210 SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS. 



would be given for it. In my opinion, he is a 

 good man, but unable to divest himself of that 

 predominant spirit of avarice which is invariably 

 to be met with in the African, though evincing 

 itself in many different ways. 



About 5. 30 we got under weigh again ; but 

 the steam not being up, and the channel so nar- 

 row as not to admit of our turning the vessel 

 without danger of running aground, we dropped 

 down the river with the current, stern first, for 

 about two miles. 



Abboka, I learnt, was gone to Damuggoo. He 

 had been informed of our surprise at his not 

 assisting us when aground, and sent twenty 

 yams, with some scrivelloes and elephants' teeth 

 for inspection. 



A great number of hippopotami were blow- 

 ing within a hundred yards of us. 



It was some matter of surprise and regret to 

 me, that since the visit of the king's eunuch and 

 the inspector of the markets, none of the natives 

 had approached us with goats or provisions, of 

 which we were greatly in need. I had one fowl, 

 a few yams, and some plantains, which I gave 

 to the people, whilst I regaled myself with a 

 small piece of pork nearly in a state of putre- 



