NATIVE CANOES. 175 



it is some matter of wonder that the centuries 

 in which the slave-trade has been in existence 

 among them should have left them any good 

 qualities whatever. 



In paddling their canoes, the natives have a 

 pleasing custom of singing ; and the distant 

 sound of their voices, as it falls on the ear, pro- 

 duces a very soothing effect. One of the canoe- 

 men, who is generally the steersman, and always 

 standing, leads the song ; and the whole crew 

 join in chorus, keeping time with their paddles 

 to the measure. On nearing our vessel, they 

 generally made us the subject of these effusions, 

 and never omitted standing up in the canoe, and 

 saluting us with a good-b'ye or a good-night in 

 the Houssa language as they passed, being the 

 language generally spoken by traders. The dis- 

 tance which they get over in these large canoes 

 is astonishing : they think nothing of paddling 

 for twenty-four hours without ceasing, except to 

 have refreshment for a very little while ; and by 

 taking advantage of the eddies of the river, with 

 which they are well acquainted, they will average 

 against the stream five miles an hour. 



In the afternoon of the 5th February, I was 

 much surprised and annoyed on receiving a 



