258 GABRREDUCCO. 



Abboka had desired the messenger to tell me 

 "that if any attack was made upon the vessel^ they 

 must first kill him ; for that he was the first who 

 brought white man into the country, and as long 

 as he lived, he was determined to protect me ; 

 but that when he died, I must look to myself and 

 the ship : — that he had now delivered out twelve 

 muskets, and requested Al Hadge to ask me for 

 a few flints : that he would inform me when 

 Gabbreducco intended to attack us, and then 

 assembling all the natives of English Island, that 

 he would give the king's people battle." 



This Gabbreducco is the king's head man, as 

 the natives observe, and holds the bridle of his ma- 

 jesty's horse when he mounts, which is considered 

 a great honour. He is a native of Eboe, and con- 

 sequently a man who may be justly suspected of 

 every villany. He has four canoes, and is the 

 king's chief man in war. His appearance is 

 nothing in his favour ; he is stout-built, and stands 

 nearly, if not quite six feet high : thick lips, and 

 a frowning ferocious aspect, with cataract of the 

 left eye. He wore three tobes at the time I saw 

 him near Eboe. 



The above intelligence was anything but agree- 

 able to me ; though, as far as an attack from the 



