JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 3

and hands were clapped, and fingers cracked at a great rate. He now came up to us, capering and dancing the whole way, and

shook us by the hand, a few of his attendants accompanying him.

He then began his speech, saying he was very glad that he now

saw white man ; and pointing to the various parts of his dress, he

said, This cloth is not made in my country, this cap is of white

man’s velvet, these trowsers are of white man’s nankeen, this is a

white man’s shawl ; we get all good things from white man, and we must therefore be glad when white man come to visit our

country. The two men who appeared next in authority to him-

self were stout good-looking men, natives of Bornou ; they were

dressed in the fashion of that country, with blue velvet caps on

their heads. Being Mahometans, they could not be prevailed on

to drink spirits, but the captain and his men drank each two

drams.

We paid a visit to the caboceer, or chief man of the town. We found him seated in the midst of his elders and women. He was an ancient, tall, stupid-looking man, dressed in a red silken

tobe, or long shirt ; on his head was a cap made of small glass

beads of various colours, surrounded by tassels of small gold-coloured

beads, and three large coral ones in front. The cap was the best

part of the man, for it was very neat; in his hand he held a fly-

flapper, the handle of which was covered with beads. After a number of compliments, we were presented with goroo-nuts and

water. We told him of our intention to proceed to Eyeo, that we were servants of the king of England, and that we wanted car-

riers for ourselves and baggage. We remained here for the night, and as all our baggage had not come up from the coast, Captain

Pearce went down to the beach after them.

As soon as we had removed into the caboceer's house he sent

us a present of a sheep, a basket of yams, and some fire-wood.

His wives and young women came peeping at us through the holes

b 2