CHAPTER X.

I'GBO.

Oct. 30.

We now bade adieu to Igára and Adó, and entered the Igbo territories. Immediately adjoining Abáji to the southward is Inám, the people of which, though an I'gbo race, formerly paid tribute to the Attá, and afterwards to Obí. A branch here joins the river, known as the Inám river, and the Inám country is nearly a day's canoe-journey up this stream. The people trade chiefly at Asabá and Onitsha, in country cloths, corn, yams, fowls, &c. Next to Inám, but nearer the river, is Nsúgbe or Isúgbe, founded upwards of twenty years ago by a man from Abó, who, having killed one of his wives, had to leave that place. The dialect spoken is Abó, and tribute was formerly paid to Obí; but, since his death, to nobody. Their town, also named Nsúgbe, is on the north side of the Inám river, but the district extends on both sides. The people deal in similar articles to those of Inám, but trade principally at Onitshá. Inám and Nsúgbe are supplied with muskets mostly from Iddá, to which place they are brought from Abó. At the time of our visit the

value of an ordinary musket at Iddá was from 10,000 to 12,000 cowries, and at Abó, from 8000 to 9000 cowries; the value of a flint at Abó was 20 cowries. Below Walker Island, on the right bank, stands a small village belonging to Asabá, and named A'param-U'gboru. The language is Abó, and its market is visited by traders from Igára, and from Inám. At half-past eleven we anchored off Asabá, and landing, Mr. May got an observation for latitude, after which we ascended a sloping path leading to the town. The inhabitants, at first rather alarmed, soon became reconciled to our appearance, and we were conducted to their King, followed by a large and gradually increasing crowd. Asabá is finely situated on a rising ground, about 100 feet above the river, and is surrounded by walls, and by palisades of tall trees. The huts are numerous, but widely apart; they are oblong, well-constructed, and many are whitewashed or coloured. The inhabitants, extremely numerous, were disposed to be friendly, but are a wild, rude-looking people, much tatooed. The principal marks are three perpendicular ones along the breast and belly, the centre one being straight, and the side ones curved; another behind, following the curve of the armpit, and going downwards; seven short, perpendicular incisions on the forehead, and a curved row of small lines under each eye. These are to be universally seen, but some extravagant individuals also sport others. The gardens are hedged in with tall coco-palms, plantains, and

bananas; yams are abundant, and fowls, fine sheep, and cattle seem plentiful. Altogether we felt surprised that such an unprepossessing race should have a town so rich, so clean, and so well laid out. All the men carry arms, muskets, knives, swords, &c., and many have in their hands a kind of musical, or rather, an acoustic instrument, made of a small elephant's-tusk such as a scrivelloe, polished and neatly ornamented externally, with a small square hole near the apex communicating with the central hollow, and through which, when they blow forcibly, a loud and disagreeable sound is produced. I was anxious to purchase one of these but did not succeed. We were conducted to the King's house, and seated, some on mats, some on carved wooden stools, under a verandah, which sheltered us from the intense heat of the sun. An immense crowd stood around, and their look, their manner, and above all their noise, told us we were among a people differing much from those we had lately been familiar with; in short, that we were once more among the active, though often troublesome, I'gbos. There are a number of petty chiefs in Asabá, who made their appearance in full costume, all clad in a similar manner. Each had round the waist a large piece of white calico, and a belt of leopard's skin. They wore red caps, decorated with white and red feathers, which I found are only borne by warriors, each feather denoting an enemy slain in actual warfare. Some of our entertainers had as many as five

or six, and I am told that Ajé at Abó is entitled to display seven. Round the eyes was a white-coloured ring, on the arms were ivory wristlets; strings of cowries and charms hung round their necks, and each carried in his hand a fan. At length the head chief, an old man, named Ezebógo, came forward, habited like the rest, but with more ornaments. After our salutations, I spoke of friendship, of trade, and of education, and particularly enlarged upon the evils of war, and the benefits of peace, all of which was well received. Some most delicious palm-wine was then handed round, of which we all drank deeply, and, refreshed by this delightful beverage, we arose, and, after another look round this extensive place, returned to our ship, accompanied by a messenger, who came for a present for Ezebógo. From some people on the shore my assistant got some nice specimens of fish, and of fresh-water crustaceans. There are very few canoes at Asabá, but for what reason I could not learn. It is excellently adapted for a trading-station, and any European in ordinary health could live here as well as in any similar tropical spot. The district behind Asabá is named Igbúsa, and in it are two towns called Ogbóri and Ogbóbi. A little above Asabá is said to be a village named Asabútshi. Palm-wine is the drink of all the I'gbo towns, and its use extends as far as Iddá, above which beer replaces it. The Muhammadans, though they will not touch beer, yet readily drink palm-wine. The palm-wine which we so admired at Asaba was

obtained from the oil-palm, and had been sweetened with honey.

Half-an-hour brought us to Onitsha, where on landing we found the market, which is held close to the river, nearly broken up, hardly any traders being left. Among the canoes were several from Abó. The town is situated from two to three miles from the river, and we had not time to visit it; but we met the King's son, who is named Odíri, and by him I sent a message to Akazúa his father. Onitsha is in Elugu, and the dialects spoken are E'lugu, Isuáma, and Abó. The first king of Onitsha was named Udógu, who was alive about the time of Laird and Lander's voyage. Odíri told us that the fancy cloths about which we had been so often inquiring, were made near Onitsha. He gave us the names of the following E'lugu towns, from which people attended the market held here every five days, namely, Obótshi, Ojá, U'mu, O'bba, Nkpó, AbájaEzongánran, Abája-O'bba, Uké, Akúku, Obú, Otó, Newú, Ozhi-Owére, Ofú-Abája, Ntéja, Nkuére, Nzhíbe. Different kinds of fancy cloths are distinguished by different names, as Owówo, A’naba-Obíri, and Nwéga. Mr. Crowther spoke to Odíri about sending teachers, and mentioned to him the desire of many E'lugus to come and settle here, on which Odíri said all would be willingly received and welcomed, and would be protected as long as they continued to conduct themselves properly. The country about and behind Onitshá is elevated and dry, and quite