SKETCH OF GABOON. 
427 
within a short distance of the Moohnda, so that traders proceeding 
so far by it, carry their canoes over the interval to that river. The 
Nokos, Apooks, and Komebays, inhabit the lower space between 
the Rivers Gaboon and Danger. 
Having pulled up the N. E. arm for two days and nights, they 
land, leaving the river about one mile broad ; and after two jour- 
nies, (skirting Sheekan,) reach Samashialee, the capital of the 
country of Kay lee, (sometimes called Kalay,) and the residence of 
the King Ohm bay. Samashialee, is described as a considerable 
town, and Asako, as the second to it ; their houses are all of bam- 
boo. The Kaylees manufacture iron from the ore, which abounds 
every where in this part of Africa ; but they are very careful not 
to let the coast people see them do so, as knives, spears, mats, and 
bamboo cloth, are their articles of barter with them, for brass rods, 
cottons, and other European commodities, I procured some of 
the knives and spearheads, of their own iron. The bamboo-cloth 
has the appearance of coarse brown Holland. Their mats are 
very fine, and much varied in colors and patterns. It is remark- 
able, that the latter do not partake at all of their own wild cha- 
racter, but are of that chaste, simple outline which would be 
called elegant by civihzed nations. These people are cannibals, 
not only eating their prisoners but their dead, whose bodies are bid 
for directly the breath is out of them. A father has frequently 
been seen to eat his own child. Fowls abound in their country, 
but thej never eat them, nor will they goats, which are equally 
numerous, whilst human flesh is to be had. Salt fetches an enor- 
mous price. The people of Gaboon would be afraid to venture 
amongst them, even as traders, but for their musquets, and a strong 
body of Sheekans, always engaged to accompany theni. Their 
country is mountainous and woody. There are people inhabiting 
a mountain close to the north-eastward of Kalay, who are said to 
