348 FAILURE OF THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION. 



gave out that they had belonged to the brig, but 

 were badly used and badly fed, and therefore 

 would not stay in her. This, however, may or 

 may not be true ; I merely give it as told to me. 

 They sold the boat for some yams and provisions, 

 in a creek near to Bonny ; but it is fair to say, 

 that these men conducted themselves much to my 

 satisfaction during their long stay with me on the 

 Niger, with no other Englishman on board than 

 myself, and under circumstances the most dan- 

 gerous and trying. A short time after the fore- 

 going transaction, the captain of the Agenoria 

 (Captain Pearce) died, and the mate took charge 

 of the vessel and sailed for Rhode Island. Their 

 whole expedition was thus unfortunately ter- 

 minated : goods were given for nearly one hun- 

 dred puncheons of palm-oil, not one quarter of 

 which were paid. 



Allusion has been already made to the custom 

 prevalent at Brass, Calebar, and most parts of 

 this coast, on the death of a king, chief, or any 

 great man, of sacrificing the lives of two or 

 three of his head wives. On going ashore a short 

 time ago, I heard some mournful cries in the 

 bush, and on inquiry from one of our Kroomen, 

 found that a woman was going to be flogged. 



