FROM BUSSA TO THE SEA 477 the capital of Nup6, which we knew to be at open war with the Company.

There are no whites at the factory of Rabba, and we did not have any dealings with the Sierra Leonese who is in charge of it.

We had been anchored for an hour, when the steam launch Bargu, with Major Festing on board, joined us.

These launches, of which it is a pity there are not more on the Niger, are little steamers armed with a machinegun. They carry an officer and some ten riflemen, who act as the river police only, and have nothing to do with transporting merchandise. Their office is by no means a sinecure.

The voyage began to tell very much on our men now.

It was not only that they were very tired, but the rain was continuous all night, and sometimes also in the day, so