ots that reside in it, is situated
nearly at the mouth of the first Brass River, which the Landers
understood to be the "_Nun_" River of the Europeans, and at the
distance of sixty or seventy miles from hence. This town acknowledges
the authority of both kings, having been originally peopled by
settlers from each of their towns. At the ebb of the tide, the basin
is left perfectly dry, with the exception of small gutters, and
presents a smooth and almost unvaried surface of black mud, which
emits an intolerable odour, owing to the decomposition of vegetable
substances, and the quantity of filth and nastiness which is thrown
into the basin by the inhabitants of both towns. Notwithstanding this
nuisance, both children and grown-up persons may be seen sporting in
the mud, whenever the tide goes out, all naked, and amusing
themselves in the same manner, as if they were on shore.

The Brass people grow neither yams, nor bananas, nor grain of any
kind, cultivating only the plantain as an article of food, which,
with the addition of a little fish, forms their principal diet. Yams,
however, are frequently imported from Eboe, and other countries by
the chief people, who resell great quantities of them to the shipping
that may happen to be in the river. They are enabled to do this by
the very considerable profits which accrue to them from their trading
transactions with people residing further inland, and from the palm
oil which they themselves manufacture, and which they dispose of to
the Liverpool traders. The soil in the vicinity of Brass is, for the
most part, poor and marshy, though it is covered with a rank,
luxuriant and impenetrable vegetation. Even in the hands of an
active, industrious race, it would offer almost insuperable obstacles
to general cultivation; but, with its present possessory, the
mangrove itself can never be extirpated, and the country will, it is
likely enough, maintain its present appearance till the end of time.

The dwelling in which the Landers resided, belonged to King Boy, and
stood on the extreme edge of the basin, and was constructed not long
since, by a carpenter, who came up the river for the purpose from
Calabar, of which place he was a native: he received seven slaves for
his labour. This man must evidently have seen European dwellings, as
there was decidedly an attempt to imitate them. It was of an oblong
form, containing four apartments, which were all on the ground-floor,
lined with wood