In the whole of the countries I have visited, either on the coast, or in the interior, they have no other method of spinning than by the ancient distaff. I have often wondered at this, for their looms are exactly on the same principle as those of Europe. They knit nightcaps in great quantities here; and during my stay at Baffo a man knitted me a pair of socks, from a pair I lent him as a pattern. These are still in my possession. I asked permission to shoot some cranes in the cranery we passed yesterday, but the caboceer would only allow me to shoot the grey ones. The white cranes, he said, were the fetish-men to the grey ones. The caboceer accompanied me, and seemed much surprised at my killing one with so small a gun on the top of so high a tree, particularly as he had never seen small shot used before. They generally use iron bullets, rudely forged. I offered to shoot one with a gun belonging to the principal warrior of my guard, but this he peremptorily refused, declaring “that if white man fired out of his gun, black man can never again kill any thing with the same piece.” To convince him of his error, I offered to let him have a shot with mine, but even this he declined. I afterwards learnt that they will not even allow their own comrades to fire out of their guns. Upon my return home I found my court-yard covered with dishes of provision, smoking hot, the merchants as well as the caboceer having sent numerous dishes, as well as plenty of peto for my people to drink. Soon after we had finished our meal, we were beset with fetish-women, bringing small presents, received by them as tithes, on the last market-day. Tithes are actually customary to fetish-women even in Abomey. Although their present be ever so trifling, the acceptor is considered as under a religious obligation to make a return of tenfold value. One very fine old fetish-woman, accompanied by her two daughters, presented me with some eggs, which she brought me on a soup plate of English manufacture, for which I gave in return needles and thimbles. With these they seemed much pleased, but unfortunately on their way home they dropped the plate and broke it into several pieces. The young ladies returned crying bitterly, earnestly entreating me to mend it, and seemed still more grieved when I told them that it was beyond my skill. To console them, however, I told them that I would certainly send them one from Whydah by the Abomey messenger, who would forward it to Savalu by the traders. This promise I fulfilled. Late in the evening the caboceer again visited me, when I presented him with a few ornamental trinkets, as well as a knife and a pair of scissors. With these he seemed pleased. I also presented his head men, and the Abomey merchants who had treated us so kindly, with some trifling articles. In return, they presented me with a live goat and some fowls.