THE VISIT RETURNED. 201 



ter. This was rather too much, and before they 

 had got out of the yard, they were happily stop- 

 ped by two of my Kroomen, and after a long 

 altercation gave up the box, but detained the rug. 



In the evening I had a visit from a man whose 

 face I thought was not new to me, and a lady 

 who assured me she was the king's mother, and 

 to whom it was intimated that I should give a 

 present. A looking-glass and a cake of Wind- 

 sor soap satisfied her, but not her companion, 

 who became abusive, and was at length bundled 

 off by ray Kroomen. A most horrible noise pre- 

 vented me from getting any sleep until nearly 

 daylight : my boy Friday told me in the morn- 

 ing that it had been occasioned by a dance at 

 the king's house, which was close by ; adding, that 

 as such was a favourite amusement, it might be 

 expected frequently. 



On the following morning, I was carried to the 

 king's house to return his visit, but was only al- 

 lowed to enter the outer court-yard, which is about 

 forty feet wide, with a verandah on the side next . 

 to the house. Under this verandah I was placed, 

 and in a short time the very man who had been 

 turned out of my hut by my Kroomen the night 

 before came and sat down by my side. After 



