250 MORTALITY AMONG OUR KROOMEN. 



My Kroomen had hitherto been very healthy, 

 but while I was at Fundah, old Paskoe, Mr. Lan- 

 der's servant, died, with strong symptoms of being 

 poisoned; and one of the Kroomen named Accah, 

 a fine young man of about twenty-six years of 

 age, had died in a similar manner. Another was 

 ill with the same symptoms : I tried the effects of 

 mercury upon him, and salivated him severely; he 

 apparently recovered, but relapsed, and died in 

 a horrible state. He also was a healthy, strong 

 young man, under thirty : his name was " Frying 

 Pan." Jack Sabe, my Kroo cook, and a valuable 

 man, was also ill with the same symptoms, and for 

 the first time my Kroomen began to look fright- 

 ened, and to grumble about their long detention 

 in the river. They had hitherto behaved very 

 well, but I saw that one or two more deaths 

 among them would have a very disagreeable 

 effect, and an occurrence shortly afterwards took 

 place which confirmed me in the opinion, that 

 their ready obedience could not be counted on 

 as heretofore. 



After an absence of twelve days. Hector re- 

 turned from Fundah, unsuccessful, as I expected, 

 and gave me the following account of his ex- 

 pedition : — 



