198 RECEPTION AT FUNDAH. 



the town stands, and having arrived within a 

 short distance of its walls, we halted until the 

 king was informed of our approach. 



It was midnight, and a splendid moon threw 

 every object into bold relief. Even at this late 

 hour an immense crowd had assembled outside 

 the walls, quite in corroboration of the barber's 

 evidence as to the state of public curiosity. Af- 

 ter waiting some little time, during which we 

 were visited by several Mallams, we entered the 

 town, and were conducted to a miserable hovel 

 in the centre of it, accompanied by a mob of both 

 sexes desirous of seeing and touching a white 

 man. I cannot say much for the civility of our 

 first reception. It was nearly daylight before we 

 got rid of our tormentors, and were allowed that 

 repose which the fatigues and excitement of the 

 day had rendered so necessary. Among other 

 annoyances, they thrust a disgusting Albino close 

 to me, and asked if he was my brother ! 



In the morning we were removed to a hut in 

 some respects superior to our first abode, but 

 unfortunately situated, inasmuch as it was open 

 to a wide street, which was filled from daylight 

 with a crowd whose curiosity it was impossible 

 to satisfy, and from whose tongues proceeded a 



