JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 11

was seated on a large leathern cushion, which was placed on a mat

covered with scarlet cloth. On the cloth I was going to sit down,

but the ladies very unceremoniously whipt it from under me, and I

squatted myself on the mat; his female attendants sung in chorus

very beautifully: the drummers were at a more respectable distance,

and the whole space in front of his house was covered with people. Here also were the worshippers, who paid their respects in due form

to their master, going out and coming in three times. We shook

hands with him. He said he was glad to see us ; that whatever we

had to say to the king of Eyeo we must first deliver to him ; that

if he approved of our palaver, so would the king; but if not, neither would the king of Eyeo. This seemed somewhat ungracious and

consequential, especially when coupled with his apparent inattention

while the interpreter was speaking to him : but on our explaining to him that we had nothing of particular importance to say to the king

of Eyeo beyond a request that he would accept the king of England’s

respects, and grant a passage through his country, he said all was

right ; that he was glad we should see the king of Eyeo’s face ; that God would give us a good path, and that he would forward us right on w ithout any trouble. We then asked him for a house : he said he would give us into the bands of his principal servant, who w ould

lend us his house, to which we went. We found it pretty well oc-

cupied with people, but there was a room each for the sick, and Houtson and I took up our quarters in the verandah. In the

evening we were visited by the caboceer incognito. He was now

quite a different man : his servant Akoni, who had come with us from Badagry, sat down, and the caboceer made a seat of his knee. He now conversed freely, gave us a great deal of good advice, and spoke of God more like a Christian than a pagan. He said that the king of Eyeo would not allow us to go through his dominions, but

that he would give us horses and carriers to bring us to the king ; but that the Eyeo people were unaccustomed to carry hammocks, and we must go on horseback. He repeatedly assured us of safe