ALARM OF TWO CHIEFS. 441 



able to replenish our exhausted stores : but the 

 thinness of the population, and the barren face 

 of the country, led us to the conclusion, that the 

 river is considered either unhealthy, or that little 

 traffic goes forward here ; otherwise we should 

 have met with some natives, and seen more 

 towns and villages. Mr. Lander found himself 

 better. 



On the next morning, the Kroomen went on 

 shore to cut wood ; but the natives again opposed 

 their landing, and they were obliged to cross to 

 the opposite bank for that purpose. The inter- 

 preter was also despatched on shore to procure 

 a supply of provisions. On his return, he stated 

 that we were contiguous to two towns, Dagboh 

 and Obohbe, but at neither of them could he 

 procure any provisions or information. He like- 

 wise informed us that the chief had fled on the 

 first approach of the vessel. The chief of the 

 smaller town was afraid to venture on board 

 himself, but sent his daughter, a girl of ten or 

 eleven years of age. She was entirely destitute 

 of clothing, and wore nothing but a few strings 

 of beads fastened round her loins. A small pre- 

 sent was given to her, with which she returned 



