CRUELTY OF ATTAH. 251 



with two prisoners from the king, with a request 

 that I would take charge of them until the next 

 market-day, as he was apprehensive, if he kept 

 them on shore, that they would effect their es- 

 cape. I was much amused at this specious pre- 

 text, as I thought it was done to let the people 

 see what influence he possessed on board the 

 white men's ship. However, the prisoners were 

 received, and a watch placed over them, as I con- 

 sidered it right to keep on good terms with Attah. 



I was told by the messenger, that one of 

 the king's daughters, a fine young woman, who 

 used frequently to visit us, had been acciden- 

 tally shot a few days before. The man who 

 was the unintentional cause of her death was 

 condemned to be beheaded, and his head might 

 now be seen, with seven or eight skulls, on a Ju-ju 

 bank near the king's residence. 



I was also informed that the Felatahs had 

 commenced their marauding excursions, and had 

 already left Rabbah ; that the natives of Kacun- 

 dah, or Ibbodo, had abandoned their towns, and 

 had erected temporary huts on sandbanks. The 

 death of the King of Fundah was confidently re- 

 ported, and Attah sent to inquire what Mr. Laird 

 would do now to obtain the cowries for the goods 



