DEPARTURE FOR THE INTERIOR. 357 



CHAPTER III. 



Departure with Mr. Lander for the Interior. — Sunday Island. 

 — Limits of the Tide. — Nature of the River. — The Town of 

 Eeckow. — A Benin Branch. — Pass several Towns. — 

 General Description of tlie River. — Land at a Village. — 

 Reception by the Chief. — Change in the Face of the 

 Country, — Hippopotami. — Unpleasant Intruders. — The 

 Bonny and principal Benin Branch. — Little Ehoe. — River 

 Scenery. — Curiosity cf the Natives. — Description of the 

 River. — Difficulty of stemming the Current in Canoes. 



On the 8th of June, Mr. Lander finding him- 

 self much better, we determined on our departure ; 

 and I addressed a letter to the colonial surgeon 

 at Fernando Po respecting Captain Hill. At 

 9. 30 A. M. we embarked in the Columbine's long- 

 boat, and the canoe in which Mr. Lander came 

 down the river, making a party of twenty-three 

 in number ; — two white men, Mr. Lander and 

 myself, and six Kroomen, being in the long-boat ; 

 and Mr. Brown and the remainder in the canoe. 

 The morning was delightfully fine, but very hot- 

 We left the Columbine under a salute of seven 



