TOWN OF HYAMMAH. 341 



The town of Hyammah consists of about four 

 streets, built on the left bank of the river, a few 

 hundred yards distant from the branch said to 

 lead to Bonny. I had nearly four fathoms of 

 water abreast the town. The bank of the river 

 when I passed was eighteen or twenty feet high ; 

 when the river is full, there will be eight or nine 

 fathoms of water close to it. It is about three 

 hundred yards wide in this part ; and I am of 

 opinion that the two adjacent towns, together 

 with Hyammah, could not raise more than four 

 hundred and fifty men, and not more than two 

 hundred muskets. I passed close under the 

 town, and had the full power of steam on at 

 the time. So sudden, indeed, was my appear- 

 ance, and so short the time that elapsed until 

 the vessel was out of sight, that the natives 

 had not time to recover themselves from the 

 surprise. 



Since leaving Addacoodah, it had been my in- 

 tention to hasten down the river without letting 

 the natives have any suspicion of my approach. 

 In this I happily succeeded ; and the natives of 

 Hyammah and the other towns had no opportu- 

 nity of uniting their strength, although they had 

 prepared to do so. 



