160 VISIT BONNY. 



immediately accepted this offer ; and in crossing 

 the Adony bar we had only nine feet water. 



On Sunday, 17th of November, we entered 

 Bonny, to the surprise of the king and natives, 

 who inquired if we had come down the " big 

 river," — meaning the Niger. 



At this time there were three Spanish slavers 

 in the river, one of which had taken the slaves 

 on board the preceding night ; but hearing that 

 the Brisk and Curlew were off the river, they 

 sent them on shore again. 



Some days were passed in obtaining wood and 

 water for the vessel, in the course of which I 

 went on board the Kingston, where I met with 

 an old schoolfellow in the chief officer of that 

 ship, who informed me that the Company had 

 sent out a cutter with men and provisions. 



One afternoon I took an opportunity to visit 

 King Pepple at the town, which is a very dirty 

 place and built inside a morass. I found it 

 thickly inhabited, and the natives busy with 

 palm-oil. One of them asked me with much 

 gravity if my beard was Ju-ju, which produced 

 ■ some amusement : but I learned that the guava 

 is the Ju-ju or fetish-tree of these people. I saw 

 two or three in the streets, and no person is 



