Sept. 1st.--In passing through a thick wood, a tree had either fallen across the path, or been felled down purposely, so that it with its thick branches entirely blocked up the way. Here the whole of my party were at a stand-still, and could not be prevailed upon to remove the tree so as to enable them to pass, declaring that the fetish had placed it there for a certain purpose, unknown to us. However, it was fortunately only a small tree; I therefore dismounted, and removed it sufficiently to allow us to pass. At this the men seemed somewhat ashamed of their credulity; but before we had proceeded much farther, a more formidable obstacle presented itself, which almost convinced me that some old fetish-man had been exerting his wizard powers to play me some unlucky cantrip. The head of a young bull, apparently newly cut off, was placed in the middle of the path. Upon a close inspection I found it to be the head of one of my own bullocks, which was reported sick the day previously to my marching from Abomey. Nothing more worthy of notice occurred till we approached Whydah, when, at a little distance from that town, we met the men, who had driven my bullocks, returning. I asked them respecting it, and why the head was placed in the path. They replied, that as the animal could proceed no farther, they thought it best to kill it, and dispose of the meat in the most advantageous manner; but lest I should suppose the animal had not been dead, the head had been left in the path, to allow me the satisfaction of ocular demonstration. Upon our arrival in Whydah, according to custom, I reported my return to the caboceer, or avoga, as he is called here, who received me very cordially. He then accompanied me to old Don Francisco, who had so kindly exerted his influence with the King on my behalf in furthering the objects of my travels into the interior. Unfortunately the old man was suffering much from rheumatism, and had for several days refused to see any one, but he readily received me. He cordially congratulated me on my success, declaring that nothing could have afforded him more gratification than the news of my grand and generous reception by the King at Abomey, and assuring me that he should be at all times ready to assist any Englishman by all means in his power. I asked him for a bill of the goods and articles he had furnished me for presents to the King; but as yet the generous old man has never furnished me with any, though they must have cost him about one hundred pounds. He also begged me to let him know how he could further serve me, telling me that anything in his extensive stores was at my service.