312 THE BRIG SUSAN. 



dually subsided in the minds of those who were 

 left on board the brig. The presence of the 

 vessels which had just departed, had served to 

 keep not only our heads, but our hands em- 

 ployed ; and as they were now gone, we had no- 

 thing to do but to lie still at our anchorage, and 

 dwell on the expectation of their return at the 

 end of that time which we had allowed them for 

 their voyage. 



The first object which naturally attracted my 

 notice was the brig Susan, alluded to by Mr. 

 Laird, that was lying in the river, affording a 

 melancholy proof of the fatal effects of the 

 climate of this coast. She had been there nearly 

 nine months, and had received her cargo of palm- 

 oil ; but in consequence of the deaths of the crew, 

 consisting of nine persons, the captain, who was 

 also reduced to a skeleton, was unable to move 

 the vessel. He had purchased his palm-oil at the 

 rate of seven to nine pounds per ton, — a reason- 

 able price for the coast. I believe that oil may 

 be had much cheaper near this river than any 

 other ; but from the imperfect knowledge which 

 our vessels have of the passage over the bar, 

 it is not much frequented by them. I have 

 frequently sounded on the bar, and never found 



