He asked in what way we would pass the merchandise I proposed to barter into his country, as he said that the great Kings of Dahomey and Yarriba would not allow any other articles than such as they approved of to pass through their country into the interior. To this I replied that we could come up the great river Niger, which was not known here by that name; though I soon ascertained that he had a perfect knowledge of the unfortunate expedition up that river, with the fire canoes, as he called them; and he even knew of the disasters which happened to that expedition, assuring me that that season was the most fatal to the natives in his own and other countries in the interior, which had been known during the lifetime of the oldest man then living.
The Niger appears to be known here only by the name Joleeba, not Joliba. Only a few people here professed to have ever seen it. Fever and small-pox seem to be the most dreaded of all diseases; though a very loathsome disease prevails, which in England is generally called yaws. Some are so afflicted with it, that the odour from their person is almost unbearable; others are one mass of eruption with holes in the arms and legs even to the bone.
After we had sufficiently rested ourselves, I proposed resuming my march, and looked out some Jew’s harps, and a pair of small scissors, with some needles, as a present to the King, excusing myself for offering him such trifling articles, by informing him that I was not aware that I should come so far, but in my next journey I promised to make him some more valuable presents. He then commenced a long list of the articles which he would prefer that I should bring on my next visit, to which of course I assented.
His Majesty expressed a great desire that I should remain that night, but as my journey was long, and I was anxious to get it over, I declined his kind offer, and resumed my march, accompanied by a messenger sent by the King to introduce me to the chief of the next town, which we reached in about six miles more. This town is named Babakanda. Around it the land is in high cultivation, bearing excellent crops of various sorts of corn and rice, as well as many bulbous plants for consumption. Here we were also tolerably well received, probably on account of the King’s messenger. This town is much larger than Koma, and has got a palace or a royal residence, where the King often resides.
The King Chosee is sovereign of this town as well as many others in this neighbourhood. The caboceer of this place received us without great ceremony, and at first seemed rather shy and diffident, till the King’s messenger intimated my knowledge of Terrasso-weea and my journey to Adafoodia. He then showed more familiarity and confidence. We asked him for some wood to kindle a fire to boil some corn, which we carried with us, and tried to buy some fowls, but they were so very dear, that we could not make a bargain for any of them. They asked sometimes twenty strings of cowries for one fowl, though, as I have said, one string and a half was the market-price. I was much annoyed at this, but would even have purchased at their own price, if they would have taken any of my articles in exchange; however, the caboceer would not take any thing but money in payment, though he asked greedily for presents. I gave him only a paper of needles, however, as a remuneration for the wood with which he supplied us.
The chief manufacture of this town is leather and sabres of an inferior description, remaining in whatever position they are bent. Ginger is grown here in great abundance, as well as rice and yams of a very large description. The stock of cattle is also abundant, though not quite so handsome as those of the Mahee country. The natives are very shy of intercourse with strangers, consequently I had little opportunity of knowing by inquiry much of their locality beyond my own observation. The town appeared to contain about nine or ten thousand inhabitants.
At day-break on the 26th July we breakfasted off a few heads of boiled corn, and marched from Babakanda, bearing N. 33° W., true bearing, varying during the day’s journey of twenty-eight miles, from 33° to 25°, 20° to 80° W. During the first twelve miles the country was nearly of the same character as last described, except that I observed the springs in this neighbourhood to contain a greater quantity of carbonate of iron. At thirteen miles we arrived at the town of Seka. Here we entered with little ceremony, though our sudden intrusion did not seem quite agreeable to the caboceer. Probably this feeling was roused by our not having forwarded a messenger to acquaint him with our attention of visiting him, so that he might be able to make a greater display of his grandeur and show of dress, of which they are generally very fond. We found him in the market-place apparently very busy, for he appeared to monopolize the direction and regulate the prices of all merchandise and manufactures exposed in the outer market.
Slaves were exposed in great numbers in the market for sale, some in irons and others without. It appears that those wearing irons were strangers, brought from a distance, and the others were in many instances the children and relatives of the sellers. It may not be perhaps generally known, that the children of domestic slaves are invariably the property of the owners of the parents, and are bought and sold in a similar manner to our cattle, when disposed of by the breeders in the public market. The outer market is outside of the walls, under the shade of large trees, but when a town or city has two walls, the public market is held within the outer walls. This market is often attended by strangers from a great distance. The private market is invariably held within the walls; and if the town is large, there are several market-places in the most convenient parts of the town.
The caboceer and his officers retain the power of regulating the prices, as I have before stated; and as the greater part of the trade (with the exception of any European goods which may find their way into these remote parts) is entirely in his hands, on the great public market-days he is always busily engaged in the purchase of goods for his private markets. His wives and slaves are then stationed in the inner markets with different articles for sale, and many of the younger boys and girls are sent round the towns in the neighbourhood, hawking light goods for sale.
The kolla-nut is a great article of trade here, and seems much prized by the natives. From its extreme bitterness it is an excellent tonic, and is very serviceable in promoting moisture in the mouth when parched for want of water. The kaom (saltpetre) in its original state is sold here, but at a much higher rate than in the Mahee country. Cloths are also manufactured here with considerable taste, as also bridles and saddles, ornamented with cowries. The market-places are arranged similarly to our system in Europe, different articles being sold in places specially appointed for their sale.