[Footnote 314:  This preservative is wrought by casting a handful of bay-salt into a hogshead of water, as the author told me.—­Hakluyt.

The Thames water soon putrifies on board ships in long voyages; but afterwards throws down a sediment and becomes perfectly sweet pleasant and wholesome; insomuch that it is often bought from ships which have been to India and back.  Putrid water at sea is purified or rendered comparatively sweet by forcing streams of air through it by what is called an air pump.  Water may be preserved sweet on long voyages, or restored when putrid, by means of pounded charcoal.—­E.]

SECTION XVI.

Supplement to the foregoing Voyage, in a Letter from Anthony Ingram the chief Factor, written from Plymouth to the Owners, dated 9th September, the day of arriving at Plymouth[315].

Worshipful Sirs!  The account of our whole proceedings in this voyage would require more time than I have, and a person in better health than I am at present, so that I trust you will pardon me till I get to London.

[Footnote 315:  Hakluyt, II. 616.  Astley, I. 202.]

Departing from London in December 1588, we arrived at our destined port of Benin on the 14th of February following, where we found not water enough to carry our ship over the bar, so that we left her without in the road.  We put the chiefest of our merchandise into the pinnace and ships boat, in which we went up the river to a place called Goto[316], where we arrived on the 20th, that place being the nearest to Benin to which we could go by water.  From thence we sent negro messengers to certify the king of our arrival, and the object of our coming.  These messengers returned on the 22d with a nobleman to conduct us to the city of Benin, and with 200 negroes to carry our merchandise.  On the 23d we delivered our commodities to the kings factor, and the 25th we came to the great city of Benin, where we were well entertained.  The 26th we went to court to confer with the king, but by reason of a solemn festival then holding we could not see him; yet we spoke with his veador, or chief man who deals with the Christians, who assured us that we should have every thing according to our desires, both in regard to pepper and elephants teeth.

[Footnote 316:  Goto or Gato is a negro town on the northern branch of the Rio Formoso, about 45 miles in a straight line from the mouth of the river, and about 85 miles short of the town of Benin.  This branch or creek is probably the river of Benin of the text.—­E.]