It appeared that the woman had the small-pox, and she had been therefore
thrown into the high grass, and abandoned by the vakeel of the three
vessels that we had observed in the distance. She described these
vessels as being crowded with slaves.
I gave the unfortunate creature a supply of six days' food, together
with a cooking-pot and some firewood, but I dared not introduce so
horrible a disease as the small-pox among our party. She was thus left
alone upon the dubba. (At this season native fishermen visited the
dubba, therefore she was most probably discovered on the following
morning.)
On 8th June we steamed along, towards the tall masts and yards of the
three vessels which we perceived upon the horizon.
The intricacies of the narrow channel were such that we did not overtake
the slavers until sunset.
We then anchored for the night in a lake, while I sent a boat forward
into the canal occupied by the three vessels to order the vakeel of the
company to visit me immediately.
In a short time the boat returned with my old acquaintance Wat Hojoly,
the vakeel of the Bohr station belonging to Abou Saood.
