AN EXECUTION. 225 



and if he catches any of his subjects smoking, he 

 breaks their pipes on their heads ; if he sneezes, 

 every one present must say, Salam Aleikum! if 

 he laughs, his attendants must cover his face with 

 their fans, to prevent his emotions being wit- 

 nessed by the vulgar eye. At daybreak a slave 

 arouses him from his slumbers with a loud voice, 

 and he seldom retires until two o'clock in the 

 morning. He is active and energetic, and ex- 

 ceedingly passionate, frequently knocking down 

 his slaves with a single blow. 



During my stay there was only one execution, 

 if it can be called by that name, for it partook 

 more of the nature of a sacrifice. An elderly 

 chief died, leaving fifteen wives and no children. 

 On the night the deceased was to be buried, the 

 king went to the women's apartments and select- 

 ed one who was to be hung, in order to accom- 

 pany her husband to the next world, sending the 

 rest to his own house. Sarsfield went to see the 

 execution, which he said was performed in a very 

 solemn manner : the people appearing to view it 

 altogether in the light of a sacrifice. It is cer- 

 tainly preferable to the horrid custom which pre- 

 vails at Old Calebar, Bonny, and other places on 

 the coast, namely that of burying widows alive. 



VOL. I. Q 



