174 clapperton's second journey. 



of bowmen on foot, and of horsemen ill mounted but active, 

 dressed in the most grotesque manner, and covered with 

 charms. On reaching the brow of a hill, the great capital 

 of Eyeo opened to the view, on the opposite side of a vast 

 plain bordered by a ridge of granite hills, and surrounded 

 by a brilliant belt of verdure. On reaching the gate they 

 entered the house of a caboceer, till notice was sent to the 

 king, who immediately invited them to his palace. They 

 had five miles to march through this spacious capital, du- 

 ring which the multitude collected was so immense, and 

 raised such a cloud of dust, that they must have stopped 

 short, hatl not their escort, by a gentle but steady application 

 of the whip and the cane, opened a way, and finally cleared 

 a space in front of the throne. The king was sitting under 

 a veranda, dressed in two long cotton tobes, and ornamented 

 with three strings of glass beads, and a pasteboard crown 

 covered with blue cotton, which had been procured from the 

 coast. The mission, instead of the usual prostration, merely 

 took off their hats, bowed, and presented their hands, which 

 the king lifted up three times, calling out " Ako ! ako !" 

 (How do you do ?) His wives behind, drawn up in a dense 

 body, which the travellers vainly attempted to number, 

 raised loud cheers, and smiled in the most gracious man- 

 ner. After an interview of half an hour, the chief eunuch 

 showed the party to handsome and commodious lodgings, 

 where a good dinner was prepared. In the evening they 

 were surprised by a visit from his majesty in plain patri- 

 archal style, with a long staff in his hand, saying that he 

 could not sleep without again inquiring after them. 



Eyeo, or Katunga, capital of the kingdom of Yarriba, is 

 fifteen miles in circumference, and supplied by seven large 

 markets ; but there are many open fields and spaces in this 

 wide circuit, and hence the number of inhabitants oould not 

 even be conjectured. The population of the country must 

 be very great, the whole being under cultivation, and the 

 towns large and numerous. The government, in theory, is 

 most despotic. The greatest chiefs, when they approach 

 the sovereign, throw themselves prostrate on the ground, 

 lie flat on their faces, and heap sand or dust upon their 

 heads ; and the same degrading homage is paid to the 

 nobles by their inferiors. Yet the administration seems 

 mild and paternal ; no instances of wanton cruelty were 



