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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About Nine O'clock In
The Evening, We Overtook The Large Canoe And The Crews, Both Having
Partaken Of A Slight Refreshment Of Fish And Plantain Together, We
Passed The Second Brass River, Which Was To The Left Of Us, In
Company.
Here it might have been somewhat more than half a mile in
breadth, and though it was dangerously rough for a canoe, with great
precaution we reached the opposite side in safety.
From thence, we
could perceive in the distance, the long wished for Atlantic, with
the moonbeams reposing in peaceful beauty on its surface, and could
also hear the sea breaking, and roaring over the sandy bar, which
stretches across the mouth of the river. The solemn voice of Ocean
never sounded more melodiously in my ear, than it did at this moment.
O it was enchanting as the harp of David! Passing along by the left
bank, we presently entered the First Brass River, which is the Nun
of Europeans, where at midnight we could faintly distinguish the
masts and rigging of the English brig in the dusky light, which
appeared like a dark and fagged cloud above the horizon. To me,
however, no sight could be more charming. It was beautiful as the
gates of Paradise, and my heart fluttered with unspeakable delight,
as we landed in silence on the beach opposite the brig, near a few
straggling huts, to wait impatiently the dawn of to-morrow.
"The morning of the 24th was a happy one, for it restored me to the
society of my brother, and of my countrymen. The baneful effects of
the climate are strongly impressed upon the countenances of the
latter, who, instead of their natural healthy hue, have a pale,
dejected, and sickly appearance, which is quite distressing to
witness. However, the crew of the Spanish schooner look infinitely
more wretched; they have little else but their original forms
remaining; they crawl about like beings under a curse they are mere
shadows or phantoms of men, looking round for their burying place. No
spectacle can be more humiliating to man's pride than this; nothing
can give him a more degrading sense of his own nothingness. It is
very much to be wondered at why Europeans, and Englishmen in
particular, persevere in sending their fellow creatures to this
Aceldama, or Golgotha, as the African coast is sometimes not
inappropriately called; they might as well bury them at once at home,
and it is pleasanter far to die there; but interest, and the lust of
gain, like Aaron's rod, seem to swallow up every other consideration."
CHAPTER XLII
During the time that the canoe was coming from the shore to the
vessel, Richard Lander had stationed himself by the cannon; it was
the only one on board, but it had been loaded as Lake had directed,
and pointed to the gangway of the brig, where the Brass people were
obliged to come. The muskets were all ready, lying concealed, where
Lake had directed them to be placed, and he repeated the same orders
that he had given on the preceding day, respecting the part that the
Landers' people were to take in the business.
Lake received John Lander very civilly, but immediately expressed his
determination to dismiss Boy without giving him a single article, and
to make the best of his way out of the river. A short time after the
arrival of John Lander, a canoe arrived at the beach, with Mr.
Spittle, the mate of the brig, as prisoner, who, immediately sent a
note off to the captain, informing him that the price of his
liberation was the sum demanded for the pilotage of the vessel over
the bar of the river. He said further, that he was strictly guarded,
but that, notwithstanding this, he did not despair of making his
escape, if Lake could wait a little for him. The vessel had been
brought into the river about three months before, but Lake would
never pay the pilotage, and all he did was to send Mr. Spittle a
little bread and beef. The amount demanded was about fifty pounds
worth of goods, which it was quite out of the question that Lake
would ever pay.
Meanwhile King Boy, full of gloomy forebodings, had been lingering
about the deck. He had evidently foresight enough to suspect what was
to take place, and he appeared troubled and uneasy, and bewildered in
thought. The poor fellow was quite an altered person; his habitual
haughtiness had entirely forsaken him, and given place to a cringing
and humble demeanor. A plate of meat was presented to him, of which
he ate sparingly, and showed clearly that he was thinking more of his
promised goods, than his appetite, and a quantity of rum that was
given to him was drunk carelessly, and without affording any apparent
satisfaction.
Knowing how things were likely to terminate, the Landers endeavoured
to get Boy into a good humour, by telling him that he should
certainly have his goods some time or other; but it was all to no
purpose; the attempt was a complete failure; the present was the only
time in his mind. The Landers really pitied him, and were grieved to
think that their promises could not be fulfilled. How gladly would
they have made any personal sacrifice, rather than thus break their
word; for although they had been half starved in his hands, yet they
felt themselves indebted to him for having taken them from the Eboe
people, and bringing them to the vessel. Richard Lander rummaged over
the few things which had been left them from their disaster at
Kirree, and found to his surprise, five silver bracelets wrapped up
in a piece of flannel. He was not aware of having these things, but
he immediately offered them to him, along with a native sword, which
being a very great curiosity, they had brought with them from
Yarriba, with the intention of taking it to England.
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