Voyage of the Peep o'Day

Summary

1867

23 November

Peep o'Day arrived at Cape Palmas.

25 November

Landed nine shooks and 11 bundles of hoop iron which I arranged to have made up (with Mr. Cooper) and filled in readiness for my return from Settra Krou-to which place I have decided upon going as having found Townsend's headman at this place (on my arrival by steamer) sent hither to procure 30 Kroomen for his master in readiness for the Peep o'Day∼\ despatched him by one of McGill's cutters to get as many boys ready as possible previous to my arrival at his town. Sailed for Settra Krou at noon.

26 November

Anchored off Settra Krou at 10 a.m. Found that the headman I sent from Cape Palmas had only reached this yesterday on account of some stoppages for the purpose of trading, made by the boat on her way hither. This was communicated by a Kruman named Purser who with a lot more canoes came off to the schooner. Got three boys.

27 November

Engaged 57 Kruboys. Total engaged at Settra Krou 60 boys-In the afternoon finding no more boys coming off we raised the anchor and left. The headman meeting us off Fishtown with three boys (included in above number) he told me that he had been obliged to go down to that town before he could get a canoe to bring him off his own townspeople having refused the loan of their canoes in consequence of my not having sent the old or chief people a dash of rum &c.

29 November

Arrived at Cape Palmas at 8 a.m. Procured eight casks (40“) of water which I found already filled the ninth not having been made up for want of sufficient hoop iron, as the ship was short of water her two 36 inch casks were also filled and brought off besides wood and sand for filling the tub, and upon which is made the fire required to cook the men's rice. Two of our Krumen ran away here I suppose on account of what they heard from the Cape Palmas men of Fernando Po-this was the more easy as I had employed ten of them in the boats belonging to Mr. Cooper-used for bringing off the wood and water.