My people were very much alarmed at my condition, as were also Mayho and the King’s messengers, who visited me every two hours. My leg was still rapidly getting worse, the blackness progressing upwards. I now began to measure my time, calculating upon my death before morning. I had seen several amputations performed, and came to the determination to attempt to amputate my own leg, should it appear absolutely necessary. In the meantime, I ordered poultices to be prepared from Indian corn meal, and yeast from the peto. This was immediately applied. I then had all my amputating instruments placed in readiness, with the necessary quantity of bandages; and I instructed my people what they were to do in the event of my fainting while endeavouring to perform the operation. They did not seem altogether to relish my instructions, but promised to do their best in obedience to my orders. It may be considered that madness alone could have suggested such an attempt; but it must also be observed, that necessity under certain circumstances urges the performance of many things bordering on impossibilities; and in despair we are always ready to grasp even at a shadow of hope. However, thank God! I had not occasion to make the attempt. The poultices had the desired effect, for in the morning the swelling was considerably reduced, and the colour turned from black to a pink or light purple colour, except round the wound, which sloughed, and the flesh dropped from the bone, causing much pain. Mayho visited me early, and seemed much pleased when I informed him of my improvement. My spirits also were much revived, and having some remnants of cotton print left, I made a frock for Mayho’s youngest boy, with which he seemed very much pleased. I also made Mayho a waistcoat of the same material. On the 28th I was able to visit the King, to whom I intimated a wish to depart on the following day for Whydah. He said that he felt very reluctant to part with me, and wished very much that I would remain in his capital; at the same time admitting the necessity of my hurrying home to deliver his message to the Queen of England, and expressing his great disappointment that Mr. Freeman had not visited him a second time. He again spoke very highly of him, and expressed a great wish to have an English missionary and school for mechanics in his capital. He begged me to point out the necessity of this upon my return to England.