With you for the present, which I understand you have promised
their monarch, but you must not expect them to be your guides to the
sea, for their responsibility ends here.'
"When all this was interpreted to me by Antonio, I was thunderstruck.
It was in vain that I assured Obie that there was not the slightest
necessity for our detention in the town; that our countrymen would
redeem us the moment they should see us, but not before; and equally
unavailing were my solicitations for him to alter this arrangement
and suffer us to depart; but the tears of his subjects, and the
representations of the men at Brass, had made too deep an impression
upon his mind to be so easily eradicated. We found it too late either
to implore or remonstrate.
"This final decision of the king is a bitter stroke to us, for we
fondly indulged the hope of a more favourable issue, from the
deliberations of the savage council, at whose dissolution we expected
to be sent to the sea coast, without being perplexed with further
embarrassments. We have now to wait the return of a messenger from
thence, who has not yet been sent on his errand, and he is to bring
back with him the value of twenty slaves, ere we obtain our freedom.
Heaven only knows whether the masters of English vessels at Bonny or
Brass, have the ability or feel the disposition to ransom us.
