We returned to the house of the merchant, where we had supper, and were afterwards accommodated with a comfortable mat and cloth to sleep upon. I slept very soundly, and did not awake till aroused by the noise of people getting their goods ready for the market. There are several markets in this town, consequently they are held on different days. I arose, and the Bahia cook had prepared some delicious dishes for my breakfast. The poor fellow seemed quite delighted to attend to my wants.
At breakfast I ate by myself, the merchant preferring other dishes. I made inquiry respecting the distance to Timbuctoo. He said that he had come from Timbuctoo in ten days, by commencing his journey before the sun, and travelling all day, only stopping to eat once. I found by comparing the day’s journey that he had come from the Dabadab Mountains. Thirty miles was about his day’s journey. He described Timbuctoo as not nearly so large as Adofoodia, and that it was only remarkable as a mart for the exchange of goods as being convenient for that purpose. It is a great salt market, but has no manufacture.
The natives are chiefly employed in loading and unloading goods for the different traders, who assemble here to meet the various caravans and canoes, which arrive there at certain periods. A high duty is imposed upon every article of trade carried thither, in consequence of which great disturbance has been caused of late years, by the merchants refusing to pay it. Timbuctoo is described as being a considerable distance from the Joleeba, or Niger, up a tributary stream. Terrasso-weea informed me, as also the Tripoli merchant, that there are thirty-six branches or tributary rivers. All of these within one league run into the Niger, or Joleeba, near the Timbuctoo branch. Adofoodia is as large as Abomey, and its trade nearly equal in native merchandise. It is by observation, in latitude 13° 6ʹ N. and by reckoning 1° 3ʹ East longitude.
The market at Adofoodia is well supplied with nearly every article already mentioned, except tobacco, which I did not observe. Slaves are here sold in great numbers. During my stroll round the town I was followed by dense crowds of people wherever I went. Upon my return to my quarters, I was visited by the King, who expressed a wish to see me fire out of my gun.
To gratify his curiosity I shot a pigeon which was flying past. This excited great surprise. He sent me a head of cowries to treat my men on my return to Dahomey. I had now only a few knives left, two of which I gave him, as well as some needles. I also gave some presents to my other kind friends, with whom I felt myself quite at home. They pressed me hard to stop another day, but circumstances would not permit me, and after being furnished with another head of cowries by Terrasso-weea, we marched on our return for the Kong Mountains, during which nothing very extraordinary occurred further than a slight fever; and on the 13th August, in the evening, we once more, to my great joy, arrived at Baffo, where I found my guard and the captain almost in despair.
FOOTNOTES:
[16] I have, since my return, called on the firm of Messrs. Boothby and Johnston, and found this story perfectly correct. His old masters gave him an excellent character.
CHAPTER VIII.
Return to Baffo—Anxiety of my Caboceer—Rejoicings for my Return—Our March—Fine Plain—Plants—Neutral Ground—Natives of the Dassa Mountains—Agriculture—The Annagoos, dangerous Enemies—Poisoned Arrows—Poisonous Plants—Alarm of my Attendants on my plucking it—Fatal Effects of this Plant and Dread of it by the Natives—Number of the Natives blind, supposed to be the result of it—Unsuccessful Attack on them by the Dahomans—Spiral Rocks—Hostile Demeanour of the Natives—They follow us with Menaces—Some Account of these Mountaineers, and of the Dassa Mountains—The Blue Eagle—Cataracts—Beautiful Plain—One of my Cases of Rum broken by a Carrier—Twisted Marble of Variegated Colours—Path covered with Pepper-trees—Monkeys—Logazohy—Mayho’s Town—The Caboceer—The Merchants—Their Names—Carelessness with respect to Fire—Visit of the Caboceer.
I was told by some of my people whom I had left at Baffo, that the captain or caboceer had almost starved himself, having for some days after my march from Baffo to the Fellattah country refused food. He expressed his certain belief that in the event of his returning without me to Abomey he should lose his head. The character of the Dahoman is proverbial for being easily depressed, and as easily elevated. I was certainly a very welcome sight to all my people whom I had left at Baffo. Immediately after my arrival a messenger was despatched to Abomey to acquaint the King with my return. He had sent a messenger daily to Baffo to ascertain whether any tidings had been obtained of my safety. These communications were kept up by a number of messengers stationed at intervals between Abomey and Baffo. After a short palaver, in which my motives for clandestinely leaving Baffo were condemned by them and justified by myself, I broached one of the rum kegs I had left at Baffo when I left for the Dabadab Mountains, and gave each of my people a dram. This soon settled all differences, and in a short time the merry dance succeeded to doubts and extreme anxiety.