CHAPTER IIL

We enter a river.—Its scenery described.—Receive a visit from
the King, and trade with the natives—The products of
Africa, for which we trade, mentioned, and the curious
mode in which trade is conducted.—Fever breaks out on
board, and several of the crew die.—Sad end of poor Bob.—
The boatswain and mates attacked with fever.—More
deaths.—The Captain’s unwillingness, notwithstanding
this, to leave the river till his cargo is completed.

STANDING in towards the coast with the
sea breeze we saw before us an opening

  

between two low mangrove covered
points, which formed the mouth of the river
we were about to ascend. The scarcely ever
ceasing rollers, coming across the wide Atlantic,
broke on the bar which ran across its entrance with
somewhat less violence than on the coast itself.
Still there was an ugly looking line of white foam
which had to be crossed before we could gain the

smooth water within. We hove-to, making the
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