36 
JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 
the king to say that he wanted to see us. A band of music accom- 
panied us and the escort, with an immense multitude of men, women, 
and children. As there was much open and cultivated ground, the 
dust they caused almost suffocated us, though the escort tried all 
gentle means to keep them off. At last after riding one hour, 
which was full five miles, we came to the place where the king was 
sitting under the verandah of his house, marked by two red and blue 
cloth umbrellas, supported by large poles held by slaves, with the 
staff resting on the ground. After the head caboceers had held 
some conversation with the king, they came back to us, and I 
thought they were talking about our prostrations. I told them if 
any such thing was proposed, I should instantly go back ; that all 
the ceremony I would submit to should be to take off my hat, 
make a bow, and shake hands with his majesty, if he pleased. They 
went and informed the king, and came back and said I should make 
only the ceremony I had proposed. We accordingly went forwards : 
the king’s people had a great deal to do to make way amongst the 
crowd, and allow us to go in regular order. Sticks and whips were 
used, though generally in a good-natured manner ; and I cannot 
help remarking on this, as on all other occasions of this kind, that 
the Yourihas appear to be a mild and kind people, kind to their 
wives and children and to one another, and that the government, 
though absolute, is conducted with the greatest mildness. After 
we got as far as the two umbrellas in front, the space was all clear 
before the king, and for about twenty yards on each side. We 
walked up to the verandah with our hats on, until we came into the 
shade, when we took off our hats, made a bow, and shook hands ; he 
lifting our hands up three times, repeating “ Ako, Ako,” (how do you 
do ?) the women behind him standing up and cheering us, calling 
out “ Oh, oh, oh !” (hurrah !) the men on the outside joining. It was 
impossible to count the number of his ladies, they were so densely 
packed and so very numerous. If I might judge by their smiles, 
