336 SECRET DEPARTURE FROM EBOE. 



ing, as he had a great deal of palaver to tell me, 

 and that I must remain at Eboe one moon. 



No doubt the object of Obie was to detain me 

 to suit his own purpose : in the mean time the 

 natives lower down the river might assemble to 

 attack me. I could not be positive that Obie 

 had not had anything to do direct with the na- 

 tives who attacked Mr. Lander, but I had been 

 informed that he had, and I did not credit the 

 accusation, as Hyammah is quite out of his terri- 

 tories and jurisdiction. 



Being so well acquainted with the character of 

 the Eboes, and dreading detention, or any other 

 unpleasant consequences which might result from 

 refusing to give anything that Obie might fancy, 

 as his covetousness, I knew, had no bounds, — and 

 moreover, aware of the impolicy of remaining a 

 moment longer at Eboe than was absolutely ne- 

 cessary, — I called up the Kroomen, ordered steam 

 to be got up immediately, and at 2. 4.5 a. m. got 

 under weigh, trusting for protection to that Om- 

 nipotent Being who had carried us safely through 

 so many perils, and by whose assistance we had 

 been enabled to surmount all our difficulties. 

 By making our departure as secret as possible, 

 I prevented the natives anticipating me and 



