August 23d.--Early in the morning my host paid me the usual morning visit, bringing me a few choice dishes for my own breakfast, and also a present of one goat, several fowls, one large African duck, and a number of rare pigeons with feathered legs and toes, and ten large dishes of provision for my soldiers. Soon after breakfast we marched for Doko, accompanied for a short distance by the caboceer and head-men, attended by about twenty of his soldiers, who kept up an irregular firing of muskets as far as they accompanied us. After leaving the town the distance of three miles, the road again became very bad, and my little horse lost one of its shoes, and soon began to show its loss. However, this day’s journey was a very short one, and we marched at a very rapid rate, which, in short journeys, we always found less fatiguing than marching at a slow rate, and remaining long on foot, exposed to the sun. At twelve miles we arrived at Doko, where we were met by the caboceer and his elder brother, the caboceer of Whydah, who had remained at Abomey ever since I had left that capital for the Mahee and Fellattah country. He had been sent this stage to meet me by order of his Majesty. The caboceer of Whydah is called the avoga, or captain, caboceer of white men, which accounts for his being sent instead of Mayho, to meet me. He being an excellent fellow, I felt much gratification in thus unexpectedly meeting him. Awassoo, the caboceer of Doko, having already been acquainted with my intended visit, had prepared dinner for myself and party, which consisted of twenty-two large dishes of provision. The avoga had also brought with him plenty of liquors of different descriptions, which were very freely distributed among the people. I was now considerable recovered from the effects of my fever, so that I could take part in their merriment and jest. My guard were now near home, and, although two days before, the poor fellows were worn out with fatigue and foot-sore, they were now all life and jollity over their peto-pots, in which they indulged very freely. Merriment was kept up till a late hour, and this being a small town, nearly the whole of the inhabitants came to bid us welcome. Aug. 24th.--About sunrise we began to prepare for marching, but as our journey was a very short one, we remained several hours longer, so that we might arrive at Abomey about mid-day. It is a custom in Dahomey for all strangers of note visiting that capital to enter the town when the sun is at its meridian. This is considered to be a necessary observance for all distinguished visitors.