308 VISIT FROM MALLAM CATAB. 



to Addacoodah to purchase provisions for us. He 

 returned about 1 p. m. with some Cankee Indian 

 corn bread, when we were under weigh. Soon 

 afterwards, Mallam Catab's canoe came along- 

 side with him, his son, and several attendants. 

 He brought me some cooked rice and fish stew- 

 ed in palm-oil. 



It will be recollected that Mallam Catab was 

 employed by Attah to administer poison to Pas- 

 coe and Ibrahim. In order to alarm him, I told 

 him that I had heard he was going to do me an 

 injury by poisoning me, and threatened that if I 

 had any reason to suspect him of putting maghony 

 into anything he sent to me, I would instantly 

 shoot him. He said that no Mallam in the coun- 

 try had maghony (poison) which could cause 

 death ; but I replied that I knew it to be false, 

 and instanced the death of poor Pascoe. He 

 seemed very anxious that I should anchor under 

 the bush near Addacoodah ; but I refused, and 

 told him that I wanted more room for the guns, 

 as there were some very bad people in the 

 country. 



I was apprehensive that I should be obliged to 

 move further up, as there was too little water 

 where we lay ; nor was there any prospect of pass- 



