VISIT TO THE KING OF ATTAH. 411 



are high, with a peak in front, and the bridles 

 very complicated — a number of straps and 

 ropes covered with charms being placed over 

 and attached to the horse's head. 



We had a very agreeable ride through Al- 

 burkah's town. In some places I observed grass 

 rising to the height of eighteen or nineteen feet. 

 We passed by the market-place, but I could per- 

 ceive very few vendible commodities, except a 

 small quantity of corn. The natives were armed 

 with spears, bows and arrows ; and several, I ob- 

 served, wore a knife in addition. As we pro- 

 ceeded, we met a very interesting-looking wo- 

 man of the Eboe country : she wore a pair of 

 very large ivory anklets. On our right I per- 

 ceived a gigantic tree of the monkey-bread-fruit- 

 kind {Adansonia digitata). 



After continuing our journey for a mile and a 

 half or two miles, we arrived at the king's palace. 

 To attempt to describe, or enumerate the houses, 

 passages, through which we were conducted 

 would be utterly impossible ; but I do not exag- 

 gerate when I say that their number amounted 

 to upwards of fifty. I cannot pretend to say 

 whether these passages, &c. led directly to 

 the king's apartments or not, or whether we 



