Lander's Travels eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,054 pages of information about Lander's Travels.

Lander's Travels eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,054 pages of information about Lander's Travels.
at the habitation of the minister, by whom he was very kindly received.  The compliments of the day only were exchanged between them, and the numerous wives, and large family of the master of the house, who are on these occasions generally exhibited to a stranger, having amply gratified their curiosity by an examination of his person, the interview terminated and he presently returned to his abode, after promising to visit the minister again on the following day.

Bohoo lies north-east of Acboro, and is built on the slope of a very gentle and fertile hill, at whose base flows a stream of milk-white water, and behind which is the Fellata hamlet already mentioned.  Its immense triple wall is little short of twenty miles in circuit; but besides huts and gardens, it encloses a vast number of acres of excellent meadow land, in which bullocks, sheep, and goats feed indiscriminately.  By the hasty view obtained of it, the town in some degree resembled Kano, but there is no large swamp like that which intersects the latter city.  Bohoo was formerly the metropolis of Youriba, but about half a century ago, the reigning prince preferring the plain at Katunga, the seat of government was transferred there, since which Bohoo has materially declined in wealth, population, and consequence, although it is still considered a place of great importance, and the second town in the kingdom.  It is bounded on all sides by hills of gradual ascent, which are prettily wooded, and commands an extensive horizon.  The land in the vicinity of the town presents a most inviting appearance, by no means inferior to any part of England in the most favourable season of the year.  It appears to be duly appreciated by the Fellatas, so great a number of whom reside with their flocks in different parts, that the minister candidly declared he could not give any information of their amount.  These foreigners sell their milk, butter, and cheese in the market at a reasonable rate.  The latter is made into little cakes about an inch square, and when fried in butter is very palatable.  It is of the consistence and appearance of the white of an egg, boiled hard.

Agreeably to the promise which Richard Lander made to the chief, he left his brother to the care of old Pascoe and his wife, and hastened to pay his respects to the chief’s head man or minister.  It appears that this man was placed in his present situation by the king of Katunga, as a kind of spy on the actions of the governor, who can do nothing of a public nature, without in the first place consulting him, and obtaining his consent to the measure.  Yet he conducted himself so well in his disagreeable office, that he won the good will, not only of the governor of the town, but also its inhabitants.  A kind of rivalry existed between the minister and his master, but then it was a rivalry in good and not in bad actions.  Hearing that the governor had sent the travellers a bullock, and something besides, he presented Richard

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Lander's Travels from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.