AFRICAN EXPLORERS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 203 
to Obie, king of the country, who would decide what 
was to be done with them. After two days’ row the 
canoes came in sight of Eboe, at a spot where the 
stream divides into three “ rivers ” of great width, 
with marshy level banks covered with palm-trees. An 
hour later one of the boatmen, a native of Eboe, cried, 
c< There is my country.” Here fresh difficulties awaited 
the travellers. Obie, King of Eboe, a young man with 
A SLAVE. 
a refined and intelligent countenance, received the white 
men with cordiality. 
But from what the travellers could learn, it was 
pretty certain that Obie would not let them go without 
exacting a considerable ransom. A son of the Chief of 
Bonny, King Pepper, a native named Gun, brother of 
King Boy, and their father King Forday, who with 
King Jacket govern the whole of the Brass country, 
were the most eager in their demands, and produced 
