The King of Zafoora entered into a lengthened inquiry respecting the Dahomans, but I dared not acknowledge the patronage of the King of Dahomey, nor yet let him know that the soldiers accompanying me belonged to him, otherwise I might have been deemed a spy. It was now that I learned the reason the Dahomans would not know the name of the Dabadab Mountains. Many years ago the Dahomans besieged those mountains; but after remaining near their foot, and suffering much from small-pox and fever, which they deemed to proceed from the vengeance of their own fetish, they raised their unsuccessful siege, and those who survived returned in shame to Abomey; upon which a proclamation was issued that the name of these mountains should never again be mentioned, or the small-pox, as that disease is very much dreaded on the whole of the west coast, as well as in the interior. I was glad when the King ceased his inquiries, for my people required rest as well as myself. We were allowed to remain in this hut during the night with my horse tied up outside. One fowl was reserved for our breakfast in the morning--rather a scanty allowance for all of us; but we had stored our havresacks pretty well with heads of corn, which was nearly ripe at this season, and very sweet. Although the caboceer, after my inquiry respecting Terrasso-weea, appeared tolerably friendly, and eager to receive any little article as a present, he never offered me anything in return. July 24th.--Early in the morning we commenced our journey, having made a hurried and rather scanty breakfast. One of my soldiers returning to Baffo, I had now only four persons besides myself. The path bore N. 35° W. varying to N. 10° W. and N. 15° W. (true) bearing. The country was level and well watered, open and studded with small clumps of bushes and shea butter-trees as well as palm. On the plain I observed many large sycamore-trees, with very large leaves, and the bark rather more rough than those in England. The acacia is also very abundant in this neighbourhood. At six miles we reached the river Gwbasso, which is of considerable magnitude, being twenty yards wide, and twelve feet deep. The banks were nearly level with the water, the river running eastward at the rate of three miles per hour. It abounds with alligators of great size, as well as hippopotami. Little of interest occurred during this day’s journey: we only passed a few miserable krooms, where kankie and water were sold to travellers, each kroom growing merely enough of corn to supply their own wants. Small-pox and yaws seemed to have made great havoc amongst the natives; probably, on that account, intercourse with their neighbours was strictly forbidden.