BASSA CANOES. 3 



at the Fundah canoe. Soon after the latter 

 came alongside, the Bassa people brought up 

 theirs near it, in a line parallel to the vessel, 

 the bowmen still having their arrows fixed. 

 Their pursuers being now nearly by their side, 

 and in the attitude of dealing death among 

 them, the terror of the Fundah people was even 

 greater than before, and their principal man 

 darted up the side of the Alburkah, and in the 

 utmost distress of mind besought our protec- 

 tion. It was judged expedient to give it, and 

 the Fundah people were allowed to come on 

 board, with permission to go down the river with 

 us in the morning, or to depart under cover of 

 the night. They chose the latter plan, and I 

 have reason to think effected their escape. I 

 have since heard that the canoes belonged to the 

 king of Fundah, and that the people represented 

 to the king that had it not been for the protec- 

 tion of the white men, they would all have been 

 taken prisoners and killed. The king expressed 

 himself much pleased at our interference. 



In the afternoon, went ashore with Lieut. 

 Allen for observations. The soil is sandy, and 

 in some parts we found it composed of rich 

 black mould. I saw several patches of culti- 



b2 



