558 TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

the test, and (ifdecided in our favour) of proving to the people of that part of the country, that although we had been treated ill by Almamy Bondoo and this chief, their conduct had been contrary to their own laws, and as such disgraceful only to themselves. I was in hopes also that a favourable decision in this case would lead to an investigation of Almamy Bondoo's treatment of us, and induce him, if he had any honor left, to evince it in making restitution for the losses we sustained in his country.

1 I therefore delivered to the messengers a etter to those chiefs, in which I gave the information they required, and requested their immediate decision, and having made them a small present each, and appointed Charles Joe to accompany them, they left us on the 19th of July.

The month of August passed over without any remarkable occurrence, save the death of one of the European civilians (Hudson), who died of fever on the 14th.

On the 12th of September, I paid a visit to the Tonca of Tuabo (the capital of Lower Ga-1am), and made him a small present. The river was then so swollen that its banks were no longer capable of containing its waters, which had completely overflowed all the low grounds in its vicinity, and destroyed a large proportion of the corn that was just then coming into ear.