360 TOWNS BY THE RIVER-SIDE. 



objectionable : independently of the risk of sleep- 

 ing near such an unhealthy place, we were 

 dreadfully annoyed by musquitoes. Owing to 

 the heavy rains, everything under us was quite 

 wet. Mr. Lander was still very ill, and could 

 only take a little boiled rice. 



At 12. 30 A. M. on Monday, June 10th, we 

 proceeded by the light of the moon. About 

 one o'clock we passed a small town, the first we 

 have met wdth. This part of the river is very 

 tortuous. At 6. 30 a. m. we came to another 

 small town on the right bank ; and Lilly, a boy 

 belonging to King Boy of Brass Town, was 

 sent on shore to procure some mats to cover the 

 house with. Several natives were assembled on 

 the banks. Opposite this place is a creek, which 

 leads to Brass ; and the Brass palm-oil traders 

 pass through this creek on their way to and from 

 the Eboe country. It was here, for the first time, 

 that I observed an alligator asleep on the water. 



About eleven o'clock we came abreast of a small 

 town, named Eeckow, containing about eighty 

 huts. At this town I landed, and was conducted 

 by the chief to the Ju-ju, or palaver-house, where 

 disputes are generally settled. He invited me 

 to take some tomboh, or palm-wine, extracted 



