MODES OF SALUTATION. 51 



upon their heads, until the monarch desires 

 them to rise. It is very common for them to 

 use clay or mire for this purpose, according to 

 the place in which the king sits — whether under 

 a tree or in an un paved apartment. The women 

 throw dust over their left shoulder, at the same 

 time rubbing their arms as high as the shoulder 

 with their hands. The eunuchs of the King of 

 Attah had the crown of the head shaved, which 

 place and their foreheads they besmear with 

 clay, and allow it to continue there until 

 the conference is ended. Even Abboka, At- 

 tah's own brother, was compelled to submit 

 to this apparently degrading custom, and also 

 to kneel down at the outer door of the king's 

 apartment, and to repeat there, " The king 

 lives here :" when he approached the king's 

 presence, he knelt down and scattered sand over 

 his head. 



At 4. 45 p. M. we came to an anchor. As we 

 emerged from the numerous islands, the appear- 

 ance of the river the last three days improved 

 very considerably, especially as we neared the 

 main land. There was now a prospect of plenty 

 of wood, which had been rather scarce during 

 the last two days ; the only time that we have 



E 2 



