SHARK POINT. 631 
the mode of receiving and admitting him into the 
^hip. He was seated, however, on deck in a 
chair and cushion ; when understanding that 
breakfast was going forward below, he expressed 
a wish to step down and partake ; but the smell 
which issued from his royal person, and a cuta- 
neous eruption with which his skin was covered, 
prompted an earnest request that he should re- 
main in his actual position. To dissipate the ill 
humour thus excited, a swivel was fired ; but no- 
thing proved effectual till a large doze of brandy 
was produced, which not only banished all dis- 
content, but secured to them his company during 
a much longer period than they would have de- 
sired. 
While the vessels were detained off Shark 
Point, they were visited by a gentleman from 
Embomma, who announced himself as sent by 
the Great Mafook of that place to shew them 
the way up the river ; and though his company 
was far from welcome, it could not with decency 
be dechned. At the same time they had a suc- 
cession of visitors from the adjacent coast of 
Sonio. These were almost without exception 
sulky looking vagabonds, dirty, swanning with 
lice, and scaled over with the itch ; all which 
were considered as sure symptoms of their having 
been civilized by the Portuguese ; while the Ma- 
lemba negroes had been cheerful, clean, dressed 
