52 
RESIDENCE AT KATUNGA. 
tiimes blowing. Our supply of provisions lias of late been rather 
scanty, owing to the avarice of the fat eunuch, our guardian, who 
pockets as much as lie can out of what the king sends us. I have 
threatened him two or three times, but I believe he trusts to my 
patient and easy disposition. Complaining to the king would get 
him a beating, though he is a favourite, and an useful person, well- 
skilled as a war-captain, and guardian of the king’s women. 
Tuesday, 21st. — Cool and clear. Harmattan continues. A 
number of caboceers of the different towns came in to-day with 
their forces, and the king sent for us to come and see them. We 
went accordingly, and saw about twenty of these dependents, in all 
their dirt and debasement, who vied with each other which could 
have most dust, and who could kiss the ground with the greatest 
fervour. They were stretched at full length on their bare bellies ; 
no cloth being allowed on this occasion over the shoulder, the body 
being required to be bare as far as the waist. Old Pascoe calls 
them the sand-eaters. After our usual compliments to the king, 
and shaking hands with the caboceers of Eyeo and the sand-eaters, 
we returned; the king promising to visit us at our house. 
At 4 P. M. he came, attended by his women and our fat 
guardian. The women he left outside, except two; one of whom 
attends upon him on all occasions bearing a handsome carved gourd, 
having a small hole covered with a clean white cloth, to hold his 
Majesty’s spittle, when he is inclined to throw it away; the other 
with a white pot, used with us as a chamber utensil, containing his 
gooro nuts, since he made me a present of his black ebony box, carved 
in the shape of a tortoise, which he used for that purpose. After an 
end had been put to our complimentary inquiries after his majesty’s 
good health, 1 observed that the time was now come, within a few 
days only, that he had appointed for my departure. He said, that 
the messenger he had sent to Youri was returned; that the road 
was perfectly safe; that he would have me passed from one king 
