374 
INCREASING SICKNESS, 
of the brass swivels over their heads, which had the 
effect of dispersing them without coming to a collision. 
They jumped overboard, and fled to the bush, which 
seems to be the most approved native method, of get- 
ting out of difficulties. The boatswain had now be- 
come quite unfit for duty, the third engineer scarcely 
able to move about, and the medical officer also laid 
up with fever, so that of the small crew of whites, 
only Lieutenant Webb and the clerk-in-charge, were 
now out of the sick list. It was therefore thought im- 
possible to prosecute the inquiry further, without risk- 
ing the ship, and the lives of all on board ; and late 
in the evening, they rejoined the ‘ Amelia,’ which had 
been left higher up, took her in tow, and anchored for 
the night in the middle of the stream ; in rounding 
the schooner, she ran fold of the right bank, and 
carried away her bowsprit. 
On the 17th at daylight they were again under 
weigh, using every exertion to get down the river 
while there was a person left, capable of directing the 
steerage. A little below the Benin branch, several 
voUeys of musketry were discharged by the inhabit- 
ants of a small village on the right bank; but the 
distance at which it was observed, together with the 
circumstance of their having allowed the vessel to pass 
unmolested, rendered the intention of doing so doubt- 
ful; as a precautionary measure, the Krumen were 
kept under arms. At 10 a.m. they arrived at the 
mouth of the river, and having victualled the schooner 
