ANCHOR OFF KIRREE. 137 



river falls into the Bight of Benin, and that the 

 rum is obtained from the Spanish and Portuguese 

 slavers at Popo, or probably from Wydah. 



At noon the course of the stream was nearly 

 south. On passing Damuggoo its course was 

 south, and by west half-west. From the marks 

 of the trees, &c. the water appeared to have fal- 

 len seven feet. We soon after passed the mouth 

 of a river running south-east. Soundings, from 

 two to ten fathoms : course, south-west. 



At 4 p. M. we were in a fine reach running south. 

 Passed a fine high bank on the right, about 

 thirty feet high, on which was a beautiful little 

 town almost buried in the surrounding trees. 

 The banks here were thickly wooded, and the 

 scenery highly picturesque. We soon after pass- 

 ed Kirree, and a fine branch of a river supposed 

 to run from Benin, the first reach of it lying 

 about south-west half-west. At 4. 30 p. m. we 

 passed another branch, running to the north- 

 east, which is said to lead to Fundah. 



In about a quarter of an hour after, we an- 

 chored off" Kirree, in seven fathoms water, while a 

 market for the sale of palm-wine was being held 

 on the bank. The natives retreated into the 

 bush as soon as they saw us preparing to anchor ; 



