Katunga — Mansolah, King of Katunga — Precautions to avoid detention by
the King — Apathy of the natives — Markets of Katunga — Delayed by
neighbouring war — Custom relating to presents — Reserve of the people
concerning their country — Their general character — Progress of the
Falátahs — Preparations for departure by a new route — Farewell visit to
the King.
Information of our coming had been previously sent to the monarch, and
we waited with much patience for a considerable period till he had put
on his robes of state. Meantime, to amuse us and beguile the hour away,
the head drummer and his assistants, with the most benevolent intention,
commenced a concert of the most bewitching melody; and long drums,
kettle drums, and horns, were played with little intermission, till
Mansolah made his appearance, when all noises were suddenly hushed, and
we were desired to draw nearer to pay our respects to his Majesty. We
did so after the English manner, much to the entertainment and diversion
of the king, who endeavoured to imitate us, but it was easy to perceive
that he is but a novice in the European mode of salutation, bowing and
shaking hands. We have no doubt that it was owing to the rusticity and
awkwardness of our address, that Mansolah’s risible faculties were so
strongly excited; but he laughed so long and heartily, and his wives,
and eunuchs and subjects of all sorts, joined him with such good will,
and such power of lungs, that we were constrained to unite our voices to
the general burst of kindly feeling, although if we had been asked the
cause of such jollity and obstreperous mirth, we should have been at a
loss for an answer.
Mansolah’s headpiece was something like a bishop’s mitre, profusely
ornamented with strings of coral, one of which answered the purpose of a
ribbon, for it was tied under the chin, to prevent the cap from being
blown off. His tobe was of green silk, crimson silk damask, and green
silk velvet, which were all sewn together like pieces of patchwork. He
wore English cotton stockings, and neat leathern sandals of native
workmanship. A large piece of superfine light blue cloth, given the
chief by the late Captain Clapperton, he used for a carpet. The eunuchs
and other individuals who were present at the interview prostrated
themselves before their prince, agreeably to the custom of the country,
and rubbed their heads with earth two separate times, retreating at some
distance to perform this humiliating and degrading ceremony, and then
drawing near the royal person, to lie again with their faces in the
dust. They saluted the ground also near which he was sitting, by kissing
it fervently and repeatedly, and by placing each cheek on it. Then, and
not till then, with their heads, and faces, and lips, and breasts,
stained with the damp red soil, which still clung to them, they were
allowed to seat themselves near their monarch, and to join in the
conversation. Two or three of the inferior eunuchs, not satisfied with
this servile prostration, began to sport and roll themselves about on
the ground; but this could not be effected without immense labour and
difficulty, and panting and straining, for, like Sir John Falstaff, they
could be compared to nothing so appropriately as huge hills of flesh.
There they lay wallowing in the mire, like immense turtles floundering
in the sea, till Ebo desired them to rise. We observed among the
individuals present, a very considerable number of bald-headed old men,
their hair, or rather wool, having most likely been rubbed off by
repeated applications of earth, sand, gravel, filth, or whatever else
may be at hand, when the prince happens to make his appearance.
The conference having ended, a kid, a calabash of _caffas_, and two
thousand cowries in money were presented to us; and cheered by a
flourish of music, we laughed in concert and shook hands with the king,
and walked away towards our own dwelling, which had been repaired and
thoroughly cleaned out for our sole use. Here we lay down to repose our
aching limbs. In the evening the king returned our visit, and
immediately took a fancy to my brother’s bugle horn, which was readily
given him. He was vastly pleased with the present, and by smiles and
words, returned us many thanks for it; said that he was quite delighted;
and that it made his heart glad to see us; hoped we should make
ourselves comfortable whilst we remained in Katunga; shook hands; made a
bow, and “smiling in heart and soul content,” the sovereign departed,
followed by a suite of wives, eunuchs, and other attendants. The
premises we occupy are the property of Ebo, who has, we believe, done
everything in his power to render our stay as agreeable as possible;
they were formerly occupied by Captain Clapperton. The yard adjoins his
own, with which it communicates by a door-way without a door; so that it
will enable us to have frequent opportunities of seeing his numerous
unhappy wives, and a number of little boys and girls, who are his
personal attendants. The eunuch has given us a very fat sheep as a
further token of his good-will.
_Friday, May 14th._—Accompanied by Ebo, and the other unwieldy eunuchs,
my brother took a present to the king this morning, which was pretty
well received, Mansolah, out of compliment I suppose, remarking that if
we had not brought with us the value of a single cowry, we should have
been favourably received at Katunga and well entertained at his own
cost. We had previously sounded our friend Ebo on the subject of our
journey to the Niger; but he strongly advised us by no means even to
hint such an intention to the king, whose suspicions, he assured us,
would immediately take the alarm, so that instead of being forwarded on
our way thither, we should either be detained in the town for an
indefinite time, or sent back again to the coast. We therefore conceived
it prudent to give him the following statement only:—‘That the king of
England, anxious to procure the restoration of certain papers which
belonged to a countryman of ours, who perished at Boossà about twenty
years ago, which papers were supposed to be in the possession of the
sultan of Yàoorie, we had been despatched hither by our sovereign, in
the hope that the king of Katunga would forward us to the latter state,
for the purpose of obtaining them from the sultan of Yàoorie, and taking
them back with us to England.’ Mansolah displayed neither eager
curiosity as to our object in coming to his country, nor surprise when
we had informed him of it; but very promptly observed, that in two days’
time he would send a messenger to Kiáma, Wouwou, Boossà, and Yàoorie, to
acquaint the rulers of those provinces of our intention to pay them a
visit; and that on the man’s return we should have his permission to
depart. This was promised after my brother’s repeated solicitations and
importunities that we should not be detained here longer than necessary,
because in a very short time the violent rains will render the road to
those countries impassable; and in consequence we shall be unable to
travel till the return of the dry season.
It has been expressly and repeatedly told us, that the monarch of this
empire is brother to the king of Benin; but, notwithstanding this near
relationship of the two sovereigns, not the slightest intercourse or
communication is maintained between Yarriba and that power; so at least
the inhabitants of this place have informed us; and the reason they
ascribe for it is, that the distance between the countries is too great.
Friends and acquaintances are oftentimes called brothers in Yarriba; and
to make a distinction in the above instance, they assert that Mansolah
and the king of Benin ‘were of one father and one mother.’ We
interrogated Ebo on the subject, but he soon silenced our remarks by
observing that we were too inquisitive, or, to use his own words, ‘that
we talked too much.’ We intend, after leaving Yàoorie, to proceed direct
to Guarie, the prince of which country will, no doubt, send us to Funda,
from whence we must endeavour to discover the termination of the Niger,
agreeably to our written instructions.
_Saturday, May 15th._—Instead of the jarring noise of women’s tongues,
which has annoyed and followed us at every stage of our journey from
Badágry, we at length enjoy as much of composure and tranquillity as we
can well desire, for Ebo’s wives residing at some distance from the part
of our yard which we occupy, the shrill sounds of their voices are
pleasant, contrasted with the former loud, discordant, and perpetual din
which rang in our ears from morning till night. Our male visitors,
likewise, are few and select, and do not remain with us any very
considerable time together. An order has been issued by the king, that
if any impertinent individual troubles us at any time with his company
when it is not desired, Ebo is at liberty to behead him; and no one
shall have the effrontery, says Mansolah, to tax the eunuch with
injustice or cruelty in the performance of his duties. This
proclamation, if it may so be termed, has had the desired effect, for
dreading the even-handed Ebo, who is public executioner as well as chief
eunuch, the inhabitants of Katunga have hitherto repressed their
curiosity, and have confined themselves to their own abodes.
We have received a present of a sheep to-day from the ‘master of the
horse,’ an elderly person that possesses some influence over his master;
but although his pompous title would lead one to infer that his lofty
situation is highly responsible and important, a few rough, ragged-
looking ponies are the only ‘horse’ of which he has the superintendence.
All seems quiet and peaceable in this large, dull city; and one cannot
help feeling rather melancholy, in wandering through streets almost
deserted, and over a vast extent of fertile land, on which there is no
human habitation, and scarcely a living thing to animate or cheer the
prevailing solemnity. The walls of the town have been suffered to fall
into decay; and are now no better than a heap of dust and ruins; and
such unconcern and apathy pervade the minds of the monarch and his
ministry, that the wandering and ambitious Falátah has penetrated into
the very heart of the country, made himself master of two of its most
important and flourishing towns, with little, if any, opposition; and is
gradually, but very perceptibly, gaining on the lukewarm natives of the
soil, and sapping the foundations of the throne of Yarriba. The people
cannot, surely, be fully aware of their own danger, or they never could
be unconcerned spectators of events which are rapidly tending to root
out their religion, customs, and institutions, and totally annihilate
them as a nation. But since they have neither foresight, nor wisdom, nor
resolution, to put themselves in a posture of defence, and make at least
a _show_ of resistance, when danger, real or imaginary, menaces them;
since neither the love of country, which stimulates almost all nations
to heroic achievements in defence of their just and natural rights, and
all that is truly dear to them in the world; and since neither affection
for their defenceless wives and unprotected offspring, nor love of self,
can awaken a single spark of courage or patriotism in their bosoms, can
scare away that demon sloth from among them, or induce them to make a
solitary exertion to save themselves and posterity, from a foreign yoke;
why then, they are surely unworthy to be called a people; they deserve
to be deprived of their effects, children, and personal liberty, to have
their habitual sloth and listlessness converted into labour and
usefulness, in tilling, improving, and beautifying for strangers that
soil, which they have neither spirit nor inclination to cultivate for
themselves.
A market is held daily in different parts of Katunga, but twice in the
week it is much larger, and better attended than on either of the other
days. I visited one of the latter this morning, which is styled the
‘Queen’s market;’ but as it is shifted to another place towards evening,
it is then called the ‘King’s market.’ The sellers were by far more
numerous than the buyers; and, on the whole, the articles exposed for
sale by no means realised the expectations which we had formed of them.
Among them we observed three or four different kinds of corn; beans,
peas, and vegetables in abundance; the mi-cadania butter; ground or
guinea nuts; country cotton cloths, indigo, red clay, salt, and
different varieties of pepper; besides trona, snuff and tobacco, knives,
barbs, hooks, and needles, the latter of the rudest native manufacture.
There were also, finger rings of tin and lead; and iron bracelets and
armlets; old shells, old bones, and other venerable things, which
European antiquaries would gaze on with rapture; besides native soap,
little cakes of cheese and butter; an English common blue plate, a great
variety of beads, both of native and European manufacture, among the
former of which we recognised the famous _Agra_ bead, which at Cape
Coast Castle, Accra, and other places, is sold for its weight in gold,
and which has vainly been attempted to be imitated by the Italians and
our own countrymen. Provisions also were offered for sale in abundance;
and besides beef and mutton, which were made up into little round balls,
weighing about an ounce and three-quarters each, and presented not the
most delicate or tempting appearance, we observed an immense quantity of
rats, mice, and lizards, dressed and undressed, all having their skins
on, and arranged in rows.
I met with and purchased a very curious and singular kind of stone in
the market. The natives informed us that it was dug from the earth, in a
country called _Iffie_, which is stated to be ‘four moons’ journey from
Katunga, where, according to their tradition, their first parents were
created, and from whence all Africa has been peopled. Ignorant of
mineralogy, as I am of most other sciences, I am unacquainted with the
nature and properties of the stone alluded to, and therefore I grieve to
say I am incapable of giving a scientific description of it. It consists
of a variety of little transparent stones, white, green, and every shade
of blue, all embedded in a species of clayey earth, resembling rough
mosaic work.
On my return from this visit, and since writing the first part of to-
day’s journal, Ebo came to us with the news that a body of Falátahs from
Soccatoo had arrived at the _Moussa_, which is a river dividing Yarriba
from Borgoo, and that they had attacked a town on its borders, through
which our route lies. Therefore, continued Ebo, the Yàoorie messenger
will of necessity be compelled to wait here till authentic intelligence
be received of the truth or falsehood of the rumour before he sets out
on his mission to Kiáma; this will take three days, at the end of which
the fact will certainly transpire, and the man will immediately be
despatched on his errand.
It appears to us not a little strange, that the day after our arrival
here, the Falátahs should so opportunely attempt the seizure of a town,
through which we are to pass; and that information of the approach of an
enemy so greatly dreaded should not have reached this place at an
earlier period, when news of no moment whatever flies through the
country with the swiftness of an arrow from a bow. We imagine that it is
only a feint of Mansolah to detain us here longer than we desire, and
until the rains shall have rendered the road impracticable. It is
possible that we may be unjust in our suspicion; but many circumstances
appear to confirm it.
_Sunday, May 16th._—As it is the Sabbath, we have confined ourselves to-
day within doors, in order to employ it in the most proper manner that
circumstances permit. Ebo has visited us, under various pretences,
several times since morning; and has had the door-way which leads to the
women’s apartments closed up with mortar, alleging as a reason, that he
was convinced the curiosity of his women was troublesome to us. But the
truth of the matter is, that he has been induced to block up the
communication from the yard, under an apprehension that our attendants
might interfere with his domestic arrangements, by prying into the
secrets of his seraglio. We have likewise been favoured with the company
of several Hàussa Mallams, who, notwithstanding the irksome restraint to
which they are subjected by the jealousy of the king and his people, are
content to remain so far from their native country, and reside among
strangers and pagans as long as they live. Whether the priests have
taken this step purely from religious motives, or, which is the more
likely reason of the two, that they have exiled themselves from their
home and families, for the mere purpose of being enriched at the expense
of the credulity and ignorance of the inhabitants, we have been unable
to discover. At all events, the intentions of these missionaries are
effectually concealed under a cloak of piety and devotion; and thus they
are tolerated by the common consent of the monarch and his subjects. It
rained incessantly for several hours this morning.
_Monday, May 17th._—Besides presents to the king and his chief eunuch,
it is expected that something will be given to three ‘head men,’ as they
are styled, who advise with the prince, and lead his soldiers to battle.
Previous to visiting their habitations for this purpose, Ebo informed me
that it was necessary to carry the intended presents for the inspection
of his master, that nothing might be given them but such articles as
would obtain his approbation and consent. This was accordingly done, and
Mansolah saw nothing objectionable in the goods which we have selected.
As evening drew near, I rode to the residence of the head men, by each
of whom I was well received; and they accepted their presents with
abundance of thanks. Their huts were larger and more carefully built,
and their yards more commodious than even those of the king,—all kept in
excellent order, clean, and neat. The head men are in much more affluent
circumstances than their neighbours;—they have numerous wives, and large
flocks of sheep and goats, in which the wealth of the natives
principally consists. A goat and two large pots of country beer were
laid at my feet; and after expressing my acknowledgments, I returned
home.
We are of opinion, that it would require a long residence in this
country, and a perfect acquaintance with its language, to enable a
foreigner to form a correct judgment of its laws, manners, customs, and
institutions, as well as its religion and the form and nature of its
government. So innumerable are the mistakes which the smattering of
ignorant native interpreters never fails to occasion, that we despair of
getting much accurate information on any of these heads. We can only
answer for what we _see_. Perhaps few despots sully their dignity by
condescending to consult the inclination of their subjects, in
personally communicating to them their most private as well as public
concerns. Yet, the sovereign of Yarriba appears to be so obliging, as to
make this a common practice. In return, however, the people are expected
and compelled to satisfy the curiosity of their prince by adopting a
similar line of conduct towards him; and all the presents they receive
from strangers, how trifling soever they may be, are, in every instance,
taken to his residence for inspection. Every thing, indeed, that relates
to their personal interests, and all their domestic concerns, he listens
to with the most patriarchal gravity. Thus, our present to the king has
been exhibited to his people two or three times; Ebo’s also, and those
of the head men, have been shown to them as well as to their sovereign.
The common people were all anxious to know whether, among the other
things they had received, we had given their king or his ministers any
coral; and their curiosity was immediately gratified without hesitation
or remark. If a stranger, from a remote part of the empire, wishes to
visit Katunga, in order to pay his respects to his sovereign, the chief
or governor of every town through which he may happen to pass is obliged
to furnish him with any number of carriers he may require; and in this
manner his goods are conveyed from village to village, until he arrives
at the capital. A similar indulgence is likewise extended to any
governor who may have the like object in view.
The most laughable mistakes are frequently made here, by one of our
Badágrian messengers, who acts also as interpreter, as regards the
gender and relationship of individuals, such as father for mother, son
for daughter, boy for girl, and _vice versâ_. He informed us to-day,
that a brother of his, who was the friend of Ebo, and resided with him,
begged our permission to come to see us: of course we expected to see a
gentleman of some consequence enter our yard; but to our surprise the
_brother_ proved to be an old shrivelled woman, neither more nor less
than one of the eunuch’s wives.
_Tuesday, May 18th._—About three years ago, Adooley, the Badágrian
chief, despatched a messenger with a valuable present to the king of
Katunga, requesting the latter to forward him on his journey to Benin,
as he had some little business to transact with the sovereign of that
state. The man, however, purloining for his own use the principal part
of the articles intrusted to him, delivered a bottle of rum only to
Mansolah with a false message—and, instead of proceeding on his errand,
took up his abode in one of the towns between this city and Badágry.
Adooley wondered at the silence and extraordinary delay of his
messenger, and sent a man in our train to the king, to ascertain what
was become of him. The preceding answer has been returned, with the
addition that Mansolah had made the man a present fifteen sheep, and
distinguished him in a very particular manner. Every one here appears
uneasy at the very mention of Benin; and though we have endeavoured by
various indirect means to ascertain the number of days it would take a
person to travel thither from Katunga, evasive or equivocating answers
are the utmost we can obtain; one of the people asserting that the
journey might easily be accomplished in twelve days, and another
declaring, a moment afterwards, that it would occupy a period of not
less than four months. As to the reason of all this jealous
apprehension, we have not been able exactly to make up our minds. These
particular evasions might be considered as a punishment which the
Yarribeans thought fit to inflict upon strangers when they evince more
than usual curiosity for information respecting a rival and detested
power. But, in truth, nothing seems to be a greater grievance to the
natives than the answering of any questions which are put to them, be
they never so familiar and unimportant. They dislike, nay abhor to do
it; and instead of satisfying the inquirer, they study to mislead him by
falsehood or misrepresentation. This strange aversion is entertained by
the prince as well as by the meanest of his subjects; but rather than
offend us, when we are unconsciously over-inquisitive about any little
matter, Ebo answers for his monarch and companions by shaking his head,
and saying, ‘Ask no questions.’
Katunga has by no means answered the expectations we had been led to
form of it, either as regards its prosperity, or the number of its
inhabitants. The vast plain also on which it stands, although
exceedingly fine, yields in verdure and fertility, and simple beauty of
appearance, to the delightful country surrounding the less celebrated
city of Bóhoo. Its market is tolerably well supplied with provisions,
which are, however, exceedingly dear; insomuch, that with the exception
of disgusting insects, reptiles, and vermin, the lower classes of the
people are almost unacquainted with the taste of animal food.
Owing to the short time we have been in the country, which has been
employed chiefly in travelling from town to town, the manners of the
people have not sufficiently unfolded themselves to our observation; so
that we are unable to speak of them with confidence: yet, the few
opportunities we have had of studying their characters and dispositions
induce us to believe that they are a simple, honest, inoffensive, but
weak, timid, and cowardly race. They seem to have no social tenderness,
very few of those amiable private virtues which would win our affection,
and none of those public qualities that claim respect or command
admiration. The love of country is not strong enough in their bosoms to
incite them to defend it against the irregular incursions of a
despicable foe; and of the active energy, noble sentiments, and contempt
of danger which distinguish the North American tribes, and other
savages, no traces are to be found among this slothful people.
Regardless of the past as reckless of the future, the present alone
influences their actions. In this respect they approach nearer to the
nature of the brute creation, than perhaps any other people on the face
of the globe. Though the bare mention of an enemy makes the
pusillanimous Mansolah and his unwarlike subjects tremble in every limb,
they take no measures to prevent whole bands of strangers from locating
in the finest provinces of the empire, much less do they think of
expelling them after they have made those provinces their own.
To this unpardonable indifference to the public interest, and neglect of
all the rules of prudence and common sense, is owing the progress which
the Falátahs have made in gaining over to themselves a powerful party,
consisting of individuals from various nations in the interior, who had
emigrated to this country; and the great and uniform success which has
attended all their ambitious projects. They are now effectually and
firmly seated in the very centre of the kingdom; they have entrenched
themselves in strong walled towns; and have recently forced from
Mansolah a declaration of their independence, whilst this negligent and
imbecile monarch beholds them gnawing away the very sinews of his
strength, without making the slightest exertion to apply a remedy to the
evil, or prevent their future aggrandizement. Besides _Ráka_, which is
peopled wholly by Falátahs, who have strengthened it amazingly, and
rendered it exceedingly populous, another town of prodigious size has
lately sprung into being, which already far surpasses Katunga in wealth,
population, and extent. It was at first resorted to by a party of
Falátahs, who named it _Alórie_, and encouraged all the slaves in the
country to flee from the oppression of their masters, and join their
standard. They reminded the slaves of the constraint under which they
laboured, and tempted them by an offer of freedom and protection, and
other promises of the most extravagant nature, to declare themselves
independent of Yarriba. Accordingly, the discontented many miles round
eagerly flocked to Alórie in considerable numbers, where they were well
received. This took place as far back as forty years, since which, other
Falatahs have joined their countrymen from _Soccatoo_ and _Rabba_; and
notwithstanding the wars (if mutual kidnapping deserves the name) in
which they have been engaged in the support and maintenance of their
cause, Alórie is become by far the largest and most flourishing city in
Yarriba, not even excepting the capital itself. It is said to be two
days’ journey—that is, forty or fifty miles, in circumference, and to be
fortified by a strong clay wall with moats. The inhabitants have now
vast herds and flocks, and upwards of three thousand horses; which last
will appear a very considerable number, when it is considered that
Katunga does not contain more than as many hundreds. The population of
Alórie has never been estimated, but it must be immense; lately, it has
been declared independent of Yarriba; and its inhabitants are permitted
to trade with the natives of the country, on condition that no more
Falátahs be suffered to enter its walls. It is governed by twelve
rulers, each of a different nation, and all of equal power; the Falátah
chief not having more influence or greater sway than the others. _Ràka_
is but one day’s journey north-east of Katunga; and _Alórie_ three days’
journey to the south-west. The party of Falátahs which was reported to
have taken possession of a Yarriba town on the banks of the Moussa are
said to have abandoned it, and to have joined their countrymen at Ràka.
This intelligence has been brought hither by market-people, no one
having been sent by the king to ascertain the number of the adventurers,
or the object of their visit.
_Wednesday, May 19th._—The king has sent us nothing since the day of our
arrival; and the present then given was disgraceful in the extreme, as
coming from the monarch of a large and mighty kingdom. His treatment of
the late Captain Clapperton was altogether the reverse of this: a
bullock was sent him immediately after the first interview, and a live
goat, or something equivalent, every day till his departure, which
included a period little short of seven weeks. Nor, in other respects,
has the conduct of Mansolah been such as to give us pleasure; but we can
no otherwise account for this, than by supposing our present to have
fallen far short of his expectations, and so failed to awaken those
good-natured qualities which were displayed at sight of the infinitely
more valuable as well as showy one of Captain Clapperton. But whatever
may be the reason of it, certain it is that Mansolah and his subjects
have seen quite enough of white men; and that the rapturous exultation
which glowed in the cheeks of the first European that visited this
country on being gazed at, admired, caressed, and almost worshipped as a
god,—joined to the delightful consciousness of his own unmeasurable
superiority, will, in the present age at least, never be experienced by
any other. Alas! what a misfortune! The eager curiosity of the natives
has been glutted by satiety,—an European is shamefully considered no
more than a man! and hereafter, without doubt, he will be treated
entirely as such; so that, on coming to this city, he must make up his
mind to sigh a bitter farewell to goat’s flesh and mutton, and
familiarise his palate to greater delicacies, such as lizards, rats, and
locusts, caterpillars and other dainties, which the natives roast,
grill, bake and boil, and which he may wash down, if he pleases, with
draughts of milk-white water, the only beverage it will be in his power
to obtain.
I was desired by a messenger this morning to visit the king at his
residence, and on my arrival there, found a great number of people
assembled together. The object of this summons was explained by Ebo, who
said I had been sent for to see that the present he (the eunuch) had
received should be shewn to the people without any reservation whatever.
It was accordingly spread out on the floor, together with the king’s.
Even a bit of English brown soap, which we had just before given to Ebo,
was exhibited along with the other things; for so great a degree of
jealousy exists among the eunuchs and others, arising from the
apprehension that one might have received more than another, that Ebo
himself, powerful as he is, would dread the effects of it on his own
person, should he be found to have concealed a single thing. They all,
in fact, endeavour to disarm censure by an appearance of openness and
sincerity.
_Thursday, May 20th._—Last night, to our infinite surprise and pleasure,
Ebo entered our yard in a great hurry, with the agreeable information
that the king had consented to our departure on Friday morning, and that
he would wish us to get our things in readiness by that time. So
confident had we been that we should be unable to start hence for a
month to come, at the shortest, that we not only sowed cress and onion
seed the day after our arrival, which are already springing up, but had
actually made up our minds to abide here during the continuance of the
rains. But now we are in hopes of reaching Yàoorie in twelve or fourteen
days; and intend to remain in that city a short time, before proceeding
further into the interior. The only drawback to our pleasure is the
misfortune of having all our horses sick, which may seriously
inconvenience us in our progress.
The old route to Kiáma is considered so dangerous, that it is understood
we are to be sent back to _Atoopa_, which is two long days’ journey from
this city, and thence proceed on a safer path. Although we now require
but five men, besides our own, to carry the luggage, the king scruples
and hesitates to supply us even with these, and the youngest of our
Jenna messengers has been nominated to fill the place of one of them. We
are told that it is on account of the vast number of people that have
emigrated from Katunga to Ràka and Alòrie, that a sufficient number of
carriers cannot be procured for us; but in so large a place as this,
where two-thirds of the population are slaves, this reason seems quite
ridiculous, and we suspect the real one is the same original sin—the
humble character of our present. The king, however, has promised to take
his farewell of us to-morrow morning; and, thank God! our health is so
far established that we hope soon to accomplish the object of our
undertaking, and return in safety to old England.
_Friday, May 21st._—Instead of a visit from the king, which we were
yesterday told he was to honour us with, we were requested this morning
to repair to his residence. Accordingly, having first saddled our horses
and packed up the luggage, between six and seven o’clock A.M., we walked
together to the royal premises. On our arrival, we were introduced,
without any ceremony, into a private yard, wherein the king had been
patiently waiting our coming for some time previously. He was rather
plainly dressed in the costume of the country, namely, a tobe, trousers,
and sandals, with a cap very much resembling in shape those which were
worn by elderly ladies in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and which are
still retained by some in the more remote parts of England. On his right
the eunuchs were reposing their huge limbs on the ground, with several
of the elders of the people; and his left was graced by a circle of his
young wives, behind whom sat the widows of more than one of his
predecessors, many of whom appeared aged. A performer on a whistle was
the only musician present, so that, during a very long interview, a
little whistling now and then was the only amusement which the prince
could afford us. A good deal of discussion ensued, and much serious
whispering between the monarch and his wives, in the course of which
both parties quitted the yard two or three times to hold a private
conference, followed by the eunuchs with their hands clasped on their
breasts. Mansolah at length scraped together two thousand cowries (about
three shillings and sixpence of our money), which he presented to the
four men that had accompanied us from Badágry and Jenna as messengers,
guides, &c., to enable them to purchase provisions on their journey
homeward. This sum had been collected from among the king’s wives, each
having contributed a portion, because their lord and master did not
happen to be in a liberal mood. Poor souls! they possess scarcely the
shadow of royalty, much less the substance; the exterior forms of
respect which they receive from the male portion of the people alone
distinguishing them from their less illustrious countrywomen. They are
compelled to work in order to provide themselves food and clothing, and
besides which part of the earnings is applied to the king’s use. To
effect these objects they are necessitated to make long and painful
journies to distant parts of the empire, for the purpose of trading.
They have, however, the privilege of travelling from town to town
without being subjected to the usual duty, and can command the use of
the governor’s house wherever they go. The boasted industry of ancient
queens and princesses in more classic regions sinks into nothing when
compared to the laborious life which is led by the female branch of the
royal family of Yarriba.
Mansolah, after some time, beckoned to us to draw near him, for we were
sitting at some distance on a bundle of sticks, and with a most
benevolent smile playing upon his wrinkled features, he slowly, and with
great solemnity, placed a goora nut in the right hand of each of us, and
then asked our names. Richard and John, we replied. ‘Richard-_ee_ and
John-_ee_,’ said the king, for he was unable to pronounce our Christian
names without affixing a vowel to the end of them, ‘you may now sit down
again.’ We did so, and remained in that posture till we were both
completely wearied, when we desired Ebo to ask the king’s permission for
us to go home to breakfast, which was granted without reluctance. So,
having shaken hands heartily with the good old man, and wished him a
very long and happy reign, we bade him farewell for the last time, bowed
to the ladies, and returned with all haste to our hut.