JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 
21 
from us : not a national but a slaving war. We were supplied with 
yams, eggs, and plantains, a goat and fowls. The caboceer did not 
make his appearance : I therefore told the king's messenger that I 
should inform the king of Eyeo of this caboceer’s want of respect. 
Sunday, 8th. — Last night we had thunder, lightning, and rain ; 
the morning dull and cloudy : at 8 A.M. left Bendekka, our 
road through winding and beautiful valleys formed by the rugged 
and gigantic blocks of granite, which in some places rose to the 
height of six or seven hundred feet above the valleys in which 
we travelled. Sometimes the valley is not a hundred yards broad, 
at others it may widen out to half a mile ; in one place we had 
to travel over a wide mountain plain. The soil is rich, but shallow, 
except alongside the fine streams of water which run through the 
valleys, where large tall trees were growing ; the sides of the moun- 
tains are bare except in the crevices, which are filled with stunted 
trees and shrubs. The valleys well cultivated, and planted with 
cotton, corn, yams, &c. At 12.30. P.M. arrived at the town of 
DufFoo, where we were well lodged ; but the crowds of people were 
immense: when told to go away, they said — No; if white man 
would not come out, they would come in to see him. 
This cluster of hills said to rise in the Berghoo country, which 
is behind Ashantee, and to run eastward through Jaboo to Benin. 
They do not know their direction any farther. They extend from 
W. N . W. to to E. S. E. ; and are about 80 miles in width from north 
to south. 
The king of Eyeo’s wives are to be found in every place trading 
for him, and, like other women of the common class, carrying large 
loads on their heads from town to town. Mr. Houtson and I went 
to the top of one of the mounts : I had to be assisted by two men, 
being so weak I could not go alone. We had a grand and beautiful 
view of mountains, precipices, and valleys, wherever we turned our 
eyes, with the town of Duffoo spread out at our feet. The top of 
the hill was covered with women grinding corn. They make round 
