NATIONS. 
379 
exception of the neighbourhood of the mangrove 
swamps; but wherever man has been able to get 
a firm footing, he has cleared away a patch for cultiva- 
tion, and built his hut. This is found to increase 
rapidly as we ascend. Large villages, towns, and even 
populous cities, are met with. On the banks of the 
Chadda, on the contrary, the population is very thin, and 
in a low state, with the exception of the kingdom of 
Fandah. A very small portion of its course, only is 
known, and that has been almost depopulated by the 
frequent slave-catching expeditions. The poor natives 
were in the greatest alarm at Lander’s visit, especially 
when the name of our friend Abokko, the chief of Adda 
Mugu was mentioned, as he had frequently attacked 
their villages. The country on both sides, nevertheless, is 
capable of supporting prodigious numbers ; the luxuriance 
of the vegetation is beyond belief, and the palm-tree, 
which would form a ground-work for national wealth 
and prosperity, grows in the greatest abundance. 
In the short distance from the sea to Rabbah, about 
four hundred and thirty-three miles, there are many 
distinct nations inhabiting the banks of the Niger. The 
only name we learned of those in the Delta, was the Oru,, 
which is probably much subdivided. Above this is the 
widely-spread Ibu race, of which our friend Obi rules 
only the small part dwelling on the banks. The Shabbi, 
or Eggarah succeeds, and extends to the confluence, the 
capital of which is Iddah, and on the opposite bank 
is the Benin nation. Above this, on the right bank of 
the Niger, is the Kakanda, an abject race, the constant 
