them, they comforted themselves with this Thought, that they might save their Persons, by flying to the Sea Coast, to which the _J-oes_ durst not follow them. For as their national _Fetiche_ was the Sea, they were prohibited by their Priests from ever seeing it, under no less a Penalty than Death; which they made the People believe, would by their God, if they were so presumptuous, be inflicted on them.” This last Story seemed nothing strange to us, who had conversed with the Coast _Negroes_; for they have all their particular _Fetiches_ after the same manner; some being prohibited eating Fowls that have white Feathers; others, on the contrary, are to eat none that have black: Some are to eat no Sheep, others no Goats. And abundance of such other superstitious Observances they have, which are most religiously kept, being assigned them by the Priest, the Day they have their name given them. By this time it was past Noon, so we took our leave of the _Portuguese_, and went to our Tent to Dinner. [Sidenote: The Author has an Audience of the King of _Dahomè_.] About three a Clock that Afternoon, a Messenger came from the great Captain, to inform us, the King had appointed immediately to give us an Audience. This was an agreeable Surprize to us, for now we had hopes of being quickly dispatch’d, so we prepared our selves, and went to the King’s Gate, our Presents for his Majesty being carried before us. On our coming into the Court, where we had seen the King at our former Audience, we were desired to stay a little, till the Presents were carried into the House, that his Majesty might view them. Soon after we were introduced into a small Court, at the further end of which the King was sitting cross-legg’d on a Carpet of Silk, spread on the Ground: He was himself richly dress’d, and had but few Attendants. When we approached him, his Majesty enquired in a very kind manner, How we did? ordering we should be placed near him; and accordingly fine Mats were spread on the Ground for us to sit on. Tho’ sitting in that Posture was not very easy to us, yet we put a good Face on the matter, understanding by the Linguist, that it was their Custom.