This want of respect to us may have been owing to the impressions conveyed to them by the Arabs, whose dhows have sometimes been taken by English cruisers when engaged in lawful trade.

Much foreign cloth, beads, and brass-wire were worn by these ferrymen--and some had muskets.
By Chitanda, near one of the slave crossing-places, we were robbed for the first time in Africa, and learned by experience that these people, like more civilized nations, have expert thieves among them.

It might be only a coincidence; but we never suffered from impudence, loss of property, or were endangered, unless among people familiar with slaving.
We had such a general sense of security, that never, save when we suspected treachery, did we set a watch at night.

Our native companions had, on this occasion, been carousing on beer, and had removed to a distance of some thirty yards, that we might not overhear their free and easy after-dinner remarks, and two of us had a slight touch of fever; between three and four o'clock in the morning some thieves came, while we slept ingloriously--rifles and revolvers all ready,--and relieved us of most of our goods.

The boat's sail, under which we slept, was open all around, so the feat was easy.
Awaking as honest men do, at the usual hour, the loss of one was announced by "My bag is gone--with all my clothes; and my boots too!" "And mine!" responded a second.