124 VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
nine pieces of cannon; and on reaching the ship, I paid him 
every attention which could flatter and please him. 
His majesty was dressed in a white shirt, which hung down 
to his knees and was tied round him by a red swash ; he had over 
it a large open tunic of a yellow colour; and his head and feet 
were naked, except that he wore a pair of yellow slippers. Hi$ 
suite were dressed according to the custom of the country. 
I conducted the king under an awning placed on the deck, 
where we sat down together, and passed reciprocal protestations 
of friendship. 1 offered him some refreshments which he ac- 
cepted ; and was presented with Bourdeaux wine, but would not 
drink it. He asked me for brandy; on which I immediately 
ordered several flagons of that liquor to be placed before him : 
in a very short time he drank four large glasses full, and ate scarcely 
any thing. On taking a flfth he lost his speech; and the sixth set 
him fast asleep. His ministers and musicians were very sober, as 
they had drunk but little. 
The king while in this state of inebriety was surrounded by 
Lis suite : some of them endeavoured to purify the air by agita- 
ting over his head, and in every direction with great violence, 
a pagne or cotton cloth ; which manner of renewing the air is 
in general use in that country. The rest were occupied in keep- 
ing off the flies from his person, lest they should disturb his 
sleep. 
1 amused myself with this ridiculous farce, till my people in- 
formed me that dinner was on table, when I invited the minis- 
ters to accompany me; but they refused to quit then* master: I 
theretoie sat down to table alone. Shortly after his majesty 
awoke, and asked to see me, when they told him I was at dm- 
ner. What," observed he, without letting me know ? This 
white man is very unkind." He then got up, came into the 
cabin, where the cloth was laid, stepped upon a chair, jumped 
on the other side ; and at last seatiiig himself at one of the win- 
dows, placed his feet upon the table. 
In this posture, which caused me to laugh heartily, his majesty 
was supplied with wh::t he wished to eat, but he would drink 
i?othing but brandy. I therefore ordered the attendants to pre- 
sent him with as much he chose, on which he drank the same 
quantity as at first, and soon afterwards he fell dead drunk upon 
the floor. 
His ministers raised him up, and attempted to carry him upon 
deck, by lifting him over the table; but his majesty was suf- 
flciently awake to express his regret at leaving it : he therefore 
suddenly seized hold of a hare by the head, and carried it with 
hm- I think I still see him holding the hare like a sceptre» 
