WITH KING ATTAH. I97 



majesty seated on his chair, with a circular cloth 

 of yellow, red, and green, under his feet as 

 a carpet. A great number of chiefs from the 

 neighbouring villages were assembled, and his 

 majesty was richly attired in a tobe of rich, 

 figured, purple velvet ; his toes were adorned 

 with a string of small red seed-beads, and the 

 nails, as well as those of his fingers, stained with 

 henna. 



After a few compliments had passed on both 

 sides, the palaver began. A long, and appa- 

 rently an earnest conversation was carried on 

 between the king and his chiefs ; after which the 

 former, addressing me through the interpreter, 

 said, " Sullikeen Mahgony, Abboka will go down 

 with three canoes, accompanied by my son ; and 

 you are to send two of your own bowers (slaves) 

 with each canoe-load of goods." I immediately 

 replied, that I would not send goods by any 

 canoe ; but that if I did send any at all, they 

 should come in the long-boat, and be taken to 

 Mr. Brown. 



I began to entertain suspicions that the king 

 wanted to get the goods into his own possession ; 

 but this I was determined to prevent, and cau- 

 tioned Mr. Brown, in the event of any arriving. 



