NEAT AND POPULOUS TOWNS. 371 



a few beads. We lay to a short time near an 

 island, but, owing to the musquitoes, were com- 

 pelled to proceed. 



On Sunday, June 16, the morning was fine, 

 with a light breeze. We passed a town on the 

 right bank which had a neat appearance, and 

 halted on a fine sandbank nearly fifteen miles 

 long. The current was very strong all day, and 

 we stopped at night on a sandbank. 



The morning of the 17th was dull and rainy. 

 We halted on a sandbank opposite three towns, 

 the huts of which are built of a yellow kind of 

 clay, and have a very neat appearance : a great 

 many of them had verandahs over their doors. 

 A number of natives were assembled on the banks 

 looking at us. The name of the largest town is 

 Ingliammah. There are a greater number of 

 natives at these towns than any I have yet seen. 

 On our stopping, one of the chiefs dashed us 

 some plantains and fowls ; and we had a great 

 number of natives round us. My fowling-piece 

 was suspended from the roof of the house in the 

 boat, and the chief perceiving the lock different 

 from the muskets, being on percussion principle, 

 asked permission to examine it. Having placed 

 caps on the nipples, the chief and natives were 



2b2 



