380 TEDIOUSNESS OF OUR JOURNEY. 



and cottons, with the natives of Bonny, Brass, 

 Benin, and, I believe, Calebar. While we were at 

 anchor the natives of Eboe kept up an incessant 

 firing of muskets, which, our interpreter said, was 

 in consequence of its being some Ju-ju day. 



Our journey thus far had been very tedious 

 and tiresome ; the weather had been very un- 

 healthy, constant rain with thick fogs ; and feeling 

 severely the confinement and exposure of a boat, 

 we wished ourselves on board the steamers. Our 

 black people became very indolent, and afraid of 

 being attacked. We had now been absent four- 

 teen days, but it was likely we should be as long 

 again before we could reach the steamers. Ow- 

 ing to the quantity of trees on the banks, and 

 the windings of the river, the winds carcely pene- 

 trates to its surface ; and if it did, its serpentine 

 form would render it fair one reach, and foul the 

 next. The little wind we have had has been 

 all round the compass; some days a refreshing 

 breeze springs up by eight o'clock, at other 

 times by eleven and twelve, but it soon dies 

 away. Mr. Lander was now much better, and 

 able to sit up : I was quite worn out with fati- 

 gue in waiting upon him night and day, as he 

 would allow no person to cook or do anything 

 for him but myself. 



