steward's dishonesty. 267 



not, (and what had I heard or seen to cause me to 

 disbelieve it ?) it was right in me to be prepared. 

 At first I certainly suspected that it might be a 

 fabrication to induce me to make him more con- 

 siderable presents : he thought the chair was 

 too handsome for the king, and that he ought to 

 have something valuable as well. My opinion was 

 much in favour of Abboka, whom I considered 

 a strictly honest man, and his behaviour to the 

 Messrs. Lander on the way down in their canoe 

 raised him much in my estimation, and, indeed, 

 deserves the commendation of every true friend 

 of humanity. However, T prepared for the worst ; 

 and if I had fallen, I trusted that my papers, 

 journals, &c. would reach the hands of my em- 

 ployers, that they might see in what manner I 

 had executed my trust. 



A red cap was found among the yams in the 

 forecastle, and must have been put there the day 

 before. A box containing red caps was sent two 

 or three days previously, of which I had the key, 

 and no person could have unlocked it but the 

 steward, as he alone had admittance into the 

 forecastle. Under these circumstances, I discharg- 

 ed him from the cabin, and sent him forward 

 with the rest of the Kroomen. — For the last few 



