COMPRISING A JOURNEY FROM WHYDAH, THROUGH THE KINGDOM OF DAHOMEY, TO ADOFOODIA, IN THE INTERIOR. BY JOHN DUNCAN, LATE OF THE FIRST LIFE GUARDS, AND ONE OF THE LATE NIGER EXPEDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty. 1847. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty. 1847. LONDON: R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL. In presenting the following Work to the public, it may be deemed

No. 1.—A long straight dagger, with snake on the hilt, to bite the Mahee people. No. 2.—A large heavy knife, with imitation of tigers’ claws on the back, to hook the Mahee people when running away. This knife is about the substance of the English bill-hook. No. 3.—A very broad, thin knife, with a Dahomey man in the act of shooting a Mahee man. This knife is made of silver, and is more for ornament than use. Nos. 4 and 5 are King’s battle-sticks: the angle of the handle into which the blade is fi

Departure—Arrival at Tangiers—Description of the Town—Market—Price of Provisions—Method of Storing Grain—Inhabitants—The Jews—A Jewish Dwelling—The Moors—Fruits and Flowers—Desolate State of the Town—Moorish Market-women—Gibraltar—Ascend to the Highest Point—A Pic-nic and an agreeable Reconnoitre—Cleanliness of the Inhabitants—Arrival at the Gambia—Bathurst—The Mandingos—Massacre of the Crew of the Margaret —Encounter of the Crew of the Courier with Pirates—Sierra Leone— Dr. Ferguson— Mr. Oldfie

Strange Articles of Food—Native Cookery—The River Amissa—Reception by the Caboceer of Amissa—Soil, Fruits, &c.—An Adventure—Visit from a Hyena—The River Anaqua—Arsafah—Soil, Fruits, &c.—Beautiful Birds—Moors and Arabs here—Cattle—Return to Cape Coast—Hospitable Reception there—Invitation from the King of Ashantee—My Reply—Visit the Neighbourhood of Cape Coast—Coffee Plantations—Indolence of the Natives—The Town of Napoleon—Eyau Awkwano—Fruits Growing Spontaneously—Bad Roads—Singu

Manufacture of Salt—Death of Dr. M’Hardy—Falling Stars—Manioc, the Food of the Slaves—Crops—Mode of storing Grain—Superstition—Hospitality of Don Francisco de Suza—A Tornado—Slave Auctions—Punishment for killing Fetish Snakes—Slaughter of Dogs, &c.—Dogs used as Food—An English Dog rescued—Thievish Propensities of the Natives—Falling Stars—Murder of two Wives—Adjito—A heavy Tornado—Robbed by my Servant—American Brig sold to Slave Merchants—Shipment of Slaves—Sharks—Death caused by one—Pre

Set out on my Journey for Abomey—Savay—Torree—My wretched Condition—Azoway—Parasitical Plants—Aladda—Cotton tree—Atoogo—Assewhee—Havee—A Butterfly-School—Whyboe—Construction of the Houses—Native Customs—Manufactures—African Character generally—Population of Whyboe—Akpway—An extensive Swamp—Ahgrimmah—Togbadoe—Scenery—Soil—Swarm of Locusts. At one o’clock, during a heavy rain, we started from Whydah, leaving my servant, an American, who had belonged to the American vessel already mentioned, but wh

1845 & 1846, COMPRISING A JOURNEY FROM WHYDAH, THROUGH THE KINGDOM OF DAHOMEY, TO ADOFOODIA, IN THE INTERIOR. BY JOHN DUNCAN, LATE OF THE FIRST LIFE GUARDS, AND ONE OF THE LATE NIGER EXPEDITION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty. 1847. LONDON: R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL....

Enter Logazohy in Regimentals—Received by the Caboceer, attended by his Soldiers—Singular Mode of Dancing—Native Jester—Description of the Town—Corn Mills—Presents from Fetish-women—Agriculture—Prevalent Diseases—A disgusting Case of Leprosy—Quarrel among my Carriers—My Illness—The Damadomy—Trees, Shrubs—The Agbado—Rapid Construction of a Suspension Bridge by my Dahoman Guards—Savalu—Reception by the Caboceer—Picturesque Situation of the Town—Caboceer’s House—His Wives—His Jester—My Illness. Pre

My continued Illness—The Koffo—The Langhbo—Bivouac—Keep Sentinel—Shea-butter Trees—Springs impregnated with Iron—Gijah—Poverty of the Caboceer—Hospitality of Atihoh, the Merchant—Doko—Met by the Avoga of Whydah—Etiquette with regard to the Time of entering a Town—Enter Abomey—My Servant Maurice takes to his Bed—Sudden Change in the Temperature—Visit to the King—His gratification at my safe Return—My Conversation with his Majesty—His Views with regard to the Slave Trade—His desire to cede Whydah

Conversation with the King of Dahomey continued—Visit Coomassie, another Palace of the King—Great Number of Human Skulls—Skulls of Kings taken in Battle—Death-drums—Peculiarity of Skulls—Craniums of the Fellattahs—Skulls of Rival Kings—Criminal Case heard by the King, and his Award—Death of my Servant Maurice—Regret of the King—Christian Burial of my Servant—The King’s Kindness to me—My increasing Illness and Depression of Spirits—Method of Procuring Food in the Bush by the Dahoman Soldiers—My A

Akpway—Superstition of the Natives—Singular proceeding of my Bullock-Drivers—Arrival at Whydah—Kind Reception by Don Francisco de Suza—Kindness of all the Merchants—Parting Interview with M. de Suza—Sail for Cape Coast—Terror of the Mahee Girl (presented to the Queen) at the Roughness of the Sea—Arrival at Cape Coast—Kindness of Mr. Hutton— Dr. Lilley—Recover from my Fever—Kindness of the Wesleyan Missionaries—General Character of Africans—Hints with regard to Educating them—Observations on the