Aug. 30th.--As soon as I awoke I inquired after my luggage, and found that two of my principal boxes had not arrived. Whereupon I despatched a trusty messenger, sent by Mayho to accompany me to Whydah to carry back my coat, which I had promised that excellent old man, being the only thing I now possessed worth his acceptance. He hastened back to Abomey, to report the delay to his master, who had furnished the carriers. Mayho immediately sent fresh men with orders to punish the villains who had hung back, as, he said, he had himself examined each of their loads, and found them all considerably under the regulated weight for carriers. At last the men arrived, accompanied by my messenger and fresh carriers, late in the afternoon. Immediately on their arrival, the offenders were brought before the caboceers for judgment; and, after a short palaver, they were sentenced to be beaten with a stick as many times as I should deem sufficient. Two men were sent into the bush for some rods, who soon returned with five, about one yard in length and about the thickness of a man’s middle finger. The offenders were then ordered to kneel down before me to receive their punishment; but although they had been the cause of much uneasiness to me, I could not consent to such a severe mode of punishment, particularly as all my Dahoman people had hitherto conducted themselves well; I therefore ordered them both to be released, for they had already been pinioned. The poor fellows were very grateful for this act of kindness: the caboceers also were much gratified, and my day’s detention was beneficial in resting my lame leg. CHAPTER XIII. Akpway--Superstition of the Natives--Singular proceeding of my Bullock-Drivers--Arrival at Whydah--Kind Reception by Don Francisco de Suza--Kindness of all the Merchants--Parting Interview with M. de Suza--Sail for Cape Coast--Terror of the Mahee Girl (presented to the Queen) at the Roughness of the Sea--Arrival at Cape Coast--Kindness of Mr. Hutton--Dr. Lilley--Recover from my Fever--Kindness of the Wesleyan Missionaries--General Character of Africans--Hints with regard to Educating them--Observations on the Manners and Customs of the Dahoman, Mahee, and Fellattah Countries--Enlightened Conduct of the King of Dahomey--The Dahomans--Trade of Dahomey--Paganism--The Mahees--The Kong Mountains--Sail for England. Aug. 31st.--We marched early in the morning, and about mid-day passed through Akpway, and rested for half an hour, partaking of some refreshment; and after marching for another hour and a half we arrived at Whyboe, where we halted for the night.