Out to them as to their future progress, they were determined to
forget their little troubles and vexations, and spend the evening as
cheerfully as they could.
Hawks and vultures are exceedingly numerous both at Jenna and this
place, the former are bold and disgusting birds, but the latter are
so hungry and rapacious that they pounce fearlessly in the midst of
the natives when at their meals. Whilst the Landers were at supper,
one of them darted at a piece of meat, which one of their men held
between his fingers, and snatched it from him whilst he was conveying
it to his mouth.
At an early hour of Wednesday the 14th April, to the infinite
surprise and pleasure of the Landers, the man from Badagry made his
appearance with one of their horses and an English saddle. The latter
was as acceptable to them as the horse, for on the preceding day, for
want of a saddle, they were obliged to substitute a piece of cloth,
and the back of the animal being as sharp as a knife, it was no very
pleasant thing to ride him; walking would have been the far less
irksome exercise of the two. Pascoe, whose sagacity and experience
proved of infinite service to them, was lamed in his endeavours to
walk as fast as the rest of the party, and as he had the misfortune
of having one leg shorter than the other he became the general butt
and laughing stock of his more robust companions. This day, however,
they mounted him on the extra horse, on the back of which he retorted
their revilings, and the whole of them became as envious of his
dignity, as they were before facetious at his expense.
They took their departure from Bidjie while the morning was yet cool
and pleasant, and arrived at Chow before eleven o'clock in the
forenoon. The natives have an unaccountable fancy that white men are
fond of poultry to an excess, insomuch that whenever they entered a
town or village, all the fowls were immediately seized and confined
in a place of security until their departure.
Several strangers accompanied them from town to town, for the purpose
of evading the duty which is exacted at the turnpike gates, by
stating themselves to be of the number of their attendants. Women
also placed themselves under the protection of their men from Cape
Coast Castle, in order that they might enjoy a similar advantage; in
return for this favour, they showed a great willingness to do for
them many little kind offices, and they were found particularly
useful in making fires, preparing food, &c. for the whole of the
party.
Their journey throughout the whole of this day was extremely
pleasant.
