[2] I found this man was a native of Houssa, which accounts for his surname.
[3] The inhabitants of Paweea are about three thousand.
[4] Caboceer.
[5] Brother to the caboceer.
[6] Commander-in-chief of the soldiers.
[7] Second in command of the soldiers.
CHAPTER III.
The River Loto—Jokao Mountain—Jetta—Reception by the Caboceer—Ruins of the old Town of Kpaloko—Its curious Formation—Its former Importance on account of its Manufactures—Desolating Effects of War—Attachment of the Natives to particular Spots—Natural Tanks in the Mountains—Mount Koliko—Precipitous Granite Rock—Similarity to Scottish Scenery—The Nanamie—Laow, and the Laow Mountain—Kossieklanan Cascade—Tamargee Mountains—Mineral Spring—Mount Koglo—Insulting Conduct of the Caboceer—Whagba—Caboceer’s Hospitality—The Town—Inhabitants—Kindness of Athrimy, the Caboceer of Teo—War-Dance—Drunkenness—Names of the Caboceer, &c.—Game—Curious Pigeons—An Incident—Absurd Notion—Departure from Whagba—Names of the Caboceer, &c.—Hospitality of the Caboceers of Laow and Massey—Beautiful Valley—Impregnable Position—The Caboceer of Kpaloko—Grandeur of the Scene—Jeka Houssoo—The Dabadab Mountains—Difficulty in obtaining Information—Resolve to leave my Attendants—My Scheme—Departure—Zafoora—Soil, Grain, Trees, Plants, &c.—Shea-Butter used for Lamps.
July 18th.—Early in the morning we got ready for our march to Whagba. I found my old friend Kpatchie waiting with an extra guard of one hundred men, and to my surprise found a number of the Baffo soldiers ready to escort me some distance from the town. We marched out with the band playing one of the favourite Dahoman airs, which seemed to me to have more of discord than music about it. On passing the gates, the path bears NN.E. across a level plain. After two miles we crossed the river Loto, a fine clear stream, running east; and at two miles and a half, and one hundred yards to the right of the path, a spot was pointed out to me where the King of Dahomey and his army had encamped for the space of three months, during the war with the King of Kpaloko, who, after a siege which lasted all that time, was compelled to surrender at discretion.
The plain here is well cultivated. Bearing eastward, about eight miles distant, the mountain of Jokao is seen; and on the left, about two miles and a half distant, is a large town, named Jetta, situated on a mountain of that name. At three miles and a half we were met by the caboceer of Jetta. We found him and his soldiers awaiting our arrival in a market-place, through which we had to pass. This market-place, like nearly all others, is shaded with large trees. The caboceer received us with great courtesy, his guard keeping up an irregular fire of musketry. After the usual compliments between both parties, we were presented with plenty of provisions brought from their own town. Having refreshed ourselves, I presented the caboceer and several of his head men with some trifling articles of hardware. Jetta is between the two mountains, Jetta and Kpaloko. The longitudinal form of these mountains is north and south.