340 ATTACK ON MR. LANDER. 



among them ; but I did not wish to impede the 

 vessel's way by distracting the helmsman's atten- 

 tion, and running the risk of getting the ship 

 aground, where we should have been exposed to 

 the fire of the natives from both sides of the 

 river. 



A few minutes afterwards, on approaching a 

 town named Sahabergrigger, lying on the oppo- 

 site side of the river, I saw a boy belonging to 

 King Jacket of Brass in a canoe with another 

 person. I invited him on board, and he informed 

 me that the town we had just passed was Hyam- 

 mah, and that he had been to Sahabergrigger 

 buying oil. He also informed us that the natives 

 of the two towns we had passed were those who 

 united to attack and plunder Mr. Lander. Not 

 knowing whether he was telling the truth or 

 not, I questioned the boy, and holding a pistol to 

 his head, threatened to shoot him unless he told 

 me the truth. I then asked him if the natives of 

 any other town along the river were prepared to 

 attack us : he said, no — there were none. He then 

 told me that the natives of Hyammah had broken 

 and sunk the boats which they had taken from 

 Mr. Lander. He expressed a wish to accom- 

 pany me down the river ; to which I assented. 



