old acquaintance of 

 Attah came up to-day in a large canoe, bringing 



