76 
ARRIVAL AT SIERRA LEONE 
rich and varied appearance of the settlement and sur- 
rounding country. In passing along, on the right hand, 
various villages are observed, laid out in neat order; 
with the large and graceful banana tree, in the small 
patches of well cultivated ground attached to the huts, 
and other indications of order and some industry ; while 
the mountains, well-wooded and rising gradually as a back- 
ground, afford a pleasing picture, quite at variance with 
the idea one is apt to form of Sierra Leone, from its 
charnel-house character. But we were now in the 
most favourable period for seeing nature bursting forth 
in luxuriant vegetation, and resplendent with the full 
tropical freshness of the commencing rainy season. 
The ^ Albert ’ had been here two days ; and three 
days after our arrival, the ‘ Soudan ’ was obliged to put 
in for coals, having been separated from the transport, 
which was to have accompanied her from Porto Grande 
to Cape Coast Castle, We found that Mr. Carr, the 
Queen’s Advocate, brother to the superintendent of our 
Model Farm, was Acting-Governor, in consequence of the 
death of Sir John Jeremy. On presenting our letter to 
his Honour, from Lord John Russell, he showed every 
disposition to afford us all the assistance in his power 
for the furtherance of the objects of our visit. He said 
in a conversation on the subject of intercourse with the 
interior, it was his intention to renew the communication 
with the large and important town of Timbo; which 
had formerly been frequent, but had been broken off by 
the Mandingoes, and other intermediate nations. We 
