312 
FROM ZEGZEG TO BADAGRY. 
20th. — Having paid my respects to the king last evening, left 
Coulfo, in high spirits and good health, at six in the morning, and 
halted outside Makonja at five in the afternoon. Here I found a 
party of merchants going to Gonja, near Ashantee, for gora nuts. 
Unable to procure any kind of provisions in the town, I took my 
gun and shot a heron ; not being aware that this, being a fetish 
bird, is allowed to be eaten only by the chiefs. On being made 
acquainted with the circumstance, one of the principal inhabitants 
came with a loaded gun, and threatened to shoot me, making use 
of the most abusive language. I dared him to fire, and said I should 
complain to Sultan Magie of his conduct. 
21st. — Early this morning, the person who had threatened to 
shoot me yesterday came to beg my pardon, excusing his conduct 
on the plea of being intoxicated with drinking too much bum. At 
six in the morning continued our route, and at twelve at noon 
halted at Dalho, on the banks of the river Quontakora. At 3 P. M. 
every thing was safely landed on the opposite side ; and journeying 
till sunset, reached the foot of a hill five miles to the east of the 
Niger, and rested there for the night. The country traversed 
to-day was one continued swamp, the mud and water frequently 
reaching up to the asses’ side. Rained continually throughout the 
day. 
2 2d. — At nine in the morning left the hill, and at eleven at 
noon came to the river Niger, which was full one hundred yards 
wider than we found it on our way to Soccatoo. After waiting an 
hour, a canoe came to fetch us ; but we did not get over till two 
in the afternoon, the horses, &c. being obliged, by reason of the 
rapidity of the current, to be ferried across in the canoe. My poor 
slave Jowdie, never having in all his life seen so large a body of 
water before, became greatly agitated, and was afraid to cross. 
Getting him at length, after much persuasion, into the canoe, he 
reached the other side, but fainted the moment he put his foot on 
