They were very
hospitably received by his sable majesty, who was equipped in silk
velvet, and attended by about three hundred well-dressed youths, all
of them eunuchs, and forming a kind of body guard to their prince.
This delay was followed by another still more vexatious. The larger
steam boat, was forced by the strength of the current on a sand bank,
where she was fixed for several weeks; till lifted into deep water by
the swelling of the river. Here she was examined, and found to have
sustained no damage, but owing to this unseasonable accident, as well
as the detention at Attah, and above all, to the deplorable loss of
life, which had ensued on board the vessels, the party had not in
their power to cultivate their mercantile speculations either to the
extent or so successfully as they wished, or as their friends
anticipated.
Still, however, when Mr. Lander left the Quorra, they might be said
to have only begun to trade with the natives, and as there was
unquestionably an abundance of ivory in the country, there was reason
to hope that the adventure would be yet as prosperous in this point
of view as its spirited and enterprising proprietors could
reasonably desire.
The great mortality which took place amongst the crews of the
vessels, was mainly attributed to the injudicious conduct of Captain
Harris, who, instead of pushing on direct for the Niger, spent a
great deal of time, as he coasted along, in examining inlets, &c.,
which exposed the crew to the fatal fever, which committed such
ravages amongst them. Captain Harris himself fell a victim to his
want of judgement, and Lander, Laird, Lieutenant Alien, and the
captain of the Alburkha, were the only persons in office, who
survived, and but fourteen whites besides were left alive.
The provisions were found to be uncommonly cheap and plentiful. A
bullock weighing two cwt. cost eight shillings. Fowls one penny each,
and other things in proportion, so that the victualling of thirty men
was not more than eighteen pence a day, including yams and rice.
On the 18th May, Lander left Fernando Po in a native canoe as before,
in order to rejoin his companions, who were no doubt anxiously
awaiting his return. Richard Lander returned to Attah on the 21st
July, in high health and spirits, and immediately made preparations
for ascending the river in the Alburkha, accompanied by Lieutenant
Allen, and a medical man. His voyage from the coast in a canoe,
occupied him thirty-two days. From Attah, he wrote to his brother
John, of which the following is an interesting extract:
"You know, that when we were here together, Abucco, chief of
Damaggoo, had been at variance with his brother for several years.
