m the Cmmims ^ Congo mid LoangOr £15- 
Haiii Norris, hoping to save the goat, shot him. He was obligeil, 
Iiowever, with the assistance of his black servant, who was 
the only other person at the time in the factory, to bnry him in 
tile yard before morning; for, if it had come to tlie King 
of Dahomy’s ears, his voyage would have been ruined, Wliidah 
being a cont^uered province of Bahomy ; and the panther and 
the snake, the King’s fitishes. 
Villages, — ^No detached dwellings are to be seen here as hi 
Europe. Mutual safety obliges the inhabitants to live in villa- 
ges and towns. Each village is the property of some chief, who 
exercises uncontrolled authority over all its members. These 
may be divided into two classes, the slaves and dependant rela- 
tions of the Chief, both so entirely devoted to his service, as 
almost to realise our idea of a clan. There are a few instances 
where rich traders have villages of their own, consisting of two 
or three hundred families, but they are much exposed to' 
avarice and cupidity of the Chiefs, whose favour they are fre- 
quently obliged to purchase at a great price. 
These possessions constitute the power and wealth of the 
Chiefs, who can at any time call out the male population to 
vindicate their rights, real or imaginary. The slaves, who coni- 
prise a large proportion of the population of this part of Africa^ 
are employed in various ways, according to their ability and 
address. They live in great indolence, and are rapidly inerea»^ 
irtg in numbers, ---equally to the comfort and affluence of their 
masters ; by whom, upon the whole, they are treated with much 
humanity. 
■ CHiEEs.---Each Chief is- regarded as the father of M's owU 
district, from whose judgment there liea no appeal, save only 
to Boonzie. Although they all acknowledge the King’s' sove- 
reignty ; yet a few, coftibining their resources, can at any tiihe' re*^- 
sist Ms authority. Indeed, there is reason to think that they sel- 
dom ot never act in concert, except when threatened by an enemy ; 
and even then, their quota of men and! period of service, are liable 
to various contingencies,— want of arms for instanee, or scarcity 
of provisions ; either ‘bf which Will render their assistance of no 
avail, or, rather^ will make their presence a scourge. The only 
power capable of controlling them is the priesthood. The 
