286 
THE AUDIENCE. 
A discordant din of drums and rude instruments of 
reeds, &c., announced very shortly the approach of his 
Majesty. A door was suddenly opened at the further 
end of the court, whence he was borne in on a large 
cushion, by eight stalwart slaves — the difficulty with 
which he was carried, .plainly testifying to his large 
size and weight. The noise of the populace outside was 
deafening. 
Having deposited the Attah on his throne, a screen 
was suspended before him for a few minutes, probably to 
conceal some further arrangement of his toilet ; on this 
being withdrawn, the sovereign of Iddah received the 
strangers in a composed and dignified manner. He is 
a person of immense size, the skin jet black and shining, 
the eyes large, but sluggish. He wore an ample tobe of 
red velvet, and a pair of loose scarlet trowsers, with a 
helmet-shaped cap of divers colours, ornamented with 
beads and coral : a profusion of this latter hung around 
his neck. His feet, which were enclosed in very large 
red leather boots, surrounded with little bells, dangled 
carelessly over the side of the throne. A large crimson 
umbrella was held over him. There were several fan- 
bearers in the suite, who observed a certain regularity of 
motion in keeping the air freely circulating. On 
the left stood the “ King’s Mouth,” or prime minister, 
having in his hand a small horn, partly covered with red 
cloth. Under the throne sat the judges (MaUams), and 
a host of others, all eager to hear the “white man’s 
palaver.” 
