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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On The Following Day, They Observed A Large Market Close To The Banks
Of The River, Which They Were Informed Was Kirree.
A great number of
canoes were lying near the bank, and in a short time afterwards, they
saw about fifty canoes before them coming up the river.
As they
approached each other, the Landers observed the British union flag in
several, while others, which were white, had figures on them of a
man's leg, chain, tables, and all kinds of such devices. The people
in them, who were very numerous, were dressed in European clothing,
with the exception of trousers.
The Landers felt quite overjoyed by the sight of these people, more
particularly when they saw the English flag and European apparel
amongst them, and they congratulated themselves that they were from
the sea coast. But all their fond anticipations vanished in a moment
as the first canoe met them. A great stout fellow, of a most
forbidding countenance beckoned Richard Lander to come to him, but
seeing him and all his people so well armed, Lander was not much
inclined to trust himself amongst them, and therefore paid no
attention to the call. The next moment, he heard the sound of a drum,
and in an instant several of the men mounted a platform and levelled
their muskets at them. There was nothing to be done now but to obey;
as for running away it was out of the question, their square loaded
canoe was incapable of it, and to fight with fifty war canoes, for
such they really were, containing each above forty people, most of
whom were as well armed as themselves, would have been throwing away
their own and their canoe men's lives very foolishly.
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