After crossing the lagoon, we returned to Popoe, where we went through the same ordeal of reception, by the continued annoyance of the firing of old muskets close to our heads, as well as several four-pounders placed on the sand (procured from the wreck of some of the slave-vessels driven on shore), and fired as quickly as they could be crammed full of powder, nearly as large as swan-shot. Here we were followed by at least three or four hundred ragamuffins of all descriptions, clapping hands, beating tom-toms, firing muskets, flourishing a sort of bill-hook, which they call a sword, all declaring their great satisfaction and good feeling at the sight of an Englishman. They all followed us into Mr. Lawson’s yard, keeping up the same discordant annoyance for at least two hours, when we found that their principal good feeling was towards the rum puncheon, which they emptied in a very short time. They will drink rum as fast as an Englishman will drink beer. I was very glad when I saw their amusement changed from such awful discord to the less noisy clamours of their drinking quarrels. As early as possible I went to bed, but found it impossible to sleep, owing to the noise of these gentry, which did not cease until midnight, when the drunken party were too much exhausted to keep up their clamour any longer. Slaves in barracoons for exportation are fed twice during the twenty-four hours, morning and evening. They are let out of their barracoons, and driven like cattle to the river, eight or sometimes ten on the same chain. The chain is strong, the links about eight inches long and about two inches wide, the iron about three-eighths of an inch thick. They are chiefly fed upon farina, a meal ground from the cassada or manioc-root. FOOTNOTES: [6] The natives name their children after the day of the week, and if more than one child is born on the same day of the week, they are called _First_, _Second_, and so on according to their seniority. Sunday Quesera. Monday Adjuda. Tuesday Benada. Wednesday Ewkra. Thursday Yowda. Friday Feera. Saturday Memenda. Persons born on each day of the week:-- Men. Women. Sunday Quashie Aquesua. Monday Kudjo Adjewa. Tuesday Kobra Aabinaba. Wednesday Quako Akooa. Thursday Quaow Yaba. Friday Kaffee Efwa. Saturday Quamina Amma. [7] This dish is called _katoh-kim_. In the Fantee country, _kotah_, signifies crab, and _kim_, pudding. [8] _Kankie_ is Indian corn ground, made into dough, wrapped in leaves, and then baked or boiled in lumps, the size of a man’s fist. CHAPTER VI.