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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"Yes," Said
The Captain, "Make Haste And Bring Them." Boy Very Naturally Required
Some Of His Goods Before He Went, And It Was With No Small
Difficulty, That Lander Prevailed On Him Afterwards To Go Without
Them.
The captain of the brig now inquired what men Lander had, and on his
telling him he had two seamen, and three others, who might be useful
to him in working his vessel, his tone and manner began to soften.
He
fully agreed with Lander, that they might be useful in getting the
brig out of the river, as half of his crew were dead, and the other
half sick, so Lander took courage and asked him for a piece of beef
to send to his brother, and a small quantity of rum, which he readily
gave. Lander knew that his brother as well as himself, much needed a
change of linen, but he could not venture to ask such a thing from
the captain with much hopes of success, so the cook of the brig,
appearing to be a respectable sort of a man, an application was made
to him, and he produced instantly three white shirts. King Boy was
now ready to depart, not a little discontented, and Lander sent his
own man in the canoe, with the few things which he had been able to
obtain, and a note for his brother. The latter was desired to give
Antonio an order on any English captain that he might find at Bonny,
for his wages, and also one for the Damaggoo people, that they might
receive the small present he had promised to their good old chief,
who had treated them so well. At two in the afternoon, King Boy took
his departure, promising to return with John Lander and his people in
three days, but grumbling much at not having been paid his goods.
Lander endeavoured to make himself as comfortable as he could in the
vessel, and thinking that the captain might change his behaviour
towards him, when he got better, he determined to have as little to
say to him till then as possible. On the following day, Captain Lake
appeared to be much better, and Lander ventured to ask him for a
change of linen, of which he was in great want. This request was
immediately complied with, and he enjoyed a luxury which he had not
experienced a long time. In the course of the morning, Lander
conversed with him about his travels in the country, and related the
whole of the particulars of the manner in which they had been
attacked and plundered at Kirree. He then explained to him how King
Boy had saved them from slavery in the Eboe country, and how much
they felt indebted to him for it. He endeavoured particularly to
impress this on his mind, as he still hoped to bring him round to pay
what he had promised. Having laid all before him as fully as he was
able, and pointed out to him the bad opinion which Boy would have of
them, and the injurious tendency towards Englishmen in general, that
would result from not keeping their word with him, which it was in
his power to enable them to do, he ventured to ask him to give him
ten muskets for his bill on government.
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