[1] This may appear an exaggeration, but I assure my readers, that I have had a large quantity taken from a very severe wound I received when in the Niger expedition. Dr. Williams and Dr. Thompson can corroborate my assertion. The African fly blows live maggots instead of eggs.
CHAPTER II.
The Caboceer’s Kindness to my Servant—Presents—Names of Caboceer, &c.—Granite Mountains—Tanks—The Aditay—Soil—The Tawee—Mountains—Grain and Vegetables—The Zoglogbo Mountain—Reception by the Caboceer of Zoglogbo—Ascent of the Mountain—Cotton-trees—Mountain-pass—Singular Situation of the Town—Houses—Dahoman Political Agent—Probable Origin of the Mountain—Kpaloko Mountain—Ignorance, assumed or real, of the Neighbouring Country by the Natives—The Dabadab Mountains—Superstition—Singular Method of conveying Cattle—Cruelty to the Brute Creation—Difficult Descent—Agriculture and Manufactures—Height of the Mountains—Death of Three Kings at Zoglogbo—Names of the Caboceer, &c.—Reception at Baffo—Costume of Caboceer and his Wife—His Principal Wives—Beautiful Birds—Gigantic Trees—Parasitical Plants—Singular Tree—Soil—Grain, Fruits, &c.—Cattle—Market-day, and Bustle of the Caboceer—Goods exposed for Sale—Rival Caboceers—Game—Pigeon-trap—Trial of Skill—Dog poisoned—Increasing Illness of my Servant—The Caboceer’s principal Cook.
Sunday, July 13th.—Early in the morning the caboceer again sent me plenty of provisions for myself and people, and showed great kindness to Maurice, my white servant, using every means to induce him to partake of some food, bringing amongst other dishes one made of meal and water boiled together, sweetened with honey, and about the consistence of thin gruel. This composition is used as we do tea in England, but is of course much more substantial. I relished it very much. My poor servant also partook of a considerable portion, but he could not rally, having lost all the courage of which he had so often boasted. The caboceer then desired us to proceed again to the market-place, where we found two fine bullocks tied to a tree; one was a present to the King of Dahomey, and the other to myself.
After going through the usual compliments on either side, we marched on our journey till we came to the gates on the north-east of the town, where several of the principal officers of the staff of the caboceer’s household approached him, apparently in great anxiety, whispering something to the caboceer. After this, the captain of my guard communicated to me that the caboceer of Paweea begged that I would honour himself and head men so far, as to enter their names in my book. This is, in all places in the Dahoman kingdom, considered the highest honour that can possibly be conferred upon them. To this request I readily acceded; and in a short time had all their names registered in my fetish-book, as they called it. After entering the names, as given by the caboceer’s principal officer, I was very shrewdly asked to call each individual by their name, as this was considered a puzzler for me; but when they found that I called the roll correctly, they all seemed surprised and delighted. A report to the same effect soon spread over the greater part of the Mahee country. We now took our final departure from the town of Paweea.
I here record the names of the head men according to my Journal:—
| Caboceer’s name | Terrasso-Weea. |
| 1st Head man | Adah. |
| 2d do. | Chaaoulong. |
| 4th do. | Daowdie. |
| 5th do. | Avamagbadjo. |
| 6th Head Musician | Hawsoo-Agwee.[2] |
The names of Mayho’s traders from Abomey, who treated myself and people with provisions and peto at Paweea[3] were:—
Tossau.
Yakie.
Bowka.
Adassie.
Howta.
Kossau.
Nookodoo.
We now passed through the gate, which is very strong. The walls of the town are very thick, and are composed of reddish-coloured clay. Close to the gates is the weekly market-place, held under several large trees, which afford a grateful shade from the sun, as well as a temporary protection from the rain. In the whole of the Mahee country which I have yet visited, I find that the weekly markets are held without the walls, to prevent as much as possible strangers entering the town. The daily markets are seldom attended by any except their own people, principally for a mutual exchange of goods of native manufacture.