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 Circumstance Of The
Hands And Feet Being Just Allowed To Be Immersed In The Water, Is
Considered By These Deluded People As Necessary, And They Are Thereby
Rendered An Easier Prey.
It is usual with ships on their first arrival in the river, to be
visited by Duke Ephraim, the chief of the town; a personage who is
well known to the numerous Liverpool traders, that frequent the
river.
The reason of this visit is, that the duke may receive his
present, which consists generally of cloth, muskets, rum, or any
articles of that description, and he always goes on board in great
state, in his canoe, for this purpose, previously to which, no one is
allowed to leave the ship. This regulation, which is a method of
securing the port dues, affects those only, who come to the river for
the purpose of trade, and as the Portia was a government vessel,
they were not included in the number of those, who had the port dues
to pay. As soon as they had anchored, Richard Lander accompanied Mr.
Becroft on shore, and proceeded with him to the duke's residence, for
the purpose of paying their respects to him. A walk of about ten
minutes brought them to his house, and they found him in the palaver
square which belongs to it, busily engaged in writing, and surrounded
by a great number of his principal people. It was something unusual
to find a native chief thus employed, but the large dealings which
Duke Ephraim appears to have with the Liverpool merchants, accounts
in some measure for this accomplishment, and the smattering of
English which he has obtained. His only pretensions to dress,
consisted in a smart, gold laced hat, which he wore, and a handsome
piece of silk tied round his loins. His chief officers, who were next
to him, also wore gold laced hats, while those next in rank wore
silver lace, and the lower class contented themselves without either.
They arrived at council time, but Mr. Becroft being immediately
recognized by the duke, he received them very cordially, and made
them sit down. Duke Ephraim bears the character of being always very
civil and attentive to the English, and of making himself very active
in supplying their wants of live stock. He has formed a favourable
opinion of them, from the fine things they bring him, but his
discernment goes beyond these; for the circumstance of slave vessels
having being captured and taken out of the river, by the boats of the
English ships of war on the station, has impressed him with
admiration of their boldness and courage, and given him a very
exalted opinion of their power. Vessels of war formerly came up the
river in search of slaves, and he has always received their
commanders with much kindness, and assisted them all in his power; a
trait in his character, which is rather extraordinary, when their
object is considered, as he is the principal agent by whom supplies
of slaves are furnished from the interior. None, however, are
allowed to come up now, in consequence of the deaths that have
occurred.
After a short time, they were desired to go up stairs into his best
room, and they accordingly ascended about thirty or forty wooden
steps, and entered a spacious apartment, when the sight that
presented itself was of the most extraordinary description. The room,
which was about thirty feet in length, by about twenty in breadth,
was literally crammed full of all kinds of European furniture,
covered with cobwebs and dust about half an inch thick. Elegant
tables and chairs, sofas of a magnificent description, splendid
looking-glasses, and prints of the principal public characters of
England, as well as views of sea and land engagements, set in
handsome gilt frames, beautifully cut glass decanters, and glasses,
glass chandeliers, and a number of other things, too numerous to
mention, were all mixed together in the utmost confusion. A handsome
organ attracted the notice of Lander, and a large, solid brass
arm-chair, which from an inscription upon it, appeared to be the
present of Sir John Tobin of Liverpool. The inscription, or rather
raised characters upon it were, "Presented by Sir John Tobin of
Liverpool, to his friend Duke Ephraim," and vain enough is the chief
of his present. He exhibits this chair with the rest of his presents
to the people, or any stranger who may happen to visit him, and
allows them to feast their eyes, as he imagines, on the goodly sight,
but such are his care and pride of them, that he will not allow them
to be touched by any one, and his attendants are not permitted to
approach them, even for the purpose of cleaning off the dust which
has accumulated since their first arrival. The whole of this
miscellaneous assemblage of goods, are presents which have been made
to the duke by merchants of Liverpool, as well as French, Spanish,
and Portuguese traders, and are the accumulation of a considerable
length of time.
Duke Town, or Ephraim Town, as it is known by both of these
appellations, is situated on rather elevated ground, On the left or
east bank of the river, and is of considerable size, extending
principally along it. From the appearance of it, it may be concluded
that its inhabitants amount to at least six thousand people. The
houses are generally built of clay, like those of the Eboe people.
The breadth of the river opposite to it, is not quite so wide as the
Thames at Waterloo Bridge, and the opposite bank is not so high as
that on which the town stands. The houses are built in an irregular
manner, leaving very little room for the road between them, which at
that time was exceedingly wet and dirty. The duke's house is situate
in the middle of the town, and like the rest is built of clay. It
consists of several squares, round each of which is a verandah,
similar to the houses in Yarriba.
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