2 P.M.--A sail reported on weather-bow; breeze light and variable. It being a likely place, we immediately gave chase, and, by tacking and manœuvring, at sunset we had gained considerably on a fore-and-aft rigged schooner, evidently trying to escape us. We were, however, gaining considerably, but night came on and hid him from our view. At Quitta we fell in with the _Mansfield_, a Liverpool palm-oil ship. Her master murdered two natives in the Old Calabar river a few months back. All the trade for palm-oil and ivory is carried on with the natives by means of barter, one merchant supplying the natives with rum, clothes, etc.; not being particular, the rum is frequently watered. The natives soon detected this, and thought they had equal right to water their oil (forgetting it is more easily discovered), and took alongside the _Mansfield_ two small casks of oil mixed with water. Of course, when this was discovered, the casks were returned to them with the usual allowance of blows and abuse, which is on all occasions liberally bestowed by skippers and mates on the unfortunate negroes. Unluckily for the two with the watered oil, brave Captain Lillie came off from the shore, and got on deck from the opposite side of the vessel before the canoe was out of hail, and being indignant that the blacks should have attempted to play off such a trick on him, hailed the canoe to come alongside. The natives, knowing what they might expect, gave way like devils for the shore. The skipper then discharged a fowling-piece, which, being loaded with small shot, had no effect; he then deliberately loaded a musket, and with one shot killed both poor fellows! In this part of the world murders are far too often committed with impunity, and complaints are made by the merchants that men-of-war afford trade no protection. Of course the natives retaliate, and, what with sickness and accidents, our merchant vessels generally lose two-thirds of their crews. [Sidenote: Feb. 14.] Arrived in West Bay. Completed water; sailed the following day to join the senior officer off Lagos. On arriving on the coast station, look-out men are stationed at each masthead, one of the crew and the other a Krooman, with the reward of a doubloon for the one who should first see a sail that proved a prize. We showed no lights at night; a small hole in the binnacle was all that was allowed the helmsman. We had one of the smartest signalmen I had met, whom I supplied with a glass worthy of him.