236 
WAR CANOES. 
easily distinguished, by their keen insiduous look and 
overbearing manner, too plainly indicative of the in- 
fluence they exert over the blindly superstitious votaries 
of Fetichism. 
Although the Ezzeh has only two large canoes “ in 
commission,” he is said to possess, in all, fifteen of 
diflerent “ rates,” having from twenty to fifty paddlers, 
with a small cannon in the how of each. The first- 
rate war-canoes can carry twenty warriors. In the 
event of hostilities with any other tribe, or when the King 
proposes to make a “ great war,” he sends to aU the 
chiefs who arc tributary to him, and they furnish armed 
canoes according to their means or the size of the villages 
under their authority — some four, some only one canoe 
each. The ten elders at Aboh have each from two to 
six war-canoes. On an extraordinary occasion, it is 
said the King can muster about three hundred, many 
of them armed with muskets and cannon in the hows, 
these last especially, are not however very formidable, 
as they are lashed to the bow, rendering the aim 
uneertain. A chief is sent from Aboh to command the 
expedition. Thus the villages appear to he held as 
military fiefs ; hut we had no opportunity of noting 
further the resemblance to the feud;d system. 
In times of peace, these canoes are employed in the 
less exciting, and at present, less profitable occupation of 
trading between the markets* on the upper and lower 
* It is probable that the names of the towns where these are held, 
signify in their respective languages “ market-place.” As in Ibu, 
