NATIVES OF EYEYAN. 295 



crease their anxiety, for they advanced in a body 

 with their arrows fixed, and dropped down on 

 one knee. They then arose and made another 

 advance as before. Several fell flat on their 

 backs ; a manoeuvre which they practise probably 

 in war, and would perhaps try to practise in case 

 I should fire on them. 



There were four wicker-work cages on the 

 sandbank, with apertures large enough to admit 

 one at a time : in these they took up their 

 quarters for the night, sounding a pipe, and ut- 

 tering the most discordant yells ever heard. I or- 

 dered the drum to be beat, and a blue light to be 

 fired from the yard-arm, with the view of quiet- 

 ing them. While this was burning they continued 

 silent, and afterwards commenced their war-cry 

 as before, some voices again calling out, " Come 

 on shore, and we will kill you all." I mounted the 

 paddle-box while these people were within about 

 thirty yards of the vessel, and ready to fire their 

 arrows, which were pointed at me. My men 

 were all stationed at their guns, prepared at a 

 moment's notice to fire, and anxious to give the 

 natives a salute. I have no doubt that had I 

 given the signal, my people, principally Kroo- 

 men, would have fought valiantly, for they dis- 



