EBENEZER. 
87 
native cloth, and richly adorned. They were accom- 
panied by numbers of children, the girls carrying yellow, 
red, and green damask cushions ; the boys, who were 
sons of executioners, and being trained to their father's 
profession, wore caps of leopard skin, and carried gold 
handled knives. After this interlude we left our hiding 
place, and witnessed the remainder of the procession, 
which was less regular and imposing than that of the 
morning. 
Amongst the curious things which were borne past us 
were silver dishes, and the king's dining-table, with feet 
beautifully carved; the chairs of chiefs ; and a kind ot 
flag, with figures of the Fetish. The aristocracy were 
carried in sedan chairs, surrounded by musicians sounding 
their ivory horns, and recalling to our memory our first 
entrance to the camp. It was now dark, torches of palm 
branches were lighted, and for two hours the procession 
continued, every person of distinction being honoured by 
a renewed performance on the drums. The king arrived 
at last, looking sullen and tired as he lay in his sedan 
chair, giving one the impression that he felt compelled to 
endure these noisy exhibitions, to conciliate the people 
whose chiefs had placed him on the vacant throne. It is 
only by slow degrees that the strongest sovereign can act 
independently of them. 
Kari-Kari never appeared to us fond of ostentation, 
though he might have felt some pleasure in displaying his 
power to his white prisoners ; but he usually came to us 
in a simple style, and the better we knew hiiri the more 
were we impressed with the idea that his natural dis- 
position was amiable and kind. On this occasion golden 
suns were carried behind him on high poles, and helmets 
of the same were conspicuous ; so that after the amount of 
precious metal displayed on this day, we no longer regarded 
the report of the riches of this dynasty to be exa^ggerated. 
