24 
JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 
palaver about hammock-men and carriers, left Erawa at nine : the 
road through a mountain pass as far as a town called Washoo, 
where we rested. After this we again entered the mountains. At 
2. 30 P.M. arrived at Chaki. The country from Erawa to Chaki 
well planted and thickly inhabited, till we entered the last men- 
tioned mountains, which were more broken than those we had 
hitherto passed, and appeared as if some great convulsion of nature 
had thrown the immense masses of granite into wild and terrific 
confusion. The road through this mountain pass was grand and 
imposing, sometimes rising almost perpendicularly, and then de- 
scending in the midst of rocks into deep dells ; then winding 
beautifully round the side of a steep hill, the rocks above over- 
hanging us in fearful uncertainty. In every cleft of the hills, 
wherever there appeared the least soil, "were cottages, surrounded 
by small plantations of millet, yams, or plantains, giving a beautiful 
variety to the rude scenery. The road continued rising, hill above 
hill, for at least two miles, until our arrival at the large and po- 
pulous tow n of Chaki, situated on the top of the very highest hill. 
On every hand, on the hills, on the rocks, and crow ding on the road, 
the inhabitants were assembled in thousands r the women welcoming 
us with holding up their hands and chanting choral songs, and the 
men w ith the usual salutations and every demonstration of joy. 
The eaboceer w as seated on the outside of his house, surrounded 
by his ladies, his singing men and singing women, his drums, fifes, 
and gong-gongs. He is a good-looking man, about fifty years of 
age, and has a pleasing countenance. His house was all ready for 
us ; and he immediately ordered us a large supply of goats, sheep, 
and yams; pressing us strongly to stay a day or two with him. 
He appeared to consider us as messengers of peace, come with 
blessings to his king and country. Indeed a belief is very pre- 
valent, and seems to have gone before us all the way, that we are 
charged w ith a commission to make peace w r herever there is war ; 
and to do good to every country through which w 7 e pass. The 
