DISTRUST OF THE NATIVES. 139 



over with bamboo, and used by the natives as 

 places of concealment when fishing. 



We found the King of Kirree at war with 

 Obie, King of Eboe ; the rupture having been 

 occasioned by a son of Obie's being killed by the 

 inhabitants of the former town. To revenge his 

 death, Obie sent a powerful fleet of canoes to 

 attack Kirree. The assailants took two hundred 

 prisoners, whose heads were cut off, and exposed 

 in the market-place at Eboe. 



We had much rain during the night, with a 

 strong breeze, and, owing to the strength of the 

 current, found ourselves nearly three miles below 

 our first anchorage. 



On the following morning at daylight, we 

 sent Kroomen ashore for the wood promised by 

 the king ; but in a short time they returned and 

 informed us that his majesty and his people, men, 

 women, and children, had abandoned the town 

 and fled into the bush! We concluded that 

 the king entertained some suspicions of us, and 

 thought we had come for the purpose of ensnar- 

 ing the inhabitants, and making them prisoners 

 to take to his enemy King Obie. 



The latitude of this place is 6° 6' 5" south, 

 according to an observation made by Mr. Allen., 



An instance of stupidity and credulity occur- 



