with that opportunity, because the chief of that town was engaged in making a fetish, for the purpose of counteracting any evil intentions that the white men might entertain towards him.  All their people were fatigued and exhausted on the road, complaining much of the heat, and one of them was brought to them in the evening in a high fever.  Engua is the town where the lamented Captain Pearce breathed his last, and here also Captain Clapperton felt quite disheartened, and almost despaired of penetrating further into the interior of the country.  The chief sent them only a little Indian corn and water, and obstinately refused to sell them either a goat, sheep, or any other animal, although there were many thousands in the town.

Their reception at Engua was so truly inhospitable, that they arose at a much earlier hour than they generally did, and proceeded on their way by starlight.  In place of the ironstone which they had observed on the preceding day, the country was now partially covered with large and unshapely masses of granite.  Mountains and elevated hills were observed to the right of them, the sides of which were thickly wooded, and their summits reaching above the clouds.  At nine o’clock, they passed through a neat and cleanly village named Chakka, which had lately lost its chief, and an hour afterwards crossed a small river called Akeeney, which was full of sharp and rugged rocks, and is reported to fall into the Lagos.  They were carried over on men’s shoulders without much difficulty, but the horses were a long time in getting across.  Hence the path winded up a high and steep hill, which they ascended, and entered the town of Afoora about mid-day.  The governor gave them a hearty welcome, and said it made him so extremely happy to see them, which was also expressed by the joy and animation of his countenance.  The best hut in the town, which was the most airy and commodious of any they had seen, was presently got ready for them, and shortly after they had taken possession of it, they received a quantity of excellent provisions from the chief.

This was the first day of his government; his father, the late chief, had been dead some time, but from motives of delicacy he refused to take upon himself his authority until this morning.  In honour of the event, a large company of women were dancing, rejoicing, and making merry all the evening, outside their hut.  It appeared as rather a strange circumstance to Richard Lander, that the chief or governor of almost every town through which they had passed since leaving Badagry, who was alive and well on his return to the coast three years ago, had been either slain in war or had died from natural causes.  Scarcely one of them was alive on his present expedition.