324 DISAGREEABLE VOYAGE TO BISSAO, 
g-enerous conduct towards me ; however, the gift appeared of 
so much vaiue to her, that raising- her hands to heaven, she 
implored its protection for me. I parted from my worthy 
hosts with the keenest regret, and in the evening of the 2d of 
August embarked on the river of Geba. 
My dress excited the laughter and contempt of the Negro 
sailors on l^oard the vessel ; I had gone into the cabin to 
shelter myself from the rain ; but they obliged me to leave 
it. and to lie on the deck, exposed to the inclemency of the 
air, in order to accommodate three monstrous Negresses, who 
had inspired them with tender sentiments. Not content with 
having prevented me from sleeping, they also hindered me 
from cooking my dinner, so that I was forced, during the 
whole passage, to make shift with a few cups of tea, which 
Boiikari prepared with the water that they used for washing 
their kettles. I endured these inconveniences for three days, 
which appeared very long to me ; at last, on the 6th of August 
I arrived at Bissao, harassed by fatigue, exhausted by the 
want of proper nourishment, and wet to the skin with the 
rain which had never ceased to fall. It may be imagined, 
that this continued uncomfortable state did not allow me to 
make any detailed observations on the river of Geba, the 
low and woody banks of which serve as a retreat for a great 
many river-horses, that sport in its muddy waters. 
As soon as our vessel had moored before Bissao, I received 
an order to land ; and notwithstanding the fury of the waves. 
