194 
PALM-OIL CANOES. 
deeply laden with puncheons of palm-oil, on their way to 
Bonny. 
The crews numbered from twenty to thirty-four ; in 
the bow a small iron gun was lashed, and ready for 
immediate use, as also the muskets, of which there 
were several. All this precaution was said to be neces- 
sary, as sometimes an attempt is made by the inhabitants 
of some of the villages to plunder them on the route, 
by way of exacting toll or port dues. 
Most of these canoes belonged to King Boy ; and the 
headmen in each wished to visit us. In one was a 
slave, who, aware perhaps that with us he would find 
liberty, was very anxious to come on board. He could 
not, however, prevail on his master to make such a 
gratuitous sacrifice. They declared that no steamers had 
passed. The forest scenery was here remarkably beau- 
