The town belonging to Mayho by right of conquest, the honour of accommodating me with this apartment was claimed by these men, Mayho having been appointed white man’s guardian or father during his sojourn in the Dahoman kingdom. This circumstance seemed to cause a certain degree of jealousy on the part of the caboceer and head men, who insinuated that the apartments were not sufficiently good for the King’s white stranger to lodge in. However, I expressed myself quite satisfied and comfortable. After being supplied with a thick rush-mat and a country-cloth, I stripped off all my wet clothes, and wrapped myself in the cloth.

The whole front of my house was open, consequently crowds, both young and old of both sexes, pressed eagerly almost into my apartment, to see my white skin, which seemed greatly to excite their curiosity. In about an hour after our arrival, the caboceer sent ten large calabashes of ready-cooked provisions for me to distribute amongst my people, and a few minutes afterwards the merchants brought me thirty-three more dishes, holding about twenty English bushels, with one live Guinea-fowl, a duck of the Muscovy breed, and several common fowls.

The merchants, six in number, upon presenting me with the provisions, prostrated themselves, the principal a little in advance of the others, when after rubbing the upper parts of their naked persons with the dust, or rather mud, they raised themselves to their knees, upon which they remained resting on their hams, the custom always in addressing a superior. The principal or head man, acting as a spokesman, expressed gratification at having an opportunity of displaying their gratitude and good feeling towards their King and his stranger, who had condescended to visit their country, and hoped that this would not be the last opportunity which would be afforded them of testifying their good feeling to an Englishman. They said that it was owing to the skill and goodness of white men who brought white man’s goods into their country, that they were enabled to keep up a trade superior to the kingdoms in the interior; then after expressing a wish that I would soon again pay them another visit, the head man begged that I would do him the honour to enter their names in my book. They were as follows:—

Zisau.
Bossou.
Degano.
Ossou.
Doyou.
Bokaw.

The caboceer and merchants were previously made aware of our intention to visit their town, and were therefore enabled to get food prepared for us. A strong fire was kindled inside my house, and my wet clothes hung round to dry during the night. I have often been surprised at their carelessness with respect to fire. During the rainy season it is generally kindled inside their huts, which even in the centre seldom exceed eight feet in height, and though the thatch reaches within three feet of the ground, yet accidents seldom occur. It is true, they have generally little to lose by fire, the extent of their furniture being a stool or two, and a few earthen pots of native manufacture, in which they cook their food, and a few gourds or calabashes. The roof alone can be destroyed, the walls being thick and of clay, hardened by fire.

August 16th.—Early in the morning I was visited by the caboceer Chaou, who according to custom came to wish me good morning. He introduced all his head men to me, explained the nature of each of their offices. Soon afterwards, a number of the caboceer’s wives arrived, accompanied by double their own number of slaves loaded with provisions, which were presented to myself and people. As soon as this ceremony was concluded, the person appointed to taste each dish, as well as one of my own people, partook of a small portion of each, to show us that there was nothing poisonous contained in it. After the several dishes were all distributed, Chaou, in a whisper, begged the captain of my guard to ask if I would condescend to enter his own name and those of his head men in my book. Of course I readily assented, and entered as follows:—

Chaou.[18]
Adjutabellee.
Douzougoukeny.
Amouzoukpway.
Bozou-nogoodithay.
Annessou.
Aladee.
Nah.
Dosoutimee.
Dojee.
Adjobolee.
Awalla.
Alee.
Atepwhahoo.
Asseedaw.
Agasahogloo.
Kadjo.
Kapo.

FOOTNOTES:

[17] After my return to Whydah, I happened to mention this circumstance to a Portuguese slave-merchant, at the same time doubting the truth of the powers of this plant. He assured me of the correctness of this information, and that the same plant is to be found in the Brazils.

[18] Caboceer.