een engendered in the brain. These hammocks were highly
acceptable, and they were lifted into them with very grateful
feelings. It was also exceedingly pleasant, after a long day's
journey on foot, to be carried along so easily, and to see the
parrots and other birds, with a number of grinning, chattering
monkeys, capering from the lofty branches of the trees, and making
the woods resound with their hideous screams.

After a charming journey of eight or ten miles, they entered the
large and populous town of Bidjie, where the Landers first crossed
Clapperton's route, and where Captain Pearse and Dr. Morrison fell
sick on the last expedition. About a quarter of a mile from the town
they were met by a fellow with a cow's horn, who, chiming in with a
trumpeter, who had accompanied them from Wow, produced a harmony
surpassing all that they had as yet heard. Two men followed the
Bidjie musician with umbrellas of variegated silk, and, thus honoured
and escorted, they were set down, amidst a crowd of people, in the
centre of the town. As usual, the natives testified the wild delight
they felt at the visit of the white men, by clapping of hands and
loud shouts of laughter. In a short time, the noise of three or four
drums was heard, which was an announcement that the chief was
prepared to receive them, on which the multitude quitted them
simultaneously, and rushed to the spot where he was sitting, and to
which, they were also desired to proceed. The chief shook hands with
them in great good humour; and they remarked with pleasure, or they
fancied they did, that not only his laugh, but that of the people,
was a more social and civilized kind of sound, than what of late they
had been accustomed to hear. Nevertheless, when John Lander shook
hands with the chief's son, which act was not very diverting in
itself, the bystanders set up so general a roar of laughter, that the
town rang with the noise; and when Lander ventured further to place
his hand on his head, they were yet more amazingly pleased, and
actually "shrieked like mandrakes torn out of the earth."

As soon as the ceremony of introduction was over, and the admiration
of the people was confined within rational bounds, they wished the
chief a pleasant night's rest, and were conducted into a comfortable
airy hut, which had a verandah in front. The chief shortly afterwards
sent them a goat for supper.

They were now in momentary expectation of hearing some account of