l, which he handed to me, and which I still have in charge
for his family at Boston, Lincolnshire, England.

We made the port of Bpoopoo, at the confluence of the Bungo and Sgglolo
rivers (which you may see in Swammerdahl's map) on the 31st April
last year. Our passage had been so extraordinarily rapid, owing to the
continued drunkenness of the captain and chief officers, by which I
was obliged to work the ship and take her in command, that we reached
Bpoopoo six weeks before we were expected, and five before the coffres
from the interior and from the great slave depot at Zbabblo were
expected. Their delay caused us not a little discomfort, because, though
we had taken the four English ships, we knew that Sir Byam Martin's
iron-cased squadron, with the "Warrior," the "Impregnable," the
"Sanconiathon," and the "Berosus," were cruising in the neighborhood,
and might prove too much for us.

It not only became necessary to quit Bpoopoo before the arrival of the
British fleet or the rainy season, but to get our people on board as
soon as might be. While the chief mate, with a detachment of seamen,
hurried forward to the Pgogo lake, where we expected a considerable part
of our cargo, the second mate, with six men, four chiefs, King Fbumbo,
an Obi man, and myself, went N.W. by W., towards King Mtoby'stown, where
we knew many hundreds of our between-deck passengers were to be got
together. We went down the Pdodo river, shooting snipes, ostriches, and
rhinoceros in plenty, and I think a few elephants, until, by the advice
of a guide, who I now believe was treacherous, we were induced to leave
the Pdodo, and march N.E. by N.N. Here Lieutenant Larkins, who had
persisted in drinking rum from morning to night, and thrashing me in his
sober moments during the whole journey, died, and I have too good reason
to know was eaten with much relish by the natives. At Mgoo, where there
are barracoons and a depot for our cargo, we had no news of our
expected freight; accordingly, as time pressed exceedingly, parties
were despatched in advance towards the great Washaboo lake, by which the
caravans usually come towards the coast. Here we found no caravan, but
only four negroes down with the ague, whom I treated, I am bound to say,
unsuccessfully, whilst we waited for our friends. We used to take watch
and watch in front of the place, both to guard ourselves from attack,
and get early news of the approaching caravan.

At last, on the 23rd Septe