Impressions of Western Africa: With Remarks on the Diseases of the Climate and a Report on the Peculiarities of Trade Up the Rivers in the Bight of Biafra |
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Abbeokuta Abiadiong African rivers Akra amongst appearance ascent Badagry beach believe Benin Bight of Biafra Binuë Bonny Brass British called canoes Cape Coast Captain carried causes chief civilisation Clarence cloth coast of Africa colony contained cotton cowries creek Creektown crew cultivation disease Duketown Efik Egbo entitled Europeans expedition exploration feet Fernandians Fernando Fernando Po fever Foota Funchal Gambia gold Governor Beecroft ground head houses human Ijaye influence inhabitants interior ju-ju Kameroons King Krumen Kworra Lagos land latter Madeira Majesty's malaria mangrove market-place miles missionaries mouth native negro Niger Old Kalabar Old Kalabar river Oldtown palm oil passed peculiar plant population Portuguese possess quinine race residence Rio del Rey seasons ship shore side Sierra Leone slave trade steamer streets styled sulphuretted tion town traffic trees tribes tropical Tshadda vegetable vessels voyage Western Africa yard Yoruba
Popular passages
Page 221 - For producing malaria, it appears to be requisite that there should be a surface capable of absorbing moisture, and that this surface should be flooded and soaked with water, and then dried ; and the higher the temperature, and the quicker the drying process, the more plentiful and the more virulent (more virulent probably because more plentiful) is the poison that is evolved.
Page 164 - ... of the Kalabar men, in the instance mentioned. The second, to the effect that a chameleon always went along at the same pace, not quickening his steps for rain or wind, but going steadily in all phases of temperature, changing his hue in compliment to everything he met, turning black for black men, white for white, blue, red, or green, for any cloth or flowers, or vegetables that fall in his way ; and the only reason he gives for it when questioned on the subject is, that his father did the same...
Page 255 - ... and about half an inch in that of their density ; being terminated by two lozenge shaped ends facing one another. There are five different patterns, and though a casual observer could scarcely discriminate between them, yet the practised eye of the natives does it at once, and cannot be deceived.
Page 123 - No vile compound of drugs or Chemicals — the vilest that could be fabricated by human ingenuity — would rival the perspiratory stench from the assembled multitude. It is not only tangible to the olfactory nerves, but you feel conscious of its permeating the whole surface of your body. Even after going from the sphere of its generation it hovers about you and sticks to your clothes and galls you to such an extent, that with stick and umbrella in your hands, you try to beat it off, feeling äs...
Page 230 - I had it dispensed daily for the Europeans under my charge, from the day before we crossed the bar to three weeks after our return to Fernando Po, a period of a hundred and forty days. In no single case could I recognise its failure. When some of our officers, who, from not taking it punctually, got slight attacks of remittent...
Page 94 - Of all the wretched, filthy, and contemptible places in this world of ours, none can present to the eye of a stranger so miserable an appearance, or can offer such disgusting and loathsome sights as this abominable Brass Town. Dogs, goats, and other animals were running about the dirty streets half starved, whose hungry looks could only be exceeded by the famishing appearance of the men, women, and children, which bespoke the penury and wretchedness to which they were reduced, while the sons of many...
Page 86 - The Benue is said to rise nine days' journey from Yola in a south-easterly direction, and the Faro seven days' journey distant, in a rock called Labul. During the rainy season, the country is inundated to a great extent by the two rivers ; which rise to their highest level towards the end of July, and remain at that level for forty days, namely, till the first days of September, when the waters begin to fall.
Page 52 - She is the first being he thinks of when awakening from his slumbers and the last he remembers when closing his eyes in sleep; to her he confides secrets which he would reveal to no other human being on the face of the earth. He cares for no one else in time of sickness, she alone must prepare his food, administer his...