The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 19, No. 542, April 14, 1832Various
General
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 19, No. 542, April 14, 1832
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
"We had heard so unfavourable an account of the state of the river at one
particular place which we should have to pass, that our people were
compelled to disembark and walk along the banks a considerable way till we
had passed it, when we took them in again. We found the description to be
in no wise exaggerated; it presented a most forbidding appearance, and
yields only to the state of the Niger near Boossà in difficulty and danger.
On our arrival at this formidable place, we discovered a range of black
rocks running directly across the stream, and the water, finding only one
narrow passage, rushed through it with great impetuosity, over-turning and
carrying away everything in its course. Our boatmen, with the assistance
of a number of the natives, who planted themselves on the rocks on each
side of the only channel, and in the stream at the stern of the canoe,
lifted it by main force into smoother and safer water. The last difficulty
with respect to rocks and sand-banks was now overcome, and in a very
little time we came to the termination of all the islands, after which, it
is said, there is not a single dangerous place up the Niger. The river
here presented its noblest appearance; not a single rock nor sand-bank was
anywhere perceptible; its borders resumed their beauty, and a strong,
refreshing breeze, which had blown during the whole of the morning, now
gave it the motion of a slightly-agitated sea. In the course of the
morning we passed two lovely little islands, clothed in verdure, which at
a short distance looked as charming as the fabled gardens of Hesperia;
indeed no spot on earth can excel them in beauty of appearance. These
islands are inhabited by a few individuals."
Upon leaving Yàoorie, a venerable Arab chief pretended great regard for
the travellers, though he used them deceitfully; they had, however,
"enjoyed an innocent kind of revenge, in administering to him a powerful
dose of medicine, which though harmless in its effects, had yet been very
troublesome to him. Indeed, it was not till we had 'jalaped' the sultan,
his sister, and all the royal family, that we were permitted to take our
farewell of Yàoorie."
The incident of physicking the royal family at Yàoorie by way of
leave-taking, is only equalled by the following oddity:--"The captain of
the palm oil brig, Elizabeth, now in the Calabar river, actually
white-washed his crew from head to foot, while they were sick with fever
and unable to protect themselves; his cook suffered so much in the
operation, that the lime totally deprived him of the sight of one of his
eyes, and rendered the other of little service to him."
The account of the Travellers' visit to Fernando Po, in the third volume,
will be read with interest, as indeed will every page of the whole
narrative; and to this commendation of the Messrs. Landers' Journal of
their past adventures we cheerfully add our best wishes for the success of
their future enterprize.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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