252 hector's account. 



the river. To the south was an extensive green 

 plain, dotted with trees and bounded by gently 

 swelling hills, partially clothed with wood. We 

 saw no appearance of inhabitants on this beauti- 

 ful plain, unless immense numbers of monkeys, 

 that seemed to have possession of it, might be 

 considered such. The Kroomen took their even- 

 ing meal on a sandbank, after which we pro- 

 ceeded during the night, though with great dif- 

 ficulty, owing to the intricacy of the channels. 

 At nine o'clock, on the morning of the 21st, we 

 arrived at a village on the north bank. I ad- 

 mired particularly the situation of this place : it 

 was a little removed from the clay banks of the 

 river, which were about twenty- eight feet high, 

 and was almost hidden by trees. Behind it rose a 

 conical hill to the height of six or seven hundred 

 feet, partially wooded, but very steep and rocky. 

 The natives sold us some provisions, particularly 

 some hung and smoked beef, which I had not 

 procured elsewhere. It was the flesh of the 

 wild bullock, and very good. At noon we passed 

 an immense number of fishermen's huts : an air 

 of great comfort and plenty was apparent among 

 them. The inhabitants were all employed in 

 catching and preserving fish, while around the 



