them strongly to remain with him for the day, which,
however, not all his solicitations nor importunities
could induce them to accede to. After some trifling
conversation, and a long and pithy harangue from a
Fellata, they took their leave of him and his people,
and instantly made their way back to the water side,
where they waited in the grass hut for the appearance
of the canoe men, with whom the chief had promised
to supply them. After a considerable delay, a
man for each canoe could only be procured, so that
two of their own people were obliged to supply the
place of others, as well as they could. Having
got into their canoes, they pushed off from the shore,
and proceeded at a good rate down the stream, along
the side of a considerable island, which was within
gunshot of the town, and after passing a large open
village of respectable appearance, which was on the
western bank, they put in at a small town, a few miles
below, also on the Yarriba side of the river, where
they were constrained to go in quest of other canoe
men, because those from Lechee, though they had been
with them only forty minutes, and had certainly not
laboured very hard, had refused to proceed with them
any further, nor could all their enticements induce
them to forego the resolution which they had taken.
The Landers were detained in their canoes for an hour
and a half, exposed to a scorching sun, in order to
obtain fresh canoe men. They at last proceeded
on their journey, and in the evening arrived at a
fishing town on a small island, which was called Madjie,
and belonged to the Noufanchie. Here they were
received with cheerfulness by the chief, who accommodated
them with a roomy hut, sent them a quantity of dressed
provisions, and otherwise treated them in the most
hospitable manner.
At nine in the following morning, they landed near
a small town to procure a fresh supply of canoe men,
and having obtained them, they journeyed along the
eastern side of the river, and in a few hours afterwards,
they perceived the smoke of the far-famed Rabba ascending
many miles before them. They stopped for a short
time at a low, flat, swampy island called Belee, and
visited a mean, dirty-looking town, where they were
in a short time introduced to the chief, who, according
to the report of their messenger, was a great, rich,
and important personage. He informed them, that
Mohammed, the magia’s son, who had left them
at Patashie, had returned from his father, in pursuance
of his agreement, but instead of remaining at Rabba,
as they had expected, he had come over to Belee, and
had been waiting three days on the island in expectation
of their arrival. The governor further informed
them, that they would be obliged to remain at Belee,
till the return of Mohammed to the island, for he had
news of importance to communicate to them. “To-morrow,”
he said, “you will leave hence, and proceed
to another island, which is further down the river,
wherein it is arranged that you shall abide till your
affairs be finally adjusted.” There was
some mystery about this information, which was unexpected
by the Landers, and not very gratifying to them.