16 
JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 
the women are the dyers, the boys the weavers ; the loom and 
shuttles are on the same principle as the common English loom, hut 
the warp only about four inches wide. Mr. Houtson was anxious 
to purchase the freedom of a Bornouese slave, a dwarf three feet 
high and thirty years of age, a cunning-looking rogue ; but he was 
not willing to be sold, and his master would not therefore sell him. 
Thursday, 22d. — This morning Dr. Morrison was looking ill, 
but in better spirits ; Captain Pearce very weak ; Bichard better. 
In the extreme weak state of the two former, I thought it ad- 
visable to say to both, that I would either make arrangements for 
their remaining here until they were completely convalescent, or 
for their return on board the Brazen, provided hammocks could 
be got to carry them to Puka, and to go under the care of Mr. 
Houtson’s boy, xlccra ; or, if necessary, that Mr. Houtson should 
himself take charge of them, and return them safe to Badagry. 
Captain Pearce expressed a decided determination to proceed, and 
Dr. Morrison would not even hear Mr. Houtson speak on the 
subject of a return or stay, but said he would proceed on. The 
caboceer came early, and after much trouble, and seemingly much 
difficulty, got men to carry the sick, his own son being obliged to 
take one end of a hammock. I observed that, on the caboceer’s 
sneezing, all his attendants clapped their hands and snapped their 
fingers, a custom common to Benin, Lagos, and Dahomy, and 
similar to our exclamation of “ God bless us” on the same oc- 
casion. The hammocks started early, when Mr. Houtson’s small 
boys, owing to some people frightening them with stories of war 
on the path, and probably a message from their friends at Badagry 
requesting them to go no further, all ran away. He immediately 
despatched a letter for another interpreter, who will join us in a 
few days. About an hour afterwards, I started after the sick, 
leaving Mr. Houtson to see the baggage off, 
Friday, 23d. — At 7 A. M. the sick left Bachy. Dr. Morrison 
