248 FIRST NEWS OF LANDER'S ATTACK. 



having been unable to proceed from exhaustion. 

 She was, however, now in very excellent con- 

 dition. 



On the morning of the 12th, two messengers 

 came on board from Iddah, and brought me a 

 piece of intelligence which caused me consider- 

 able uneasiness. They stated, that as Mr. Lan- 

 der, with two boats, was passing through the 

 Little Eboe country, the natives fired upon them, 

 took the two boats laden with goods and cowries, 

 and obliged Mr. Lander to return to the salt 

 water. 



I immediately sent to Abboka, to inquire 

 if he would allow a boy of mine (a cook on 

 board) to go down in one of his canoes to Obie, 

 then at Eboe, proceeding first to Accowarree 

 market, to join the canoes of that king, and ac- 

 company them to Eboe, to inquire more particu- 

 larly into the veracity of this intelligence, and 

 the circumstances attending this unfortunate oc- 

 currence. Abboka sent word that he would make 

 every inquiry through his people, and that it was 

 quite unnecessary to despatch any messenger. 



I entertained some idea of going down myself 

 in the boat to the sea-side for more goods ; but 

 I considered that it would be most imprudent 



