Narrative of an Expedition into the Interior of Africa by MacGregor Laird R.A.K. Oldfield

Author:MacGregor Laird, R.A.K. Oldfield [MacGregor Laird, R.A.K. Oldfield]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General
ISBN: 9781136979460
Google: cTz3DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-06-04T03:02:00+00:00

CHAPTER X.

Departure from Fundah.—Arrive at Yimmahah.—Return on board the Quorra.—Determination to return down the River to Fernando Po.—Description of Adassah and its King.—Sarsjield and Lieutenant Allen proceed to Fundah.—Ravages of the Felatahs.—Mortality among our Kroomen.—Hector’s Narrative of his Visit to Fundah.—Insubordination among the Kroomen.—Anchor off Bocqua.—Joined by Mr. Oldfield from the Columbine.—Letters from Europe.—Account of Mortality in the Columbine.

AFTER leaving the rabble that followed us out of the town, I proceeded in what my Kroomen insisted was the right road to Potingah, and, after a ride of two hours, was much annoyed to be told by a man who overtook us on horseback, driving a string of slaves before him to market, that we had taken the wrong path after passing the first ravine, and were considerably to the northward of our course. Being already much fatigued and rather startled at the information, I rode up to a farm-house, where I was welcomed by the women, and lay down in the shade for a short time, until the proprietor of the house came. I engaged him to conduct us to Potingah, and we set out again, my conductor holding me on my horse, as the sun was now very powerful and my weakness fast increasing. I was unable to proceed far, and in an hour’s time was obliged to stop and be lifted off again at another farm-house, where I lay for some time almost in a state of insensibility.

In the evening I was aroused by Sarsfield, who had become alarmed at my not appearing at Potingah, and had found me out by my guide going and informing him of my situation. It appeared that he had had some difficulty in getting away from Fundah after I had left; and Smith the mulatto, who was ill of dysentery, refused to accompany him. He had left a bag of cowries with him, and the king promised that he would send him down, in a canoe from Potingah, as soon as he recovered. As the sun was now less powerful, and there was a pleasant breeze, I was mounted on my horse again, and, about eight o’clock in the evening, was once more afloat in the same abominable canoe which brought me from Yimmahah.

As I was very ill, I kept Sarsfield with me, directing the Kroomen to proceed by land to Yimmahah, and we went on in the canoe. At about eleven o’clock at night, one of the most awful tornadoes that I ever witnessed came on, and continued for four hours. The canoemen directly pulled alongside the bank, and speedily took themselves off into the bush, leaving Sarsfield and me to take care of ourselves and the canoe also. Fortunately we had some brandy, which, with a little opium, carried us through the night. Having no covering, excepting our blankets, we literally lay in the water; and if the canoe had not been aground, she must have sunk from the quantity of rain that poured into her. A number of fowls that we had tied to the thwarts were drowned.

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