JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 7

after me, I took my gun and presented it at them, when they

threw down the empty hammock and fled. The two messengers,

however, took me up and carried me to a town called Eto, where we were to change the bearers. The caboceer of this place sent us

a goat and a basket of yams, and Mr. Houtson gave him in return

a flask of rum. Here I procured liammock-men, and we left Eto

and proceeded on through thick woods to Sado or Isado, where we

halted in the palaver house. Here, as in other places since leaving

Puka, our articles of baggage were strictly counted in presence of

the caboceer. The people sung and danced all night around our

houses.

The soil between this place and Humba is generally a strong

red clay, and there must be considerable plantations not far from

the road, but none appear near the towns for the support of the numerous inhabitants. I judge we are not far from the banks of

the river which they say we are to cross to-morrow ; but old Acra,

the messenger, says, that the fetish at Gazie would kill any white man that came up the river, and that this is the only reason why we

did not come that way.

Monday, 12th.—Morning raw and hazy; our things going off*

with alacrity this morning, and hammock-men provided. Leaving

Sado, the road lay principally through thick woods for an hour, when we arrived at the town of Pidgie, where there are some fine

plantations of corn and plantains. The caboceer was all ready

to receive us : a fine civil young fellow, his name Lorokekri. They came in crowds to see us ; and on our expressing a wish to

proceed on without delay, he begged we would stop all day, as

neither he nor his people had ever seen white men before, and he

was desirous of giving us something to eat. Mr. Houtson and 1 went down to the river, embarked in a canoe, and crossed over to

the other side. We found there was no place clear of wood except

the footpath. The river we had to cross was about a quarter of