TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
59 
On the 18th, the king, whose presence we had 
requested, in order to make him a present, ar- 
rived, accompanied by about fifty people, armed 
with guns and spears. He was himself mounted 
on a most wretched animal in the shape of a 
horse, and was attended by a troop of drums 
and singing people (^Tallikeas )^ making a most 
hideous attempt at instrumental and vocal mu- 
sic, intended to inspire their royal master with a 
high idea of his own dignity. 
In a few minutes we went to see him ; he 
was seated in a small hut, surrounded by his 
followers, but the place was so crowded and in- 
tolerably hot (not to say any thing of the impu- 
rity of the air) from tobacco smoke, and other 
vapours, that we were obliged to request he 
would move to one of our huts. This being done, 
we mentioned to him our intention of leaving 
Kayaye in a few days, and requested that he 
would appoint a guide to conduct us to Medi- 
na, the capital of WooUi. He made some objec- 
tions, of an irrelevant nature, but at length con- 
sented, in consideration of a present, amounting 
to about one hundred bars in baft, muslin, coral, 
amber, tobacco, scarlet cloth, and a pair of pis- 
tols. He was drunk and extremely vociferous. 
The interview, however, terminated amicably, 
and his majesty was present at a dance which 
the inhabitants of the village brought forward 
