108 INDIGO AND CLOTHS. 



which they enjoyed, although the night was ex- 

 tremely sultry. 



Our anchoring before the town induced the 

 natives to come on board the next day. The old 

 Mallam also came, and gave an order for one 

 hunded red caps, at two thousand cowries each : 

 he promised us every encouragement if we would 

 remain and assist him in driving away the Fela- 

 tahs. This Mallam is the most powerful person 

 in the Nufie country, and a great supporter of the 

 exiled Ederesa. The natives are mostly pagans, 

 and had made a fetish of a fowl, which they had 

 placed abreast the vessel, on a pole about six 

 feet high. 



On the following day (October 11th), being 

 apprehensive the water in the creek might fall 

 and leave us aground, at 6 a. m. we removed into 

 the main branch of the river. 



The indigo is mixed with grass, and formed 

 into balls the size of a large orange. We pur- 

 chased about one hundred and fifty pounds of it 

 in a raw state : it produces a beautiful colour, 

 but is not of a superior kind. The cloths made 

 in the Nufie country, as well as the tobes, are 

 of superior manufacture to any I have met with 

 on the river. A good cloth may be purchased 



