The west side of some of these mountains presents to the observer a most singular appearance, being composed of immense blocks of stone, (granite,) thrown by some volcanic power indiscriminately one upon another, resembling at a distance the large towns built on other parts of the mountains. The highest of the Dassa mountains, which is close on the left or south side of the pass crossing this chain, is two thousand five hundred feet high. The pass through these mountains is picturesque and grand; huge blocks of granite resting on pivots and angles, almost terrific to pass. The blue eagle, and various large birds of varied plumage and forms, give a wild grandeur to the scene. The pass is extremely rough, the traveller ascending and descending rocks, to the distance of a mile, to avoid the deep pools in the hollows between them, formed by the stream of considerable size which runs in the same direction as the pass. The noise and gushing sound of the cataracts reminded me of scenes far distant. I should have enjoyed it much better had we not been annoyed by the Dassa people. It is remarkable, that in all the mountains in the interior I have never observed a stone building, though stone might much easier be obtained than the clay with which they are invariably built; for instance, they carry clay from the plain for the purpose of building upon granite rocks, on mountain-tops elevated two thousand feet from their base. The lion, hyæna, and panther abound in these mountains, and often commit great depredations. The antelope is also a resident here. After crossing the chain of the Dassa mountains, we entered another beautiful plain, quite open to a distance of many miles to the northward. The soil is of a light sandy clay and loam, well watered by small streams, running to the N.E. The ground, in consequence of the heavy rains, had, as I stated, become very slippery; and, whether by accident or intentionally I cannot determine, one of my Dahoman carriers, sent with me by Mayho, let fall from his head a large case, containing bottles of rum, breaking all but two. One of the soldiers who was close behind him stated that this act was intentional, and the caboceer declared that he would report the slave’s conduct to his master immediately upon his return to Abomey. It was an unfortunate event to myself and the caboceer, especially as my stock of spirits was now nearly exhausted, and we had still many towns to visit, where in all such cases a present of a flask of rum is considered an indispensable _dash_ to the caboceers and their head-men.