After crossing this river we entered the Annagoo country. We halted a short time on the bank, to give the caboceer of Savalu time to prepare himself for our reception. A messenger now arrived to say that he would shortly be ready to receive us. I here changed my dress, and substituted my military uniform. This caboceer was described to be a man of great wealth and power, and a great favourite with the King of Dahomey. He is consequently allowed a considerable degree of discretionary power beyond that of any other chief, the caboceer of Whydah excepted. As soon as my rude toilet was finished, I mounted as a Life Guardsman, but not quite so neat as when on duty at Whitehall. After advancing about one mile towards the town, we were met by the caboceer under some very large trees, where was a cranery. This place was delightfully shaded. Here the captain of my guard and myself seated ourselves under one of the trees, till this great personage made three times a procession in a circle round us to the left, for it is considered unlucky to form circle to the right. This caboceer appeared to consider himself much above any other I had seen, either in the Mahee or Dahoman kingdoms, now united. He would not condescend to walk, but was carried round us in his hammock. He then alighted, and his hammock was carried suspended to a pole, each end resting on the heads of two stout slaves, who always proceeded at a trot. He advanced towards us on foot, after he had displayed to his own satisfaction the richly ornamented hammock in which he had been riding. He afterwards informed me that it was presented to him by the King of Dahomey. He next went through the usual ceremony of prostration, and rubbing himself with dust. He then delivered a long address of welcome to the King’s English stranger, finishing his harangue by saying that I was like to a man who had been many moons searching in the bush for a large block of wood for his fire, and had rejected many as being bad wood to burn, but to his great satisfaction at last found a large tree of a peculiar description, which burnt like a lamp. He said, that I in like manner had been travelling through the Mahee and Fellattah countries, but during the whole of my long journey I had not seen any town so great or so grand as the town of Savalu, which I was about to enter.