It was not till then that a general attack was made, for many of the people were in favour of Park, if they had dared to show it. Soon after the attack Park was killed, or at least mortally wounded, so that he died soon after he was taken into the presence of the King, who pretended to feel regret that the charge had not been paid without resorting to such a measure. Nearly all who were in the canoe were killed or mortally wounded. Park with his own hands fired the guns, while the others were loading the several muskets in their possession. The arms used by the natives were bows and spears.
Terrasso-weea was during the whole time an eyewitness of this scene, and he declares it to be his opinion, that had Park, after severing the hand, pushed off his canoe, and proceeded down the river, he might have got off without any more injury than the pelting with the stones. I questioned him respecting the falls represented to have been the cause of his canoe upsetting; but he declared that there are no such falls as to impede in any way the navigation of a canoe of any size for more than two hundred miles higher up; but merely a rapid current passing between some large boulders of granite, between which he had himself passed nearly the number of days in two moons.
He further stated in reply to questions from me, that Park was taken out of his canoe alive, but would not speak when taken before the King. All the property in the canoe was claimed by the King, and some of it distributed in presents to his courtiers. Terrasso-weea was presented with a small box, which, by his description, was either a tobacco-box and stopper, or a snuff-box and tooth-pick, but I should suppose the former.
I made minute inquiry respecting his papers, and was informed that about twenty-six moons after the occurrence, a white man came from Tripoli and purchased some large papers with crooked lines and much of writing upon them. These papers were secured in a long metal tube. I asked if he were not mistaken in the man who purchased the papers coming from Tripoli, and whether it was not from Constantinople. At this question, the merchant seemed a little offended, and again asserted that the man came from Tripoli. He said he purchased the papers at a high price, and when he had departed, a messenger was sent after him by the King to recall him, when another demand was made upon him, equal to the first payment before he was allowed to depart.
The other books in Park’s possession were sold in parts to the different priests and malaams, to make into amulets, which consist of slips of the paper rolled up hard, and sewn into a piece of fancy-coloured and stitched leather, and are suspended by a neatly plaited or twisted thong of goat-skin round the neck. He believed that some amulets had been carried more than two hundred leagues, or sixty days’ journey. I asked him how he came to leave the service of the King of Yaouri. In reply he told me that he had been six years without receiving any pay, and had ventured to solicit part payment, when the King told him that his insolence deserved death, which punishment he would certainly inflict, threatening the same fate to the priest I had seen at Abomey. Upon this threat, the two priests determined on making their escape, which they with difficulty effected; and had they not been in favour with the people, and the King disliked for his barbarity, their escape would have been impossible.
Having some pecuniary means they retreated to the kingdom of Bornou, where they remained for some years, living in the capacity of priests, and there they gained the favour of the sheik or king; but, unfortunately, the country becoming involved in war, and their master beheaded, they were compelled again to retreat, and ever since had been travelling as merchants, sometimes remaining four or five moons in one town. Terrasso-weea was also a dealer in slaves, when it suited his purpose. The goods in which he traded were chiefly Bornou ornaments—armlets, bracelets, and anklets, very heavy and richly chased or carved; native razors and beads, cloths of various manufacture and colours, various-coloured tobes, and neatly carved wooden bowls, bows and arrows, some brass rods, no doubt of European manufacture.
During our conversation my friend, the Bahia cook, seemed very anxious to ask some questions. I could not help admiring the difference between the sagacious behaviour of this man and that of his uncivilized brethren around him. He asked me a great many questions respecting Boothby and Johnston, and begged me to call on the firm, and deliver certain messages on my return to England. He intended to embrace the first opportunity of returning to Whydah, where he had some acquaintances, for he was not now comfortable, being entirely shut out from the civilized world. If he could only hear of any of his old master’s family being still alive in Liverpool, he would yet endeavour to get a passage thither.[16] The King had sent provision to us, and our host had also furnished us with more than a sufficiency; my excellent friend the cook begging to perform the cooking, declaring that it did his heart good to wait on a white man, but more especially an Englishman.
My friend and old acquaintance, the Tripoli man, seemed anxious to learn something of the steamers composing the Niger expedition. It appeared that he was quite acquainted with the disastrous fate of that expedition, and also with the abandonment of the model farm, which he says he himself visited after he saw me at Egga. He says that the natives regretted much the abandonment of the farm, but the people are still in hopes of our again returning to trade with them. So that though the lives of many good men were sacrificed, the expedition has excited an inclination to trade, which must always be the leading means of civilization.
The King now sent his messengers to ask if I had finished my palaver, as he wished me and the merchant to pay him a visit at his palace. Thither we accompanied the messenger, and found his Majesty seated cross-legged on a square piece of Turkey carpet. He had two large brass pans beside him, without any contents, consequently I suppose they were merely used as ornaments. He had two of his principals sitting close by him; these were his principal malaams. Upon my approach he rose from his position, and shook hands with me, and then reseated himself on a low, richly-carved stool, the malaams each nursing a leg on their lap.
The sun was now set, and this interview was by torch-light. The King asked a great many questions about the sovereign of my country, and when told that the monarch was a woman he seemed confounded. He next asked me if she had many husbands, and when I told him that she had only one, he shrunk up his shoulders. He then inquired if she went out to war in person. In fact, his inquiries were endless. Our palaver lasted about an hour, at the end of which we were allowed to retire.