This was doubtless a more prudent course than I could at that moment reconcile myself to, having already experienced the advantage of taking the first step in an affray with Africans, but afterwards the King of Dahomey argued the injustice of a first attack, as we were only intruders in the Dassa territory, and had not come there to make war. I had my carbine and both pistols heavily charged with slugs, and could willingly have made the Dassa bowmen a present of a few when they first came up alongside of me, had the caboceer allowed me. After accompanying us two miles in the manner I have described, that is, till we reached the neutral ground on the N. W. side of the mountains, they suddenly turned back towards their homes. My fine old friend Kpatchie, and also the caboceer of Baffo, soon afterwards left us to return to their respective abodes. It now came on to rain heavily, rendering the path, which is of a light clay, extremely slippery. Before leaving the natives of the Dassa mountains, it may not be uninteresting to make a few observations respecting them. For generations they have inhabited this range of mountains, though they have been on several occasions disturbed by enemies, who however have always been repulsed with loss. Their mountains are extremely difficult of access; and, unlike any of their neighbours, they take the precaution to preserve sufficient food for some months, in case of a besieging force coming against them. This precaution, and the supply of water from the mountain springs, enables them to withstand the force and skill of any enemy. They speak a language quite distinct from that of the neighbouring tribes, one instance of the inaccuracy of Mr. Crowther’s assertion that all the tribes inhabiting the Kong Mountains, from the Niger to the Ashantee country, speak the same language. I had several Yarriba and Houssa men with me, all of whom declared that they could not speak the Dassa language. These mountaineers are selfish and revengeful in the extreme, and are considered great cowards, for they depend chiefly upon the chances of poisoning their enemy. They are numerous on account of their never disposing of their slaves, and polygamy is, as in most African kingdoms, allowed to any extent. Their towns (those at least which we saw) were large and well-peopled, and their position judiciously selected for defence. They do not keep their cattle in herds on the plains, like their neighbours, but on the mountains, which have more vegetation than most of the Mahee mountains of the same height. They are great farmers and hunters. Regular markets of exchange are established with one another. It is said that they have a superior method of manufacturing iron, which has been observed in their arrow-heads. Their worship is pagan.