VOYAGE TO BRASS TOWN. 321 



The pullaboys were seated on each side of us ; a 

 mat was spread for us to lie upon, and a pole 

 ran fore and aft in the centre of the canoe, over 

 which was placed another mat to prevent the 

 dew or rain from wetting us. Having on my 

 blanket-dress, and being wrapped in my cloak, I 

 lay down in the canoe after taking the precau- 

 tion to place a union jack over our heads in the 

 form of a curtain as a protection from the mos- 

 quitoes, and we set out on our voyage. The 

 pullaboys appeared to be greatly fatigued, having 

 been paddling four days and nights on their pass- 

 age from Eboe. I found from Boy that a Brass 

 canoe takes seven or eight days to reach Eboe 

 from Brass, and four to return. One of the crew, 

 who I found was dignified with the title of King 

 Boy's mate, amused us much by singing a 

 country song. As he chanted each verse or 

 part, the pullaboys would repeat the same words 

 twice over, and then, after flourishing their pad- 

 dles over their head, would dash them into the 

 water, and applying all their strength, propel 

 the canoe with great velocity. We had besides 

 a current in our favour of about three and 

 a half knots per hour ; so that we got on toler- 

 ably well. 



VOL. I. Y 



