The caboceer, who was soon made aware of my having learned all the facts of the case, became alarmed, naturally supposing that I should feel much annoyed at such conduct, and dreading lest I should make the case known to the King of Dahomey. He was so much alarmed, indeed, that he would not venture into my presence during the whole of the afternoon, but several of his messengers visited me, requesting to know if I had every thing I wanted, and informing me that it was their master’s wish I should be furnished with any thing I might require. In the evening the caboceer and several of his head men and principal wives, and also several of his daughters, ventured to visit me. Upon approaching me, the old man in front, the whole party prostrated themselves on the ground, throwing dust over their heads and shoulders, until I had assured the caboceer of my forgiveness, at the same time telling him that had he asked me, he should have been welcome to the use of my horse. I also remonstrated with him upon the absurd notion entertained by them. To my no small surprise, the old man presented me with his youngest daughter for a wife, who was a mulatto, telling me she would be useful to wash my clothes. Upon my declining his offer, the old man seemed rather offended, until I informed him that as African wives were considered by their husbands to be also their slaves, I could not, without a breach of the laws of my own country, accept his offer. I told him, however, that I should make my proffered wife a present of a few small cotton handkerchiefs, and when I again passed through his country I should call for his daughter. This reconciled the old man, and I believe gave his favourite child much more satisfaction than leaving for ever her home to become a white man’s slave. The old man furnished myself and people with an excellent supper and plenty of peto. I invited him to spend the evening with me, and partake of a glass of grog, which he very willingly accepted, and we parted for the night the best of friends. July 21st.--Early in the morning, a messenger came to my house to inquire after my health, and about an hour afterwards an excellent breakfast was sent for myself and people. I had to put on the cast shoe on my horse, which was a difficult task, as I had not proper nails, and the hoofs of the African horses are so hard that a nail can scarcely be driven without the assistance of a brad-awl. Fortunately, however, I had a few common nails and a shoemaker’s hammer, so that by beating the nails a little thinner, and using the awl, I managed to fix the shoe, and prepared for my journey back to Baffo. The caboceer had ordered all his soldiers to prepare to accompany me as a sort of convoy out of the town.