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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The Chief Of These Men Called Himself Gun, Though
Blunderbuss Or Thunder Would Have Been As Appropriate A Name; And
Without solicitation, he informed them, that though he was not a
great man, yet he was a little military king;
That his brother's name
was King Boy, and his father's King Forday, who, with King
Jacket, governed all the Brass country. But what was infinitely
more interesting to them, than this ridiculous list of kings, was the
information he gave them, that besides a Spanish schooner, an English
vessel, called the Thomas of Liverpool, was also lying in the first
Brass river, which Mr. Gun said was frequented by Liverpool traders
for palm oil. Full of joy at this intelligence, they passed on to a
little artificial creek, where they were desired to wait till the
king's pleasure respecting them should be known. They were afterwards
drawn in a canoe over ooze and mud to a house, where, if the
countenance of their host had been at all in unison with the
agreeableness of his dwelling, they imagined that they could live at
ease in it, for a few days at least. The harshness, however, of this
man's manners, corresponded with his sulky, ill-natured face, and
deprived them of a good deal of pleasure, which they would have
enjoyed, in reposing at full length on dry, soft mats, after having
been cramped up for three days in a small canoe, with slaves and
goats, and exposed to the dews by night and the sun by day.
An hour or two of rest invigorated and refreshed them extremely, and
they then received a message from the king, that he was waiting to
see and converse with them. Having little to adjust in regard to
their dress, they rose up, and followed the messenger. Passing near
the outskirts of the town, the messenger conducted them, by paths
little frequented, to the outward yard of the palace, before the door
of which was placed the statue of a woman in a sitting posture, and
made of clay, of course, very rude and very ugly. Having crossed the
yard, in which they saw nothing remarkable, they entered by a wooden
door into another, which was far superior. From this enclosure they
were led into a third, which, like the former, had its porticoes.
Opposite the entrance was a low clay platform, about three feet from
the ground, which was overlaid with mats of various colours, a large
piece of coarse red cloth covering the whole, and at each of its
corners they observed a little squat figure, also of clay, but
whether they were intended to be males or females, it was impossible
to conjecture. Here they were desired to place themselves among a
crowd of half-dressed, armed men, who were huddled together on the
left of the platform, some sitting, and others standing, and awaiting
the coming of the prince. Their friend, Gun, was with them, and he
immediately claimed priority of acquaintance with them. He chatted
with amazing volubility, and in less than two minutes, he was on the
most familiar footing, slapping them with no small force just above
the knee, to give weight to his observations, and to rivet their
attentions to his remarks. Then, while they spoke, he would rest his
heavy arms on their shoulders, and laugh aloud at every word they
said, look very knowingly, and occasionally apply the palm of his
hand to their backs with the most feeling energy, as a token of
encouragement and approbation. They wished him to answer questions
which concerned them nearly, but the only satisfaction they received,
was contained in the expression "O yes, to be sure," and this was
repeated so often, with an emphasis so peculiar, and with a grin so
irresistibly ludicrous, that in spite of their disappointment, they
were vastly entertained with him.
In this manner was the time beguiled, till they heard a door suddenly
opened on their right, and the dreaded Obie, king of the Eboe
country, stood before them. There was, however, nothing dreadful in
his appearance, for he was a sprightly young man, with a mild open
countenance, and an eye which indicated quickness, intelligence, and
good nature, rather than the ferocity which they were told he
possessed in an eminent degree. He received them with a smile of
welcome, and shook hands with infinite cordiality, often
complimenting them with the word, "Yes," to which his knowledge of
the English was confined, and which no doubt he had been tutored to
pronounce for the occasion.
Their story was related to the king in full by the Bonny messenger,
who had accompanied them from Damaggoo, whose speech, which nearly as
they could guess lasted two whole hours, was delivered in an
admirable manner, and produced a visible effect on all present. As
soon as it was over, they were invited by Obie to take some
refreshment; being in truth extremely hungry at the time, they
thankfully accepted the offer, and fish and yams, swimming in oil,
were forthwith brought them on English plates, the king retiring in
the meanwhile from motives of delicacy. When Obie returned, a general
conversation ensued, and he was engaged in talking promiscuously to
those around him till evening, when the "great palaver," as it was
called, was formally prorogued until the morrow, and presently after
the chief bade them good night, and retired.
On the following morning, they were visited by a number of the
inhabitants, who broke through every restraint to gratify their
desire of seeing them. This was what they naturally expected, yet
after all, they were much better behaved and less impatient, than
they had any reason to apprehend, and they departed with little
importunity, considering that they had not been in the habit of
bending to the will of prisoners and slaves, for such were the
Landers in reality.
About noon they were informed that their attendance was required at
the king's house, Obie being fully prepared, it was said, to resume
the hearing of their case, and examine the deposition of the Bonny
messenger and the Damaggoo people.
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