OF HIS VISIT TO FUNDAH. 255 



several miserable huts, to which we objected, and 

 at last got a comparatively decent one belonging 

 to a mallam. The king sent us a present of a 

 sheep, rice and yams, in the evening, and crowds 

 of people visited us. 



" 27th. This morning about noon the king, 

 attended by his mallams and eunuchs to the 

 number of forty or fifty, paid us a visit. He 

 was ushered in completely covered with a cloth, 

 which his people took off when he sat down, and 

 displayed to our view his majesty swelled up 

 with cushions or cotton to the size of a hogs- 

 head. After the usual compliments, he asked 

 after Mr. Laird — if he was alive, and what we 

 wanted. I informed him, that we were here to 

 trade with him and his people, and to demand 

 the goods left by Mr. Laird, or payment for 

 them. 



" His majesty did not seem very well pleased 

 at this demand, and said he merely came to com- 

 pliment us, and not to talk on business. Lieute- 

 nant Allen made him a present of some toys, 

 which he received very coolly, and shortly after 

 took his departure. 



" He is a stout, ill-looking man, about forty-five 

 years of age, and has red eyes, which our Kroo- 



