After discussing the
question with Frank, he determined to abstain from pushing farther
into the interior, but to keep along northward, and then turning
west with the sweep of the coast to travel slowly along, keeping
at about the same distance as at present from the sea, and finally
to come down either upon Cape Coast or Sierra Leone.
This journey would occupy a considerable time. They would cross
countries but little known, and would have an ample opportunity for
the collection of specimens, which they might, from time to time,
send down by the various rivers they would cross, to the trading
stations at their mouths.
It was felt that after this encounter with the natives it would be
imprudent in the extreme to push further into the interior. They
would have continual battles to fight, large numbers of the natives
would be killed, and their collecting operations would be greatly
interfered with. As a lesson to the natives the village was burnt
to the ground; the presents, which the king in the hurry of his
flight had left behind him, being recovered.
A liberal allowance of tobacco was served out as a "dash" or present
to the Fans, and a bright silk handkerchief given to each.
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