TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 7

the heartfelt regrets of his friends and compa-

nions, on the following day, in the court-yard of Mr. Bateman, under the shade of two orange

trees ; and an appropriate epitaph, written by

Captain Campbell, and carved on a slab of na-

tive mahogany, was placed on his grave.

The day previous to his death, the expedition

was joined by Lieutenant Stokoe, of the Royal

Navy, and Hospital-assistant Nelson. They were

accompanied by Lieutenant M*E.ae, of the

Royal African Corps, and Thomas Buckle,

Esq.* ; the latter was sent by his Excellency,

Sir Charles McCarthy, to afford every facility to

our departure from Kakundy, and was the bear-

er of presents to Mr. Pearce (the nominal king

of Kakundy having no power whatever in the

country), without consulting whom nothing is

done in that river even by the European traders.

Lieutenant M'Rae, hearing on his arrival of

Major Peddie's illness, and the little hope we en-

tertained of his recovery, came forward with the

most disinterested zeal, and told Captain Camp-

bell that if his services were likely to be of any

use to the expedition, he would readily accom-

pany it ; indeed he left Sierra Leone partly with

that intention : and notwithstanding the great

want of officers in that garrison at the time, and

^ Member of the Council of Sierra Leone.