JOURNEY FROM BADAGRY TO KATUNGA. 
11 
was seated on a large leathern cushion, which was placed on a mat 
covered with scarlet cloth. On the cloth I was going to sit down, 
but the ladies very unceremoniously whipt it from under me, and I 
squatted myself on the mat; his female attendants sung in chorus 
very beautifully: the drummers were at a more respectable distance, 
and the whole space in front of his house was covered with people. 
Here also were the worshippers, who paid their respects in due form 
to their master, going out and coming in three times. We shook 
hands with him. He said he was glad to see us ; that whatever we 
had to say to the king of Eyeo we must first deliver to him ; that 
if he approved of our palaver, so would the king; but if not, neither 
would the king of Eyeo. This seemed somewhat ungracious and 
consequential, especially when coupled with his apparent inattention 
while the interpreter was speaking to him : but on our explaining to 
him that we had nothing of particular importance to say to the king 
of Eyeo beyond a request that he would accept the king of England’s 
respects, and grant a passage through his country, he said all was 
right ; that he was glad we should see the king of Eyeo’s face ; that 
God would give us a good path, and that he would forward us right 
on w ithout any trouble. We then asked him for a house : he said 
he would give us into the bands of his principal servant, who w ould 
lend us his house, to which we went. We found it pretty well oc- 
cupied with people, but there was a room each for the sick, and 
Houtson and I took up our quarters in the verandah. In the 
evening we were visited by the caboceer incognito. He was now 
quite a different man : his servant Akoni, who had come with us 
from Badagry, sat down, and the caboceer made a seat of his knee. 
He now conversed freely, gave us a great deal of good advice, and 
spoke of God more like a Christian than a pagan. He said that the 
king of Eyeo would not allow us to go through his dominions, but 
that he would give us horses and carriers to bring us to the king ; 
but that the Eyeo people were unaccustomed to carry hammocks, 
and we must go on horseback. He repeatedly assured us of safe 
