270 INTERVIEW WITH KING OBIE 



water. The morning afterwards we got under 

 weigh, and came to anchor off the town of Eboe 

 on the evening of the 9th of August. 



In the morning we were visited by a great 

 number of the inhabitants, and, amongst the rest, 

 by our fat female friend, who was overjoyed to 

 see us, and brought a supply of palm-wine and 

 bananas as a present. Obie sent his two sons 

 on board to offer us anything we wanted, and 

 to invite me to visit him. As I was by no means 

 well, and still unable to walk, I sent Hector, 

 whom he received very kindly, but was disappoint- 

 ed I did not visit him. He promised to send 

 one thousand yams and twenty canoes loaded 

 with wood on board the vessel in the morning, 

 provided I would go ashore and visit him, as he 

 wished to speak to me about the palm-oil trade. 



In the morning I went ashore, taking Mr. 

 Hector with me, and was carried up to Obie's 

 house, who received me with great kindness. 

 The palaver began by his complaining, that we 

 traded with every person but him ; that he was 

 the greatest palm-oil king, had command of the 

 river, and would not allow us to pass in future 

 unless we bought and sold with him. To this 

 very sensible remark, I replied, that we were not 



