Having stayed three Days on Shore with the _English_ and _French_, who, I found, were in as great a Doubt as my self how to act in their Affairs; I came to a Resolution to go for the Port or Road of _Jaqueen_, which lies about seven Leagues to the Eastward of _Whidaw_; and has about thirty Miles of Sea-Coast. This Place has always been the Sea Port to the Kingdom of _Ardra_, and tributary to it; having a hereditary Governour, who paid his Tribute in Loaves of Salt, there being great Quantities made here. As soon as the King of _Dahomè_ had conquered _Ardra_, the Lord of this Place sent his Submission, offering the usual Tribute he used to pay the conquered King; which was readily accepted. This shews the Policy of the King of _Dahomè_; for tho’ he had made a terrible Destruction of the Inhabitants of the inland Countries he had conquered from Time to Time; yet he knew his Interest too well, to destroy the People of this Country in the same manner; for having now obtained his Desires, in gaining a free Passage to the Sea-Side, he judged the _Jaqueens_ would be very useful to him, because they understood Trade, and now by their means, he should never want a supply of Arms and Gunpowder, to carry on his designed Conquests. Moreover these People had ever been Rivals to the _Whidaws_ in Trade, and had an inveterate Hatred against them, because they had drawn almost the whole trade from the _Jaqueens_, to their own Country. For, the Pleasantness thereof, with the good Government in former Times, had induced the _Europeans_ to carry on the far greater part of the Trade, at their principal Town of _Sabee_. It was on the third of _April_ 1727, we anchored in the Road of _Jaqueen_; and soon after I sent on Shore my Surgeon, to the Lord of that Place, to settle an Agreement with him, before I landed my self; for I had never been at this Place, and had a Hint given me not to trust him, before all the Particulars I demanded were agreed to by him; for he had formerly plaid base Tricks with some _Europeans_, who had not taken such a Precaution. In the Evening my Surgeon sent me a Letter, informing me, he had obtained all I desired; For the Performance of which the Lord of the Place had taken his _Fetiche_ or Oath, in presence of a _French_ and _Dutch_ Gentleman: On this Assurance I landed the next Day, and went up to the Town of _Jaqueen_, which lies about three Miles from the Sea side, where I was received very kindly, the Promises and Agreement made with my Surgeon being renewed, and a House appointed me to keep Factory in. [Sidenote: The Author’s Journey to the King of _Dahomè_’s Camp.]