PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR _To face the Title._ MAP OF THE AUTHOR’S ROUTE p. 1 Wood Cuts. DAHOMAN WEAPONS 226 DESCRIPTION OF THESE WEAPONS:-- No. 1.--A long straight dagger, with snake on the hilt, to bite the Mahee people. No. 2.--A large heavy knife, with imitation of tigers’ claws on the back, to hook the Mahee people when running away. This knife is about the substance of the English bill-hook. No. 3.--A very broad, thin knife, with a Dahomey man in the act of shooting a Mahee man. This knife is made of silver, and is more for ornament than use. Nos. 4 and 5 are King’s battle-sticks: the angle of the handle into which the blade is fixed is the natural growth of the wood. No. 6 is a battle-stick, carried by all soldiers, male and female. This stick is used to beat people to death, when silence is necessary, as the report of a gun might give an alarm. By examining No. 6, five large knobs of iron are seen fixed to the under part of the head of the weapon. [Illustration: Map to accompany THE TRAVELS OF Mᴿ JOHN DUNCAN in the interior of AFRICA from WHYDAH TO ADAFOODIA 1845 & 1846 _Engraved by J. & C. Walker._ _Published by Richard Bentley 1847._] TRAVELS IN WESTERN AFRICA. CHAPTER I. Departure--Arrival at Tangiers--Description of the Town--Market--Price of Provisions--Method of Storing Grain--Inhabitants--The Jews--A Jewish Dwelling--The Moors--Fruits and Flowers--Desolate State of the Town--Moorish Market-women--Gibraltar--Ascend to the Highest Point--A Pic-nic and an agreeable Reconnoitre--Cleanliness of the Inhabitants--Arrival at the Gambia--Bathurst--The Mandingos--Massacre of the Crew of the _Margaret_--Encounter of the Crew of the _Courier_ with Pirates--Sierra Leone--Dr. Ferguson--Mr. Oldfield, his Hospitality--Gave Chase to a supposed Slaver--Cape Coast--Governor Hill--Cape Coast Castle.