Upon my landing at the Water side, I was received by some persons, whom the King had appointed to conduct me about a quarter of a mile up, where I found him sitting on a Stool, under some shady Trees; another being placed by his side, which I was desired to sit on. The King did not speak one word, or moved in the least, till I was sat down; but then he bid me welcome, enquiring after my health; as I did after his, having first paid my respects to him, by bowing and taking off my Hat. There were many of his Courtiers present, and I observed above 50 of his Guard, stood at a little distance. They were armed with Bows and Arrows, a Sword by their side, and a barbed Lance in their Hands. My people ranged themselves opposite to them, at the distance of about twenty paces. After having presented the King with some things, which, tho’ trifling to us, he seemed highly delighted with; accidentally turning my Head about, I saw a little Negroe-Child tied by the Leg to a Stake driven in the Ground, the flies and other vermin crawling on him, and two Priests standing by. Being surprized at this sight, I asked the King, “What was the reason of the Child’s being tied in that manner?” He replied, “It was to be sacrificed that night to his God _Egbo_, for his prosperity.” Moved at the hearing of this, I called (too hastily I must own) to one of my People, to take the Child from the Ground, in order to preserve him. He had no sooner done it, but one of the King’s Guard advanced towards him, in a threatning posture with his Lance; and fearing he would run him through, I immediately took out of my Pocket a small Pistol; at the sight of which, the King rose from his Stool in a fright. But I bid the Linguist tell him, “I would offer no Injury to him or his, provided he ordered his Guard not to attack mine:” Which he readily doing, and all things being quiet, I expostulated with him, “for his breaking the Laws of Hospitality, in permitting one of his Guard to threaten my Man with his Lance.” To this the King replied, “I had not done well in ordering him to seize the Child, it being his Property.” This I acknowledged, “excusing it on the account of my Religion, which, tho’ it does not allow of forcibly taking away what belongs to another, yet expresly forbids so horrid a Thing, as the putting a poor innocent Child to death. And that this would, instead of Blessings, certainly bring on him the Wrath of the most high God, whom we white Men adored.” I also observed to him, “That the grand Law of human Nature was, To do to others as we desir’d to be done unto;” and many other Arguments I used, too long to repeat here. At the same time I offered to pay him for the Child, which the King readily accepted: And on my asking, what he desired for it? to my surprize he only asked a bunch of sky coloured Beads, worth about half a Crown Sterling. I expected he would have demanded at least ten times that Value; for the Negroes, from the King to the Trader, are