A FORTUNATE SHOT. 
251 
perched on a banann-trce, was fired at and killed ; 
in its fall it was accompanied by a number of small 
bats, which happening to be congi'egated in a fold 
of the broad and drooping leaf, were thus accidentally 
destroyed. They were of a new and interesting 
species, since described by Mr. Gray as the Kerivoula 
poensis. 
The vegetation here offered a more extensive 
Flora than that presented at the mouth of the 
river, viz : Palmce, Bomhace^e, Mirnos(S, Ruhiacem, 
SapodacecB^ CucurbitacefS, Gramine^, Leguminosce, 
as also Sterculiaj Ficus, Malvinia, Ceratophyllum, 
Sarcocephalus, and abundance of Pistia, floating all 
over the water. 
The people cultivate rice, Indian corn, cassava, ban- 
nanas, oranges, cocos, ground-nuts, yams abundantly 
and of good quality, Pappaws, Guinea-peppers, &c,, 
There is reason to hope the trade in palm-oil, ivory, 
&c., has increased very much ; we saw many large 
canoes from Bonny, Benin, and Brass, laden with pun- 
cheons of the former, confirming what we heard on the 
coast, that a great portion of the oil procured in the 
bights is brought from the interior. 
The people live apparently to a good age, for many 
were observed to be more than seventy years old. The 
number of domestic slaves is very large, in some towns 
being almost equal to the free inhabitants : they are 
well treated, and many of them become fi’ee. Those 
at Aboh are liberated when they build proper dwellings, 
