The caboceer, whose name is Bagadee, is a very fine stout handsome black, of very pleasing expression and address, possessing great intelligence; and having travelled a considerable distance in the neighbouring kingdoms, he has a tolerable idea of the geography of the surrounding country. As we advanced towards the town, which was certainly the most picturesque and grand of any I had seen since leaving the country of the Fellattahs, we ascended six platforms in succession, of flights of steps naturally formed, of a very peculiar sort of stone, resembling petrified wood, and stratified perpendicularly. These steps extend upwards of a mile in length, and each platform is of nearly the same breadth, preserving the same throughout; so that an observer could scarcely be convinced that they were formed by Nature, were he not aware of the generally indolent character of the natives. These platforms were about fifty yards in width, with numerous little villages situated thereon, apparently occupied by farmers, and here all the cattle are kept, of which there are great numbers: goats and sheep only are admitted in the town. The mountain of Savalu, from which the town takes its name, is beautifully wooded to the summit, with bold projecting rocks or precipices at different distances, showing their hoary crowns and angles, forming a beautiful back-ground to the town, which, independently of the neighbouring kroom, is certainly larger than any town in the Mahee country, and before it was ceded to the Dahomans was always considered the capital or metropolis. The houses are much larger generally, and built with more taste and uniformity than any Mahee town. The caboceer’s house is two stories high, and built on a platform directly overlooking the market-place. His house and the market are separated by a wall about ten or twelve feet high. The windows or light-holes of the upper story are considerably higher than the wall, so that the inmates, chiefly the caboceer’s wives, can overlook the whole of the market-place, and in fact the whole town, being situated on the base of the mountain. We remained in the market-place about an hour and a half, drinking rum and peto, the soldiers of each guard alternately dancing and keeping up an irregular fire. During this time the caboceer’s wives were stealing a peep through the windows, but the moment they were observed withdrew. Amongst the soldiers of Savalu, I noticed the jester very particularly, who certainly displayed more wit and fun than clowns generally do, in endeavouring to fire off his musket, which several times missed fire; upon which he shook out the whole of the priming, and spit into the pan, and again snapped the piece as if expecting the explosion would fellow. He also performed several other antics equally ridiculous. At last we were allowed to retire to the quarters which had been allotted to us. These were a considerable distance from the principal market-place.