408 MR. laird's deplorable condition. 



we went on board the Quorra, and I was shock- 

 ed at the dreadful state in which I found Mr. 

 Laird : pale and emaciated to the last degree, 

 he appeared as if risen from the grave. He was 

 suffering from a disease named by the natives 

 "craw craw," — an inveterate form of scabies, 

 which, I am informed, is epidemic. In the ves- 

 sels almost every white man and officer, and all 

 the Kroomen, had had it. I learnt from Mr. 

 Laird, that he had been up the Tchadda to Fun- 

 dah, and had taken some goods with him, of 

 which the king, African-like, had fraudulently 

 deprived him. 



Mr. Lander, Lieutenant Allen, and myself 

 having dined on board the Quorra, we returned 

 to the Alburkah in the evening, and as to myself, 

 I cannot say in very high spirits. We had 

 brought despatches with us for Mr. Laird, 

 and I was in great hopes of there being some 

 letters enclosed for me; but I was doomed to 

 bitter disappointment. Mr. Lander was also 

 very much disappointed at not receiving any. 



On the following morning, I went on board 

 the Quorra to visit Mr. Laird, as I hoped with 

 proper treatment that in a few days I might be 

 of considerable service to him. A number of 



