An incident took place during my absence, which, although absurd, may be worthy of notice here, since it serves to show the ridiculous ideas and manners of the natives. During my temporary absence from the town, the man who had charge of my horse had been persuaded to accept a bribe from the caboceer to allow my horse, which was entire, to serve a very handsome mare, presented to the caboceer by the King of Dahomey. As soon as the mare was brought near my horse he became unruly and broke from his fastening and by some means tore or pulled off one of his shoes. This caused me to inquire by what means it occurred, believing that some of my people had been beating it, but every one denied all knowledge of the shoe being off. I then declared that I would punish the man in charge of my horse for neglect of duty, knowing that if he were at his post he must be aware by what means my horse had lost his shoe. This threat had the desired effect, and the man openly confessed that he had been tempted by the reward of one head of cowries,[9] (which at this place is forty-seven strings, each string containing thirty-three cowries,) or one dollar, (in this part of the country of more value than five sovereigns would be in England,) to allow it, although it is believed amongst these uncivilized beings that he is thus entirely spoiled during the rest of his life, and is rendered quite unfit to carry a rider after. This shows plainly the absence of principle, for this man who had charge of my horse was a captured slave, and had received a good education at the government school at Sierra Leone; but passion so far overcame principle, that for one dollar he would sacrifice my horse.