268 DEPARTURE OF THE ALBURKAH. 



this, he strongly recommended Prince's Island in 

 preference, from many advantages it possessed 

 over Fernando Po. Mr. Lander also informed 

 me, to my great surprise, that he had added to 

 our flotilla, by purchasing a schooner for the ex- 

 pedition, in which he was desirous I should take 

 my passage home, as he represented her as a 

 vessel calculated to make a quick voyage. 



I was very sorry to part with Mr. Oldfield, 

 who had been of essential service to me during 

 the fortnight he was with me, my sores having 

 healed rapidly under his treatment, and the 

 cutaneous disease appearing to be eradicated. 

 Dropsy had, however, come on, and I was al- 

 ready very much swelled. It seemed to be fated 

 that I should not recover from one attack before 

 another was ready to commence upon me. 



The Alburkah left us on her voyage to Boussa 

 on the morning of the 27th ; and I intended to 

 have started at the same time, but was anxious 

 to obtain one of the small country horses to 

 take down to the coast, and one or two bullocks, 

 which run wild in the bush here, and though 

 small, are the fattest and best I have met with. 

 I sent Mr. Hector on shore to the king to ask 

 permission to shoot one, which he immediately 



