314 
FROM ZEGZEG TO BADAGRY. 
Captain Clapperton at Soccatoo. He wondered at my being alive, 
after visiting the Fellata country, the inhabitants of which he de- 
scribed as the most barbarous in the world ; said my preservation 
was miraculous, and that I was certainly one of God's favourites. 
I was obliged to comply with his request, which was tantamount to 
a command, to remain with him a few days to clean seven muskets 
and three pistols, which he afterwards told me belonged to the 
white men who were drowned at Boussa. They have the Tower 
mark on them. 
26th. — Solicited and obtained permission to visit Boussa, to pay 
my respects to its king. 
27th. — At five in the morning, accompanied by Pascoe, pro- 
ceeded on the road to Boussa ; but, after journeying till six in the 
evening, had only got half way. The country is full of bogs and 
swamps, which in some places took the horses up to their saddles 
in mud and wet ; and Pascoe being the worst rider I ever saw, was 
soused in them more than a hundred times. The remaining part 
of the road appearing still more difficult and dangerous, found it 
impossible to proceed any further. 
28th. — Beturned to Wowow. 
29th. — The king sent me a goat, cut up into small pieces, and 
a large bowl of tuah, to make a sadacco for my poor master ; a cere- 
mony common in many places in the interior, on the decease of any 
person of consequence. The pieces of goat and the bowl of tuah 
are sent to the mallam or priest, who repeats a short prayer over 
them : it is however necessary, before this can be performed, to place 
a gold or silver coin, or at least an article made of either of those 
metals, on the top of the bowl. Having no coin I could part with, 
I put a silver pencil-case in its stead, which was never returned me. 
After the prayer has been pronounced over the tuah and goat’s 
flesh, they are sent back to the person to whom they belong ; and 
