Chap. XII.—B. S.J ABKIVAL OF CAPTAIN B. PIM. 203 
the Atlantic seaboard bas been cut, and a country 
completely unknown geographically roughly explored. 
I gave Gr unnow the advice to go himself down to 
Blewfields, and return, if possible, by way of Carca, 
the Indian settlement, which we meant to visit during 
your stay in the country.” Thus far Mr. Melzer. 
On the 16th of March I had the pleasure of wel¬ 
coming at the mine my friends Captain Bedford Pirn, 
B.N., and his travelling companion, Lieut. Oliver, E. A. 
Their arrival was made the occasion of a nocturnal 
fete, such as had, up to that time, never been wit¬ 
nessed in those parts. By the natives it was thought 
truly splendid. After all our people and as many of 
their friends as they liked to invite had partaken of a 
hot supper and as much grog as they wished to dr ink , 
some fireworks which one of our men had contrived 
were displayed before the principal house, and some 
transparencies with inscriptions complimentary to the 
guests lit up. After that a band of music—vile be¬ 
yond description, but absolutely charming in the opi¬ 
nion of the natives—struck up, and dancing—such 
dancing, was kept up till an early hour. I don’t 
think that Captain Pirn altogether thanked me for 
having permitted the fete, as the natives were perhaps 
rather too demonstrative in expressing over and over 
again their gratitude to him for having done so much 
for their country as he has done. Pond as he would 
have been to move about freely amongst the gay 
scene, he had to sit indoors nearly all night to escape 
hearing his praises ad nauseam shouted into his ears. 
At this nocturnal fete there were several pure 
