Upon their appearing before the King, Captain _More_ complained of his hard usage; telling his Majesty, “They had had no Victuals nor any Refreshment since they had been taken Prisoners.” The King thereupon rose up, and went into an inner room; whence coming out again with a Hatchet in his Hand, the sight of it so frightned some of the _Portuguese_, that they fell on their Knees to implore his Mercy; imagining their Heads were going to be cut off. But Captain _More_ severely upbraiding them for their cowardly Behaviour, so disgraceful to white Men, they rose up: And had soon after the pleasure of seeing a small Cask of Beef opened with it, and several pieces ordered to be dress’d for them. This Cask of Beef, it seems, was found by the Soldiers in the Captain’s Factory, and sent up with other Plunder, to the King, the day before. Then they were distributed according to their different Nations, and put under the care of several great Men. Captain _More_ and his People were delivered to _Allegee_ the _English_ Cabocier; (as he was termed) that is, the Person appointed to Trade with them in particular. This black Gentleman treated them with great Civility; but they had the Mortification, a few days after, to hear, he was seized and beheaded; tho’ they could never learn the Cause. It seems the King of _Dahomè_ is grown exceedingly cruel towards his People, being always suspicious, that Plots and Conspiracies are carrying on against him: So that he frequently cuts off some of his great Men on bare Surmises. This, added to the many Disappointments he has met with from the _J-oes_, has so soured his Temper, that he is likewise greatly altered towards the _Europeans_, as Captain _More_ experienced. For this Gentleman had been at his Camp formerly, and was known to him soon after the Conquest of _Whidaw_, as I have related in the former part of this Book. Besides, both King and People continue as savage as ever, tho’ they have conversed for several Years past with white Men. For one day the Council having begged a Captive, his Majesty readily gave them one, whom they killed and feasted on. But to return to Captain _More_. He and the other _Europeans_ having continued a good while Prisoners, Mr. _Dean_, the _African_ Company’s Governor of the Fort at _Whidaw_, came to _Ardra_, and interceded with the King for them: Representing, “As they had been at _Jaqueen_ only on account of Trade, it was very unjust to detain them.” With these and many other Arguments, he at last obtained their Freedom: And a Guard was ordered to see Captain _More_ safe down to _Jaqueen_. But he reflecting on the hard usage he had received at that place from the Soldiers, when at first taken Prisoner; and that they still were encamped there, he chose to go by the way of _Whidaw_: From whence he got on board a _French_ Ship, and borrowed their Boat, which carried him to his own Ship, that lay in the Road of _Jaqueen_.