October 20: Started early and anchored off the town of Igbebe about seven a.m., in safety, where we were welcomed by the crew of the canoe which had left us nearly seven weeks ago. Their anchorage was very close to shore, and consequently, exposed to the filth and stagnant water in some pits, which rendered the place very unfavourable to health. From this or other causes, Mr. Crawford was very unwell, and Mr. Gower, the second engineer, in a very precarious state of health, but all the natives were well. All the Europeans in the ‘Pleiad’ enjoyed what may be called excellent health in Africa, and I may, perhaps, say more so than is enjoyed for a length of time together on the coast. Since we commenced the ascent of the Tshadda, no one who had any thing to do on shore had been idle, either in communicating with the native chiefs, trading, or in prosecuting scientific researches; journeys were made, for instance, to Hamaruwa, a distance of fourteen miles inland, by a very bad road, and without conveyance, exposed to every inconvenience, without suffering in the least from these exertions. Our Krumen and the native crew from Sierra Leone have suffered from sickness up the Tshadda, but the cause could not be assigned to the climate; it was from want of proper food, and over exertion. Their blood, consequently, from want of adequate nourishment degenerated, and they began to swell from their feet, with pain and weakness in the joints; but no sooner was their diet changed, than they regained strength.