42 
RESIDENCE AT KATUNGA. 
The morning dull and hazy. In the afternoon the king paid us a 
visit, when we showed him some presents intended for the three 
principal caboceers of the city. He said he did not know what to 
do or say for our great kindness, as we had given him more tilings 
than he would have got for the sale of one hundred slaves, and now 
we were giving more to his caboceers ; that, however, what he could 
do he would. Pie said he had sent messengers in different direc- 
tions to try to find a safe path to the place where I wished to go ; 
that while we were in his dominions we were perfectly safe, but on 
leaving them he was sorry to think we might be exposed to danger 
from the disturbed state of the countries through which I must 
travel. He then said that the Tappa, or ]S T yffe messengers, who 
had been here three years, were in waiting to give us every in- 
formation regarding the course of the river that I might wish to 
ask him. They were accordingly called in, and were certainly the 
most savage-looking knaves I ever saw ; but they either could not, 
or were afraid to give any the least account of the river Quorra, 
and I therefore sent them off, after asking a few questions. Indeed 
there seems a great unwillingness in both the king and the people 
of this place to say any thing at all about the subject, for what 
reason I cannot yet conjecture. 
Saturday, 28th — This morning I set out on horseback on a 
visit to the three head caboceers, who dwell about three miles 
from our house. We were received with much kindness and 
attention by all of them under their respective verandahs, and 
surrounded by hundreds of their wives, who all clapped their 
hands in token of welcome. P hey severally presented us with 
goats, sheep, pigs, yams, eggs, honey, and ducks, inviting us to 
drink country ale with them, and to make merry ; but I was very 
unwell, and anxious to get home. In the evening we paid a visit 
of ceremony to the king, when I asked him to allow Mr. Houtson 
