48 
REVIEW — TRAVELS IN WESTERN AFRICA. 
told me to do as I thought proper, but begged me rather not to ride 
for his gratification than run any risk. I again assured him that 
there was no danger, and put my horse in motion, first at a trot 
and then a gallop.” 
“ The king then stood up, clapping his hands in approbation. 
Upon which the whole assembled multitude followed the example, 
which much terrified my horse. After a few more circles per- 
formed, the king desired me to dismount and come beside him and 
sit down, thanking me for my performance.” 
It is difficult to say, in reviewing the manners and customs of 
tribes so uncivilised as those among which Mr. Duncan now found 
himself, whether superstition or cruelty is the prevailing passion — 
INSTINCT, as Mr. Couch would call it. Arrived at the mountain- 
ous district of Zoglogho in his way up the country, he could not 
help remarking the “curious,” and we may add cruel, mode they 
pursue of transporting their cattle. “ They tie the feet of the 
animal together, and run a long palm pole between the legs, and 
thus carry the poor animals with their backs downwards, each end 
of the pole resting on the heads of the carriers. Six men are ge- 
nerally appointed to carry one bullock, who relieve one another in 
turns. It would seem impossible, to those unacquainted with 
African cattle, for two men to carry one bullock ; but it must be 
remembered that the African ox is very small in comparison with 
English oxen.” 
“ The natives have no sympathy or feeling for the lower animals. 
They throw the animal down when they get tired, with its back 
on the rough gravel, so that if they have a long journey to perform, 
the flesh is cut to the bone, and the death of the poor animal^often 
ensues from such usage.” 
About Baffo — a town three miles west of Zoglogho — “ the cattle 
are of a superior breed, being very square, and clean on their legs, 
but very small. Sheep and goats are considerably more numerous 
than nearer the coast ; but no horses are bred in this part of the 
country, consequently the natives were very timid in approaching 
my animal.” 
As might have been anticipated, we think, at the outset, Mr. 
Duncan had in the course of his journey to replace a cast shoe. 
This he found a “difficult task;” since he had no “proper nails”; 
and he found the hoofs of the African horse “ so hard that a nail 
could scarcely be driven without the assistance of a brad-awl.” 
“Fortunately, however,” adds Mr. Duncan, “I had a few common 
nails, and a shoemaker’s hammer, so that by beating the nails a 
little thinner, and using the awl, I managed to fix the shoe, and 
prepared for my journey back to Baffo.” 
Seven miles northward of Aliwaba, Mr. Duncan and his party 
