Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
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They, However, Separated Tolerably Well Pleased With Each
Other.
On May the 4th, three men, inhabitants of Acboro, were captured by a
gang of restless, marauding scoundrels, who are denominated here, as
elsewhere, "War-men of the path," but who are, in reality, nothing
more nor less, than highway robbers.
They subsist solely by pillage
and rapine, and waylaying their countrymen. The late governor of
Acboro was deposed and driven from the town by his own people, for
his indifference to their interest, and the wanton cruelty, with
which he treated them and their children. At different times he
seized several individuals of both sexes, and sold them as slaves,
without assigning any cause for the act. This drew on him the
vengeance of the friends and relatives of the sufferers, who
prevailed on the town's people to arise with them and punish the
aggressor. The latter soon found that his party were too weak to
withstand the attacks of the exasperated populace, and he fled to a
remote village, where he was residing at the time of the arrival of
the Landers. The inhabitants of Acboro immediately elected a more
humane and benevolent governor in his stead.
They rose this morning at an early hour, and John Lander finding
himself sufficiently recovered to ride on horseback, they bade
farewell to the governor of Acboro, and quitted the town by sunrise,
taking care to use the same precaution against robbers as on the
preceding day. In an hour and three quarters, they entered an open
and delightful village called Lazipa. An assemblage of Fellata huts
stood near it, by which their beautiful cattle were grazing. Many of
the bullocks were as white as snow, others were spotted like a
leopard's skin, and others again were dotted with red and black on a
white ground. A Fellata girl presented them with a bowl of new milk,
which was very agreeable and refreshing, and after drinking it, they
bade adieu to the Fellatas and their cattle for ever.
They had not travelled a great way from Lazipa, before they had to
cross a large morass, on the borders of which a very large and
handsome species of water-lily flourished in great perfection. They
crossed this morass without difficulty or trouble, and with the same
facility also two small streams, which intersected the road. At nine
A.M., they arrived at Cootoo, which like Lazipa is an open village,
but the former is by far the most extensive of the two. A person, who
may have travelled from Penzance in Cornwall to the Land's End, and
observed the nature of the soil, and the blocks of granite which are
scattered over its surface, will have a very good idea of the country
between Acboro and Cootoo, only that in the latter, it is much more
woody.
After leaving Cootoo, however, the aspect of the surrounding scenery
speedily changed, and became infinitely more pleasing. The soil was
more rich and deeper; patches of verdure and cultivated land were
more frequent, the latter being neatly fenced; fine handsome trees,
with their spreading branches and thick foliage, embellished the
country in every direction, and extended to the eastern horizon. It
might have been supposed that these trees had been carefully planted
by the hand of man, for they grew at equal distances from each other,
and none seemed to interfere with the order, beauty, and regularity
of its neighbour. The soil between them was covered with a soft green
turf, which rendered the whole view remarkably pleasant. It was over
this delightful landscape that they travelled; the morning was cooled
by a refreshing south-east wind, and the travellers, which is not
often the case, were both on good terms with themselves, and
gratified by everything around them. At length, they came in sight of
numerous herds of fine cattle, attended by little boys, and shortly
afterwards, they arrived at a clean and neat Fellata village, the
inhabitants of which were employed in feeding calves, and other
occupations connected with an African farm. They then crossed a
small stream, and entered a town of prodigious extent, called Bohoo,
which was fortified with a triple wall and moats. Without being
exposed to the customary tiresome formalities, they were immediately
conducted to the residence of the governor. The usual conversation
passed between them, and after they had returned to their hut, a
bullock was sent them, with yams, bananas, and a huge calabash of new
milk, which did not contain less than six gallons, and the travellers
sat down to enjoy themselves in perfect good humour.
In the afternoon, a message was delivered to them, signifying that
the governor's head minister would be very glad to see them, and
would thank them to visit him in the course of the day. John Lander,
however, having experienced a relapse, his sufferings were such as to
prevent him leaving the hut, and his brother was, therefore, obliged
to go alone. After a pleasant walk of about two miles, he arrived at
the habitation of the minister, by whom he was very kindly received.
The compliments of the day only were exchanged between them, and the
numerous wives, and large family of the master of the house, who are
on these occasions generally exhibited to a stranger, having amply
gratified their curiosity by an examination of his person, the
interview terminated and he presently returned to his abode, after
promising to visit the minister again on the following day.
Bohoo lies north-east of Acboro, and is built on the slope of a very
gentle and fertile hill, at whose base flows a stream of milk-white
water, and behind which is the Fellata hamlet already mentioned. Its
immense triple wall is little short of twenty miles in circuit; but
besides huts and gardens, it encloses a vast number of acres of
excellent meadow land, in which bullocks, sheep, and goats feed
indiscriminately. By the hasty view obtained of it, the town in some
degree resembled Kano, but there is no large swamp like that which
intersects the latter city.
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