344 FATE OF LANDER. 



It will be seen that the rascally pilot Foot- 

 man had detained this letter until my arrival. 

 His excuse was, that " King Boy savy book ; him 

 no want him.* " Poor Lander ! he fell a victim to 

 his too great confidence in the natives. Had his 

 generous heart allowed him to be more suspicious, 

 and better prepared against their treachery, he 

 would have escaped their murderous designs, and 

 would have remained, as he had lived in the es- 

 teem of those who knew him, a valuable member 

 of society, and an enterprising, and persevering 

 traveller. 



The natives of Cassa informed me that Mrs. 

 Brown and child, the persons alluded to in 

 Lander's letter to me received on the 2l9th 

 March, and the boy Robert, a native of Eboe, 

 (obtained at Sierre Leone,) had been ransomed 

 by King Boy, and delivered over to Colonel 



* This man was a great thief. At one of his visits on board 

 the Columbine, he contrived to steal a bluejacket. On a sub- 

 sequent visit, he was accused of the theft, and very properly 

 placed in irons by the captain. He kept constantly saying, 

 " I no fool man, dottor (doctor) : what for you put me in 

 irons?" This palaver did not avail, and as it was proved he 

 had stolen the jacket, he was sentenced to pay a fine of 

 seven goats. After remaining in durance vile two days, he 

 sent a token by Mr. Robb, mate, to one of his wives ; when 

 the fine was paid, and he was liberated. 



