FROM ZEGZEG TO BADAGRY. 
321 
had not been the case, I really believe we should all have died of 
hunger. 
1 8th.— Went again to the chief in the morning, and demanded 
something to eat. He solemnly declared he was himself starving, 
and could get nothing to eat. I then pressed him to send his 
canoe to the opposite side for provisions : after much intreaty he 
consented to do so, but first made a charm that it might not be 
injured in its perilous voyage. For this purpose he killed a fetish 
fowl, sprinkled its blood in the river, placed some of the entrails in 
the bow of the canoe, and in the stern put a broken egg : he then 
muttered several expressions I did not understand; and a man was 
sent over with the boat, which arrived there in safety; but in re- 
turning loaded with poultry and yams, it ran foul of a tree which 
unluckily lay in the middle of the stream, and sunk immediately, in 
consequence of which the whole cargo was lost. The chief informed 
me of the accident, and said that the river could not be crossed in 
safety for three or four days. Pascoe returned in the evening with 
more of the chief's yams and grass. 
19th, 20th, and 21st.— Nothing to eat on these days but the 
yams Pascoe stole from the king’s garden. 
22d. — Attempted to cross the river at noon ; but did not suc- 
ceed in getting every thing on the opposite side till five in the 
evening. The horses and asses were borne a quarter of a mile 
down the stream, and had nearly perished. Halted at Wantatah, 
the first town in Yariba, about two hours after. 
23d. — At seven in the morning pursued our journey, and at 
eleven entered Hogie, where we remained for the day. The chief 
gave me a pig, yams, corn, &c. A red cap and fifty needles fully 
satisfied him. 
24th. — Rested at Hogie to-day. 
25th. — Left at six in the morning, and arrived at Katunga, the 
capital of Yariba, at seven in the evening. The low grounds were 
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