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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To Convince Me Of His Veracity, He Produced A
Pocket Book, Containing A Great Number Of Recommendatory Notes, Or
'characters,
' as a domestic would call them, written in the English,
French, Spanish, and Portuguese languages, and which had been
Given
him by the various European traders, who had visited the Brass River.
This practice of giving written characters, which has for some time
been adopted by Europeans, is both praiseworthy and useful, and it
has become almost universal on the western coast; because it is not
to be supposed that the natives themselves can understand these
documents, and strangers are made acquainted with their good or bad
qualities by them, and taught to discriminate the honest from the
unfaithful and malicious. Boy's letters mentioned certain dealings,
which their authors had had with him, and they likewise bore
testimony to his own character, and the manners of his countrymen.
Amongst others is one from a 'James Dow, master of the brig Susan,
from Liverpool,' and dated: 'Brass First River, Sept. 1830,' which
runs as follows: "Captain Dow states, that he never met with a set of
greater scoundrels than the natives in general, and the pilots in
particular." These he anathematised as d - - d rascals, who had
endeavoured to steer his vessel among the breakers at the mouth of
the river, that they might share the plunder of its wreck. King
Jacket, who claims the sovereignty of the river, is declared to be a
more confirmed knave, if possible, than they, and to have cheated him
of a good deal of property. The writer describes King Forday as a man
rather advanced in years, less fraudulent but more dilatory. King
Boy, his son, alone deserved his confidence, for he had not abused
it, and possessed more honour and integrity than either of his
countrymen.
"These are the rulers of the Brass River, and pretty fellows they
are, truly. Mr. Dow further observes, that the river is extremely
unhealthy, and that his first and second mates, three coopers, and
five seamen, had already died of fever, and that he himself had had
several narrow escapes from the same disorder. He concludes, by
cautioning traders against the treachery of the natives generally,
and gives them certain directions concerning 'the dreadful bar,' at
the mouth of the river, on which he had nearly perished.
"This business had been no sooner settled, than Obie entered the
yard, attended as usual, but clad indifferently in loose silks. After
the customary salutations, Boy directed the monarch to appeal to me,
that he might be satisfied in what estimation he was held by white
men. Of course I said a variety of fine things in his favour, which
were received with a very good grace indeed; but that a piece of
paper simply, which could neither speak, hear, nor understand, should
impart such information, was a source of astonishment and wonder to
Obie and his train, who testified their emotion in no other manner
than by looks of silly amazement, and repeated bursts of laughter.
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