Lander's Travels eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,054 pages of information about Lander's Travels.

Lander's Travels eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,054 pages of information about Lander's Travels.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they arrived at the river side, where they found two canoes lying to receive their goods, which were quickly loaded.  They had, however, been but a short time on the water, when they discovered that the smaller canoe, in which were six individuals and a number of sheep belonging to the Nouffie messengers, was over-laden, and in danger of sinking, and that both were very leaky, insomuch that it required three men to be constantly employed in baling out the water to keep them afloat.  To lighten the smaller canoe, they took a man from her into their own, and afterwards they proceeded more safely, and with less apprehension, yet they were obliged to put into a small island, called Malalie, to get it repaired, for they were afraid to proceed any further with the small canoe, on account of the rocks, and the velocity of the current.

According to their estimation, the current was here running at the rate of five or six miles in an hour, and the bed of the river was full of rocks, some of which were only a few inches below the surface of the water, which occasioned it to make a loud rushing noise, and forewarn the canoe man of his danger.  They now passed the boundaries of Boossa, on the eastern side of the river, and entered the dominions of the king of Nouffie.  Towards evening they came to Inguazhilligee, having passed just before, a very large and pleasant, but straggling town, called Congie.  Inguazhilligee is the first town on the Wowow ground, all above, on the western bank of the Niger, belonging to Boossa.  Journeying along for a quarter of an hour without stopping at any place, they put into a market town, on a large and beautiful island, called Patashie, just in time to save themselves from a heavy shower.  Here they were obliged to remain until the return of the messenger, whom they landed in the middle of the day, and sent to Wowow, for the purpose of informing the king of their departure from Boossa, and their intention to reside at Patashie till it might please him to send the large canoe, which they had purchased of him.  They were now out of the protection of the friendly monarch of Boossa, who would have nothing further to do with them.

Patashie is a large, rich island, unspeakably beautiful, and is embellished with various groves of palm and other noble trees.  It is tributary to Wowow, though it is inhabited solely by Nouffie people, who are considered honest, active, laborious, and wealthy.  The hut in which they resided, exhibited a scene of revelry and mirth more becoming a native inn than a private dwelling.

The chief of the island, accompanied by the four messengers from Boossa and Nouffie, and several of his own people, all dressed “in their holiday best,” paid them a visit in the earlier part of the morning, and out of compliment, it was supposed, remained with them till the evening, with the exception of a short absence in the middle of the day, during all which time they were employed in swallowing palm wine, which is procured in the island in great plenty, and in telling nonsensical stories.  The Landers were heartily glad when they said it was time to depart, and having shaken hands with the ardour of drunkards, they took their leave, staggered out of the hut, and all went laughing away.

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Lander's Travels from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.