MISTAKEN FOR FELATAHS. 445 



This was extremely mortifying. We were one 

 hundred and four miles from the Niger, destitute 

 of provisions, and with but little prospect of obtain- 

 ing a supply, as the natives refused to furnish 

 us with any. When we entered the towns, they 

 deserted them, and retreated to the fields or 

 mountains. Under these circumstances, there 

 being no prospect of establishing a traffic, Mr. 

 Lander deemed it advisable to return, much to 

 my great disappointment, as I was in hopes of 

 reaching Beeshle and Jaccoba, places of great 

 trade, eight or ten days' journey up the river, 

 abounding in salt called trona (a subcarbonate 

 of soda). 



We learnt that the fugitive chief of Dagboh had 

 five elephants' teeth in his possession ; but, not- 

 withstanding our protestations of friendship, we 

 could not induce him to trade with us. They 

 imagined we were Felatahs, and consequently ob- 

 jects of suspicion and terror, as that people had 

 carried on their predatory excursions up the 

 Tchadda, and in their progress had set fire to se- 

 veral towns. We had now nothing on board but 

 Dower corn, and having ground it as fine as pos- 

 sible, we had it made into bread, which, though 

 somewhat coarse, was extremely sweet and pala- 



