Travels in Western Africa in 1845 & 1846, Volume 2 (of 2): comprising a journey from Whydah through the Kingdom of Dahomey to Adofoodia in the interiorDuncan, John
History
Travels in Western Africa in 1845 & 1846, Volume 2 (of 2): comprising a journey from Whydah through the Kingdom of Dahomey to Adofoodia in the interior
Duncan, John
Africa, West -- Description and travel; Benin -- Description and travel
After resting a quarter of an hour, we again proceeded on our march
along the side of a smooth granite rock, so much on the dip or
incline that my horse could scarcely keep his footing, though he was
very sure-footed. After passing about a quarter of a mile over this
dangerous road, the path ran along a narrow and small stream of clear
water, with pebbly bottom. This reminded me of some of my native
glens, the haunts of my boyhood. The rich luxuriant shrubs and trees
intermingled overhead, forming festoons, woven together by various
running plants of the sweetest odour, rendered this part of the path
truly delightful and refreshing.
At seven miles the path changed to N. 60° W., and we crossed a rapid
stream, named Nanamie, running N. At seven miles and a half we passed
over a granite mountain, with good spring wells on the top. At eight
miles the valley became narrow, with high mountains on each side of
the path. The mountain on the left is named Laow, as is also the
town. The caboceer, with his attendants and soldiers, met us in the
path, with plenty of provisions and water, as well as rum, of which
my people drank very freely. Having presented this caboceer with some
trinkets and a flask of rum, we resumed our journey. The character of
this mountain differs considerably from those in the neighbourhood,
being divided into different sections of various thickness and strata,
running N.E. and S.W., at a dip of 12° towards E. by S.
At eight miles and a half, NN.W., and at nine miles, NN.E., I noticed
a fine brook and cascade, running south, named Kossieklanan; and on
the east side, I observed a mountain, named Tamargee, of considerable
magnitude. Here the palm and shea butter-tree grow in great abundance,
but the butter-trees have all undergone the operation of scorching. At
ten miles and a half I observed a chain of mountains, running north and
south, distant from the path two miles; the northernmost of these is
named Sawee.
On these mountains is a sort of yellow and very fine grass, equal to
the finest needles, and about two feet high, growing in tufts similar
to rushes. It appears at a distance as if the herbage were entirely
scorched, being about the colour of yellow ochre. A shrub of the same
colour grows here, about ten feet high, with leaves placed on the tree
very similarly to our box, but about three times the length.
At twelve miles and a half, and distant from the path two miles to the
right, are the mountains Lofo and Apakissa; and at thirteen miles, a
mountain, named Bowha, close on the right of the path. Here is in the
path a very fine spring, at the temperature of 62°, the water quite
clear and less impregnated with iron than most others.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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