132 ATTAH'S ESTEEM. — ABBOKA'S WIVES. 



prised than disappointed to find the horse in- 

 tended for his Britannic Majesty, lame and 

 high in bone, but low in flesh : indeed, such a 

 Rosinante I never saw before ! We sent word 

 to Attah, that the horse was sick, and that we 

 could not accept of it. Shortly afterwards, a 

 dark bay one came down, certainly a little better 

 than the one rejected. The horses in this part 

 of the country are not very large ; but they are 

 strong, and capable of enduring great fatigue. 

 Abboka also presented us with a young horse. 



Attah, in order to impress upon Mr. Lander 

 the great esteem he had for him, said that he 

 loved him the same as he loved his wife who 

 shared his bed ; a very common expression in 

 this country, and at which we were frequently 

 amused. 



On our departure, the king granted us per- 

 mission to kill a bullock. These animals run 

 wild near the town, but every night resort to the 

 king's premises, where they are shot. 



As we returned, we passed Abboka's houses, 

 and saw several of his wives congregated together 

 to see us. Many of them were very interesting- 

 looking blacks. Although Abboka is almost 

 seventy years of age, and has daughters married, 



