106 AN AFRICAN'S NOTION OF WHITE MEN. 



given us a bullock when we were on our way 

 up to Rabbah. I wished him to accompany me 

 on board ; but he durst not venture, from the 

 fear, as he said, that " we should take him to 

 our country, and there kill him and eat him !" 

 He stated, that he had been told that white men 

 seduce the blacks from their homes to devour 

 them, and afterwards dye red cloth with their 

 blood ! I endeavoured to convince him of the 

 absurdity of these tales, telling him that we had 

 plenty of live stock, such as bullocks, goats, 

 sheep, &c. the same as in his own country ; but 

 it did not appear that I succeeded. He sent for 

 some beer, which was excellent, and placed a 

 leopard's skin for me to sit down on. As usual, 

 there were people congregated in the yard out of 

 mere curiosity : indeed, it was not without con- 

 siderable difficulty that I could get a little fresh 

 air. One of the slaves was continually employed 

 in using a whip, with eight thongs, made of the 

 skin of the hippopotamus, with which he kept 

 back the pressing crowd. 



The town of Egga is situate on the bank of 

 a creek communicating with the Niger. A low 

 swampy ground lies opposite to it. From one 

 extreme to the other the town may be about two 



