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brandy, and I firmly believe any one of them would sell his whole generation for a single bottle of that stimulating cordial. Several of them speak broken English, which they have picked up from the trading-vessels touching here, and mentioned, amongst other topics, the ill-fated expedition of Captain Tuckey, in His Majesty's ship Congo.

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Some of the chiefs, upon coming on board, and having a little brandy given them, seemed to consider it in the same light as the Arab does his salt, and insisted upon our firing a gun to let all around know that we were friends, and come, as they expressed it, "to make trade," under the impression that we intended trafficking for slaves. The gun appeared to be well understood, for immediately afterwards numbers came on board. Their first request was always for a little brandy, which, if complied with, was sure to be followed by a little more, until David's immortal sow would have been a sober brute by the side of these. When given to understand that we intended proceeding up the river upon the sea-breeze setting in, one of them stood forward and said, that he would immediately bring the wind for us, (having, I suppose, previously observed that it was coming,) at the same time wishing to know whether we should prefer a gentle breeze or a strong one; having received some description of answer, he immediately mounted the poop, and took out one of his Feteish, or charms. He then gave several loud blasts, throwing his arms about in the most violent manner; then paused for a few minutes, standing in the most ridiculous attitude, when he commenced expostulating warmly with Mr. Feteish for not obeying his first commands. His stony-hearted hearer was not, however, to be bullied out of a breeze; this our interceder determined to turn to his own advantage by requesting a little brandy to coax him into good-humour. Upon our indulging his whim, it was highly ridiculous to see the vagabond take a mouthful, and go through all the motions of spitting it on his charm, taking at the same time the greatest care not to expend more than one drop upon the obstinate Feteish; who, in spite of his eloquence and liberality, would not exert himself in our cause. Having continued this mummery for some time, and finding no more brandy was to be obtained, he left off his incantations, with an assurance that the breeze had been sent for, and would shortly be with us. Patience fortunately did more for us than the antics of the savage, and in an hour or two we obtained the requisite gale, when we proceeded up the southern side of the river to a place called Scotchman's Nose, a distance of seventeen miles.

Monkeys are extremely numerous at this place, each of the b
being a perfect colony of these intellectual brutes, who here s
society by comparison with their human relatives. In many
I have seen more sagacity displayed by this animal, th
natives of the woods which they inhabit; they keep
watch constantly on the look-out, who, immediatel
appearing in their domain, gives a signal to all f

be on the qui vive! When this has been giver
cult matter to see one, although they can be'
tion, and an occasional pair of eyes, or bit
from behind some neighbouring branc

"destructiveness" very prominent, I was induced upon one occasion to shoot at an impertinent fellow, who, I could not help thinking, had been amusing himself at my expense quite long enough, chattering on each side of me without my getting a glimpse of him during the whole of my walk. At one unlucky moment, he appeared before me with a most malicious grin upon his countenance, when I levelled my gun and fired; immediately after the report, I thought all the imps of darkness were rebuking me for my cruelty, by the various discordant sounds which broke out on every side. When silence ensued, I heard gentle wailings of so pitiable a description, and so much like those of a human being, that it was some time before I could convince myself I had not wounded one of my boat's crew. At first, I thought the unfortunate little object of my aim had escaped from the fate which I had intended him, when, after a slight effort to retain his hold, I observed him fall to the earth from the bough on which he had been perched. Upon going to the spot, I found the wounded animal moaning in the agonies of death with a hand placed upon its bleeding side. When I approached, it did not attempt to move, but fixed a large pair of eyes upon me with a look which I never shall forget, and I thought, pointed to the wound, as if to reproach me for the act. As the appeal came home to my feelings, and the poor little victim of my cruelty appeared in great pain, I sent another ball into its head to end at once its sufferings, and then turned from the spot, leaving the lifeless little body with a determination never again to amuse myself at the expense of humanity.

Wild parrots, and many other birds of beautiful plumage, are here found in great numbers, a few of which we procured.

Upon arriving at Scotchman's Nose, two boats were dispatched; myself in the gig to survey the southern shore, and Lieut. Boteler in the pinnace to Cape Palmeiro, which forms the northern entrance of the river. The breadth at Scotchman's Nose is not more than one mile and a half, with rather shallow water. As the weather was fine, and the Barracouta had dropped down with the stream for the purpose of taking soundings, at sunset I anchored my boat about two hundred yards off shore for the night, and in the morning continued the survey. We entered a small river to breakfast, where we observed several canoes making for the opposite side, in evident fear at our approach; they got quickly to land, and leaving their boats on the beach, took to the bush, where they resisted all our attempts to draw them out. On leaving this river we met another of our boats, which had been sent to as me in the survey.

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he evening, I was much surprised to hear that
dan tack upon Lieut. Boteler and his crew,
considered very docile and friendly
vhen near Cape Palmeiro, the pin-
got into shoal water, and shortly
they had some difficulty in getting
reek just by, observing her so close
g, immediately took to their
y of them, mustering in
nd the point of the creek
oat; fortunately for her, she

had by this time contrived to gain deeper water, as, when just within musket-shot, they set up a most horrid war-whoop, and dashed on nearly in a line towards the pinnace. Lieut. Boteler by this time had no doubt of their hostile intentions, and desired his men to fire a volley of musketry over their heads, as a kind of notice to quit; this, however, produced no effect, and they still continued pulling on, upon which he fired another volley; this producing no more effect than the former, and as his small party, only twelve men, would have had no chance at close quarters against their numbers, he ordered a long one-pounder to be fired at them; this appeared to astonish the natives amazingly, and they began quickly to disperse, a few only continuing their course, but a musket or two soon produced the same effect upon them. To secure their retreat and prevent a rally, the long gun was again fired amongst them by way of farewell, which intimidated them so effectually, that they all pulled towards the shore with the utmost speed. It was fortunate they were so easily disheartened, as had they got alongside, their increasing numbers must ultimately have overcome the boat's crew, and a general massacre would have been the consequence. As neither their Morning Post or Gazette ever mentioned the loss sustained, we had no opportunity of learning what execution our guns did amongst these hostile savages; but as our men were well practised in the use of their arms, they no doubt got a lesson which may prove serviceable to European ships visiting this coast in future. In justice to our Commanders, I must here state, that we had the most positive orders never to fire a shot at the natives, unless the most urgent necessity required it. This principle of humanity was strictly attended to; and I feel confident in stating, that during our constant intercourse with these ignorant and generally treacherous savages, not one drop of blood was shed which was not justified by self-preservation.

.

Numerous islands are seen constantly floating down the Congo, some of which have rather a picturesque appearance. They are formed by mangrove bushes and other loose trees, which collect upon the banks, and are then carried away by the rush of water, which generally takes place after heavy rains. The inhabitants of the upper part of the river make use of these by fastening their canoes to them, when they gain an easy and expeditious passage down at the rate of six or seven miles an hour. Vessels on this coast are frequently deceived with regard to their situation by these apparent islands, which sometimes drift a long way to seaward, at the same time they serve as guides to those who are acquainted with their situation, and from whence they

come.

It is extremely difficult to get any provisions at this part of the river, the natives are in so miserable a state of poverty; if you can persuade them to procure some, two or three days must elapse before they can be obtained. The principal rendezvous of slavers is a place named Talltrees, situated about forty miles up this river.

(To be continued.)

H. B. R.

ON THE STATE OF EFFICIENCY OF THE BRITISH ARMY.

THE existing and relative state of the several powers of Europe, and the vast armaments of France called into being by a government neither fixed in principle nor consolidated as to power, if they do not importunately demand an increase of our army, must yet imperatively dictate that its organization should, to the extent of its numbers, be complete; that it should possess the utmost possible facility of expansion on an emergency, and that our navy should be adapted to render abortive any aggression on the part of an enemy on the first ebullition of hostilities. In this view, the remarks of the United Service Journal for the month of March, on the application of steam as the propelling power to ships of war, and the observations of a correspondent on the organization of the British artillery, must be admitted as important; still, farther discussion on these points may be admissible; as much, far more than can now be offered, remains to be said on either subject. The present organization of the British infantry leaves little to desire; the reserve companies of regiments on foreign service (though the system for certain reasons is liable to objection) are admirably calculated for facilitating the formation, in the least possible time, of as many battalions; the number of officers required to render them complete being easily obtained from the half-pay. Under experienced officers, and with a nucleus such as the reserve companies afford, a few weeks would render recruits respectable and efficient infantry. But cavalry, whatever be its organization, however ample the means at its command, both as to men and horses, requires considerable time to derive from an extension of its numbers a corresponding accession of strength. A dragoon when complete in his drills as an infantry soldier, has still to be instructed in the sword exercise, to be made a good groom and an expert horseman; his horse, too, requires to be brought into condition, and to be trained for the purposes of war. The British cavalry, to the extent of its numbers, may confidently face the best cavalry in Europe, but it cannot be hastily augmented. An opinion may be hazarded, that the horses, generally speaking, are too aged, and it is perhaps to be regretted, that breeding studs under military control do not exist; the general application of steam to public carriages would probably compel the adoption of that measure.

Since the sudden creation of efficient cavalry is from its very nature impracticable, the want of it can only be remedied (as it ever has been by able generals) by a numerous, well-appointed, and highly instructed artillery; such an artillery as Great Britain cannot now bring into the field, but which she, in limited numbers, possessed at the conclusion of the late war. At that period, the British artillery was admitted by all foreign armies to be the first in Europe, both as concerned its matériel and personnel. The officers might, perhaps, be best judged of by the efficiency which their arm had attained. The gunners were the finest body of men in the service, and never failed either in zeal, activity, gallantry, or devotion to their officers and to their duty; they were intelligent in a degree which no other branch of the service had ever attained; their esprit du corps could not be exceeded; they were not less remarkable for their admirable bearing in the field, than for their orderly and respectable conduct in quarters. The drivers were a class of men particularly fitted for their duties; they were gallant soldiers,

had by this time contrived to gain deeper water, as, when just within musket-shot, they set up a most horrid war-whoop, and dashed on nearly in a line towards the pinnace. Lieut. Boteler by this time had no doubt of their hostile intentions, and desired his men to fire a volley of musketry over their heads, as a kind of notice to quit; this, however, produced no effect, and they still continued pulling on, upon which he fired another volley; this producing no more effect than the former, and as his small party, only twelve men, would have had no chance at close quarters against their numbers, he ordered a long one-pounder to be fired at them; this appeared to astonish the natives amazingly, and they began quickly to disperse, a few only continuing their course, but a musket or two soon produced the same effect upon them. To secure their retreat and prevent a rally, the long gun was again fired amongst them by way of farewell, which intimidated them so effectually, that they all pulled towards the shore with the utmost speed. It was fortunate they were so easily disheartened, as had they got alongside, their increasing numbers must ultimately have overcome the boat's crew, and a general massacre would have been the consequence. As neither their Morning Post or Gazette ever mentioned the loss sustained, we had no opportunity of learning what execution our guns did amongst these hostile savages; but as our men were well practised in the use of their arms, they no doubt got a lesson which may prove serviceable to European ships visiting this coast in future. In justice to our Commanders. I must here state, that we had the most positive orders never to fire a shot at the natives, unless the most urgent necessity required it. This principle of humanity was strictly attended to; and I feel confident in stating, that during our constant intercourse with these ignorant and generally treacherous savages, not one drop of blood was shed which was not justified by self-preservation.

Numerous islands are seen constantly floating down the Congo, some of which have rather a picturesque appearance. They are formed by mangrove bushes and other loose trees, which collect upon the banks, and are then carried away by the rush of water, which generally takes place after heavy rains. The inhabitants of the upper part of the river make use of these by fastening their canoes to them, when they gain an easy and expeditions passage down at the rate of six or seven miles an hour. Vessels on this coast are frequently deceived with regard to their situation by these apparent islands, which sometimes drift a long way to seaward, at the same time they serve as guides to those who are acquainted with their situation, and from whence they

come.

It is extremely difficult to get any provisions at this part of the river, the natives are in so miserable a state of poverty; if

persuade them to procure some, two or three days must el they can be obtained. The principal rendezvous of sle named Talltrees, situated about forty miles up this ri▾

(To be continued.)

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