392 EBOE AND ITS INHABITANTS. 



I reached the canoe between two and three 

 o'clock in the morning very much fatigued, and 

 after a pull of ten or twelve miles joined Mr. 

 Lander in the boat. 



Eboe being built some distance inland, near a 

 creek which runs out of the Niger, is in the 

 rainy season nearly surrounded by a morass. 

 The Niger spreads quite above the bank, lining 

 the west side of the creek. The huts are built 

 in a straggling form, and the town contains 

 upwards of six thousand inhabitants. They are 

 powerful, well-formed men : some of them are of 

 a light yellow colour, others very black, and 

 their features highly characteristic of the negro* 

 They are industrious in growing yams, immense 

 quantities being sent down to the coast and up 

 the river. They carry on an extensive trade in 

 palm-oil and slaves : traders from Bonny, Benin, 

 and Brass are constantly at Eboe purchasing 

 palm-oil. The superior class of females wear 

 immense anklets of ivory, seven or eight inches 

 wide, and an inch thick : they are almost unable 

 to walk with these immense weights round their 

 legs. They are fond of coral or cornelian, red 

 cloth, gums, knives, rum, and cowries. They 

 wear their hair in various ways : some have it 



