JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 
SI 
they had only one wife, more children would be born : that in 
England the people are as numerous as ants ; and that I was the 
youngest of thirteen children, and as stout a man as any in their 
town ; that it was no uncommon thing for one woman to have 
sixteen or seventeen children. Mr. Houtson then gave them a 
word on the riches, improvements, and happiness of Old England, 
enlarging on the general cultivation of the country, its roads, car- 
riages, and modes of travelling ; its canals, ships, trade, wars, &c. ; 
the bravery of the men, and the beauty of the women, with the 
richness of their dress ; and that this prosperous state of things re- 
sulted from its good government, the king encouraging people from 
all parts of the world to come to England and trade, and sending 
his own people to visit the most distant corners of the earth to see 
what in every country might be of use in England. It was mid- 
night before we parted, and then I had to send them away, telling 
them we had to rise early in the morning. Burgho is only a day’s 
journey from this, and the natives of that country often come and 
steal people from the neighbouring towns to sell into slavery. At 
7 A. M. left Laydoo ; the country but little cultivated, thin woods, 
soil a red clay mixed with lumps of iron-stone, none being larger 
than three feet on each side. At 8. 30 halted at the village of 
Leogalla, inhabited by Fellatahs, who kindly brought us sweet 
milk to drink. At 10 halted at the village of Bongbong, where the 
carriers got their breakfast of eko, or accassan, which is made of 
millet meal, first steeped in water until sour, then boiled like a thick 
paste, and then mixed with warm or cold water for a drink, or 
eaten without water for food : it is very wholesome. The village 
of Bongbong is walled. At 10. 30 started — passed a burnt village 
— the road winding — country woody, forming gentle dale and down ; 
a strong harmattan, or north wind, blowing At noon halted at 
Atepa ; got quarters in the caboceer’s house, where we were sup- 
plied with yams, fowls, a goat, turkey, &c., also a large pig, which 
