are hung much in the same manner as a ship's rudder, the hinge being formed of wood resembling a spigot and fosset.

On the third day after our arrival in this town, we received orders to go to Benin and present ourselves to the king; but my health had been gradually declining for some days past. My clothes were in a very filthy state, and the shirt I wore had not been washed for nineteen days. In consequence of remaining naked whilst it was washing, my health and strength were so much impaired, my mate also being indisposed, that it was deemed prudent for us to remain at Gatto. The supercargo and crew therefore proceeded without delay to Benin, in order to see what the king would do with us.

They were absent about six days, during which time I was extremely ill. I thought, and even hoped, that every hour would put a termination to my sufferings. My body was wasted almost to a skeleton, and I could scarcely support myself, even with the help of a stick.

On the return of our friends the joy I experienced somewhat cheered my mind, and alleviated

74

TRAVELS ON THE COAST OF BENIN.

my pain. They prevailed on me at the same time to eat some unripe guavas, a species of plum which grows in the woods at this place, and is frequently used in the West Indies to cure the flux. This produced the desired effect; and as I continued to eat them in their green state, my health and strength gradually returned.

I was much gratified at the kindness shown to the supercargo and crew by the king of Benin. He required a full account of all the circumstances connected with the loss of the vessel, and the conduct of the natives toward us, and further requested a written list of the cargo, which was furnished him. During the recital he seemed highly incensed and astonished at the barbarity of the Mongyee people, and promised immediately to dispatch messengers to that place to endeavour to recover some of the property; and further said that we should be sent in about ten days time to Badagry, by the way of Lagos, to the owner of our vessel, who had a factory established in that place, and from thence we could easily procure a passage to our native country.

CHAPTER VII.

WE waited for the performance of the king's promise, as it will be seen, many weeks, during which time we suffered the greatest privation. We were daily buoyed up with the hope of our departure, the people assuring us that the messengers would soon arrive, as the orders had been given for the canoes, and they would not be long making.

At this time, a Portuguese schooner arrived, to purchase a cargo of ivory and cloths, for a considerable town on the coast, called Wydah, and the owner kindly promised us a passage to that place, as soon as the vessel should be ready to sail again, which, however, would not be for at least three months to come; but even

this was desirable, and we looked forward to the certainty of getting away after that period, if the king did not send to us before.

Our situation was truly deplorable. We were without shoes to our feet; our linen was extremely filthy and disgusting; we were tormented by musquitoes day and night, subject to all kinds of hardships, with bad lodging and worse living. John Johnson, the mate, exposed alike to the same calamities, and subject to the same privations, got worse and worse every day. He did not appear to be in violent pain, but his appetite was very keen, and this is always considered a bad omen. He seldom arose from his miserable bed in the recess, and suffered greatly from depression of spirits, which, with the ravages disease was making on him, reduced him to a mere shadow. I have often lain by his side on the mat, and endeavoured to rouse and cheer him; telling him how much I had suffered, and that he was not even so bad as I was then; but it was to no purpose, and it seemed in all probability a few days would terminate his career of pain and suffering

I determined, therefore, immediately to proceed to Benin myself, and see the king; conceiving, it might have been the neglect of his ministers that had caused our being detained so long beyond the time he had specified. Accordingly, I started in the morning, with two men, who were to carry me in a hammock slung on a pole, and borne on the shoulders. But my sufferings during this journey cannot be described; language is inadequate to convey what I went through on this occasion. Scarcely had we proceeded five miles on our journey, when we were overtaken by a tornado. It seemed as if the elements were fiercely contending together; the wind blew sudden gusts, tearing up trees, and scattering devastation around us the thunder roared most awfully, and the lightning gleamed fearfully in the heavens. Soon the rain descended in torrents, and from the narrowness and badness of the road, I was obliged to get out of the hammock, and wade through mud and water up to my knees. Whilst I was doing this, the hammock men proceeded on before me, and quickened their