Okúloba tóro, and for the Old Kalábár, Efíngi tórọ, toro being water or a river. The Brass mark consists of six short perpendicular incisions, between the eye and the ear.

Of the measures employed as hygienic most were of a general nature, the only more specific one being the free use of quinine. The amount of sickness was very little, so that, except with the scorbutic cases, Dr. Hutchinson's really medical duties were not onerous. Of the Europeans, the most exposed to climatial influences, were Mr. Harcus, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. May, and myself. Mr. Harcus was chiefly exposed during the day, and suffered only from frequent headaches from the effects of the sun's rays. Mr. Guthrie, besides undergoing daily an immense amount of fatigue, slept regularly on deck, and nevertheless escaped entirely. Mr. May and I were ashore whenever opportunities occurred, and as often by night as by day; we had frequently to land in swamps and other unhealthy spots, yet Mr. May had only one very short and not severe febrile attack. I, in addition, always slept on deck, and was roused regularly at twelve o'clock, and at three in the morning, for the purpose of recording meteorological observations, but while in the river, I had constant health. I mention these circumstances to show, that under proper precautions, Europeans may not only live quietly, but even commit with impunity what, some years ago, would have been considered as terrible indiscretions.

CHAPTER XI.

FERNANDO PO.

Most of us on board were more or less excited. The white men were anxiously debating on how the bar might turn out for our purpose of crossing it; the Sierra Leone people were rejoiced at leaving the river in safety; and the Krúboys were wild with delight at the speedy prospect of seeing again their homes and their wives. Everyone was early astir, long before daylight, but even then we were, to our great joy, able to satisfy ourselves that a slight landbreeze was in existence. The tide was not yet suitable, the flood running strongly, but at length we weighed anchor for the last time, and steaming slowly down, were off Palm Point at six o'clock, at which time we could barely make out anything halfa-mile from us. But there was no swell, no sound of rushing breakers, and no signs of a south-westerly breeze, all of which augured well. By this time it was about slack water, so we pushed forward at full steam, and at a quarter to seven had crossed the bar, without having encountered a single roller, and never having had less than three fathoms water.

Mr. Richards told me this was his eighth passage, and he had never once before seen the water so smooth. There are three passages across the Nún bar, one to the westward, examined by Mr. Beecroft, which is long and narrow, but deep; one in the middle, which is in every sense intermediate; and an eastern one broader, but with less water, which was the one by which we left the river. For steamers it does not matter much, but as the tide sweeps across them, it is of consequence that sailing vessels should select the one which allows of most room, as often when it is most needed, just in the breakers, the breeze fails. After having come out by the eastern passage, it is necessary to keep along shore, towards Brass, for a couple of miles. A light breeze sprung up from the south-west, which filled our square-sail and helped us along. We observed a sail, which was soon made out to be a schooner at anchor, from which we saw a boat putting off, and shortly afterwards Captain Robertson, of the schooner "Mary," of Fernando Po, came on board of us. He brought us a newspaper, an immense treat to us, though it was some three months' old, and it gave us an account of the early part of the Russian war. This little vessel was bound from Bonny to the Benin river, but had been retarded by light winds, and a strong current running east-southeast two knots. Nothing else occurred during the day; our provisions now consisted of yams and sardines, and, although we had plenty of these, and they were very good, some discontent showed itself,

a few of our voyagers fancying themselves on the verge of starvation. On the afternoon of the 7th November we were near Cape Bullen, so decorating ourselves as far as our means would allow, we steered into Clarence Cove, and firing a salute, which was returned by Governor Lynslager's formidable battery, we anchored at twenty minutes to six o'clock. I at once landed, and going up to the Governor's, who was also acting-consul, and Mr. Laird's agent, I reported our arrival, and telling him that as my connection with the "Pleiad " was now at an end, I resigned all further charge over her, and requested him to take the requisite steps for handing her over to Mr. Taylor, or to whomsoever he thought proper, which he at once undertook to do. I also delivered over the two Akrá men, whose case he undertook to investigate, and to forward. The most pleasant portion of our business yet remained, namely, getting our letters, none of us having heard anything from Europe later than the 24th of May. And singularly enough, I believe, throughout the whole batch of correspondence, not one of us received any disagreeable news. The papers told us of the landing of the allied troops in the Crimea, and of the glorious battle of the Alma, so that we had plenty to occupy our thoughts. Having now the means, I gave, on my return on board, all hands a glass of grog, while the Krúboys got the large drum to have a dance, and celebrate, after their own fashion, their happy return.

Next morning I discharged Mr. Richards, Mr.

Scott, and Simon Jonas, whom I had engaged at Clarence. I then got as many of my things ashore as possible, and locking up the remainder, took my final leave of the little "Pleiad," on board of which I had spent four eventful months. Mr. Crowther took up his abode with a friend on shore, while we were much indebted to the kind hospitality of the Governor, and of Mr. Snape, who accommodated in their comfortable houses, Mr. May, my assistant Mr. Dalton, and myself, and where we kept clear from the disputes and disagreements which daily occurred on board of the steamer.

Our time at Clarence was spent in anything but idleness, we had our journals to write up, our instruments and collections to pack for the voyage home, and Mr. May had to make a clean copy of his chart, and to go over many of his calculations. I had expected to find waiting for me further instructions as to my procedure, but as none had arrived, I was left to act according to the best of my judgment.

Among the residents at Clarence at that time was Peppel, ex-King of Bonny, who was living there in a somewhat anomalous condition. By various means he had become very unpopular with his subjects, which involved English traders in the river in such difficulties, that the late Mr. Consul Beecroft had to go to Bonny to endeavour to settle matters. As a precautionary measure, as threats of assassination were openly talked of, he recommended King Peppel to go over to Fernando Po, and with a little persuasion