EXTENT OF OBl’s TERRITORY. 233 
tion of magnetizing. At the same time, two of his 
attendants performed certain mystical motions in the 
air with large fans, made of palm-leaves, in order pro- 
bably to keep away the Evil One. The intrusion of our 
officers, however, having the effect of suspending the 
incantation, they withdrew. 
We ascertained that the name Ibu belongs to a large 
tract of country lying on both sides of the Niger, but 
is more extensive to the eastward of it, and containing 
possibly many independent tribes, of which Obi rules 
over the villages in the immediate neighbourhood of the 
river, and it appears that his power does not extend 
much beyond the reach of his canoes. The real name 
of his chief town, we find, is Aboh, and not Ibu or 
Eboe, as Lander called it. 
Obi is called the Ezzeh Obi Osai. The first being 
his title, answering to king or chief ; the second his 
patronymic, and the last his cognomen. His sovereignty 
is acknowledged for about fifty-five miles along both sides 
of the river ; Oni^h being his lowest village on the right 
bank, near the Benin branch ; Owiah Okbe, the highest. 
On the left bank, from Ipatanih upwards to Akra-atan, 
near the Onecha River, and all the villages included 
between these. Notwithstanding all his proud de- 
claration of absolute power, it is doubtful whether it 
can be considered as really more than a preponderating 
influence, of variable nature. 
He had asserted his authority to be despotic and here- 
ditary ; but we were informed by our friend, Ukasa, that 
