This after all, was a fortunate circumstance, inasmuch as the two brothers, having unconsciously jumped into the same canoe found themselves in each other’s company, and were thus afforded, for a short time at least, the pleasure of conversing without interruption.

The palaver not having yet concluded, they had full leisure to contemplate the scene around them.  They had moored a little way from the banks of the river; in front of them was the marketplace, which was crammed with market people, from all parts of the neighbouring country of different tribes:  a great multitude of wild men, of ferocious aspect and savage uncouth manners.  To these belonged the choice either of giving them life and liberty, or dooming them to slavery or death.  In the latter determination, their minds might be swayed by suspicion or caprice, or influenced by hatred.  In the former, they might be guided by the hopes of gain, or biassed by the fear of punishment; for many of them had come from the sea-coast; and such an adventure as theirs could not long remain concealed from the knowledge of their countrymen.  There happened to be amongst the savages, a few well-dressed mahommedan priests, who had come late to the market from the northward.  These were decidedly the friends of the Landers.  Many times they blessed them with uplifted hands and compassionate countenances, exclaiming, “Allah sullikee,” God is king.  Nor did they confine themselves to simple expressions of pity or concern; but as they subsequently learnt, they joined the assembly and spoke in their favour with warmth and energy, taxing those who had assaulted them, with cowardice, cruelty, and wrong:  and proposing to have them beheaded on the spot, as a just punishment for their crime.  This was bold language, but it produced a salutary effect on the minds of the hearers.

In the afternoon, the Landers were ordered to return to the small island whence they had come, and the setting of the sun being the signal for the council to dissolve, they were again sent for to the market.  The people had been engaged in deliberation and discussion during the whole of the day; and with throbbing hearts they received their resolution, in nearly the following words:—­

“That the king of the country being absent, they had taken upon themselves to consider the occurrence, which had taken place in the morning, and to give judgment accordingly.  Those of their things which had been saved from the water, should be restored to them; and the person, who first commenced the attack on the white men, should lose his head, as a just retribution for his offence, having acted without the chief’s permission:  that with regard to themselves, they must be considered as prisoners, and consent to be conducted on the following morning to Obie, king of the Eboe country, before whom they were to undergo an examination, and whose will and pleasure concerning their persons would then be explained.”