180 NATIVE TRADERS' HUTS. 



crew leaping into that of my friend the Eboe 

 native. 



The black rascals ran against us with such 

 impetuosity, that I concluded they did it with a 

 view of upsetting and plundering us, or probably 

 of doing something worse. They were dressed 

 in monkey-jackets and sailors' tarpaulin hats, and 

 had three colours flying. On discovering that 

 they had failed in the accomplishment of their 

 villainy, they paddled away, grinning at us like 

 so many demons. My Eboe friend, who kept 

 company with us, informed me that those people 

 were after no good. 



About 8 o'clock we passed the extremity of the 

 sandbank. The native traders were busily em- 

 ployed in erecting their temporary houses for the 

 reception of their slaves and merchandise. These 

 traders form their huts by placing mats on the 

 sandbank in an upright position, made from 

 bamboo and sewed together. A channel, about 

 twelve inches deep, is dug with the hands in the 

 sand, and the edges or sides of the mats intro- 

 duced, having the appearance of a triangle. 



The Eboe people take up the river, powder, 

 yams, beads, cloth, iron bars, and knives. These 

 articles are conveyed to Bonny by the palm-oil 



