CHAPTER X. 
Obi Osai'^s numerous sons— Visit to the ‘ Albert’— Large canoes— 
Officers of state — Conference wth the Commissioners — Object of 
the Expedition ext)lained to Obi Osai — Questions relative to the 
slave-trade — Duty or per centage to be allowed the King — Obi 
Osai promises to enter into a treaty for abolishing the slave- 
trade — Obi, on his return to shore, makes “ Fetiche” — Rejoicings 
in the town of Ab5h — Obi’s wives — His “arrisi,” or idols — The war- 
god — Religious ritual — Title and right of succession to the sove- 
reignty of Aboh— Royal prerogatives — Headmen, or elders, of the 
several towns and villages — Adultery, its punishment — Murder — 
The priests or Ju-ju men — Their cunning — Large war-canoes — 
Mode of levpng people in time of war— King Boy’s faithless wife, 
a daughter of Obi— Ibu women celebrated for their personal 
charms — Mode of fattening wives — Demoralising effects of the 
slave-trade — Aboh slaves often sent by Benin branch to sea-coast — 
Number of inhabitants — Obi’s powers. 
Friday, August 27- — Early in the morning, Ali Here, 
who, when a boy, had served Mr. Lander as a pilot, 
came on board with about a dozen young sons of 
King Obi. They seemed to be all very nearly of the 
same age, in a perfect state of nudity, and bore un- 
