808 
FROM ZEGZEG TO BADAGRY. 
midst of about fifty small uninhabited grass huts, erected by a party 
of merchants, as a temporary abode, some months before. In the 
night, the mosquitoes were so numerous and troublesome that we 
were obliged to set fire to the huts to drive them away. 
7th. — Took down our tent at six in the morning, and travelling 
till six in the evening, arrived at Womba, a large town, surrounded 
by a high wall. The chief sent us fowls, rice, milk, and a bowl of 
honey, with corn, &c. for the horses. Being in want of money, sent 
needles to the market to sell, which fetched fifteen cowries each, and 
brought me in the whole 3,400 cowries. Presented the chief with 
two yards of scarlet and blue silk, a scarlet cap, and a pair of scissors. 
8th. — This day paid my respects to the king, who insisted on 
sending a messenger with me, declaring the roads to be dangerous 
and unsafe without a guide. 
9th. — At six in the morning left Womba, accompanied by the 
messenger ; and at six in the evening, crossing a large river, halted 
on the south side, and fixed our tent amidst a number of grass huts, 
similar to those mentioned on the sixth. In the night burnt them 
to the ground, in order to destroy the mosquitoes and vermin, which 
annoyed us exceedingly. 
10th. — Started at the same hour as yesterday, and halted in 
the town of Beari at 2 P. M. Instead of journeying in a south- 
west direction to Youri, took another road, and kept due south, 
having been informed that a party of merchants had been plundered, 
and many of them murdered, on the road I intended taking. The 
chief sent me a sheep, a Muscovy duck, a quantity of yams, and 
some beer made from Indian corn. Returned him one yard of 
scarlet and blue silk, a scarlet cap, and four prints, which much 
delighted him. As soon as one of the head men was aware of my 
approach to the king’s residence, he blew a shrill and loud blast 
through a long brass trumpet, the noise of which brought all the 
principal male inhabitants to the spot, who entered the hut, and 
