The caboceer seemed much disappointed when he found, upon inquiry, that I was not come to purchase slaves, informing me that he had got plenty to supply me with at a very cheap rate. He said he could conceive no other motive for white man coming to black man’s country, unless to trade in some way or other. I told him I had been trading, but my goods were nearly exhausted, and shewed him some Jew’s harps and needles. These he admired, but still he preferred money (cowries), but would like a present to keep in remembrance of me. This I told him was all very well, but I wanted to barter for some food. After much higgling, we made a hard bargain for some fowls and a large duck, which we were obliged to keep an eye upon, lest he should be again restored to his family. Had we killed him he would have been spoiled before morning, as nothing of animal life will keep good more than a few hours. Our method of taking the feathers off was by dipping the fowls in hot water, which saved a great deal of trouble. We purchased a small quantity of red rice, which grows in this country, and with the two fowls and some shalots, we managed to make an excellent meal, after which we were left to repose in a tolerably comfortable hut, but without mat or bedding of any description. The natives here are nearly all Mahomedan, but are not scrupulous as to the creed or habits of others, having been mixed up so much with Pagans throughout their long wars a few years back. Early on the morning of the 25th we again breakfasted off cold fowl and some cold boiled corn. One of the soldiers fastened the Muscovy drake’s feet together, and tied him to his havresack; and thus we commenced our march from Akwaba, the path leading northward, narrow, and worn very deep, which was caused by the water running along it. The land was still level, with stunted trees of various descriptions, to me unknown by name. At seven miles we passed a small kroom, where indigo was rudely manufactured by pounding or grinding the leaves upon a stone upon which they also grind corn. When ground sufficiently it is made up into round balls about the size of a cricket-ball, and exposed in the market for sale. Iron is manufactured in this country. In this kroom hoes for agricultural use are made in a superior manner, as also stirrups, similar to those used by the Moors in the neighbourhood of Tangiers and El-Arish. Bits for horses’ bridles are also manufactured here of a very severe description, the cross-bar or mouth-piece having in its centre a ring large enough to allow the horse’s under-jaw to pass easily through it: this ring of course acts both as bit and curb, but is very likely to break the horse’s jaw, which is very frequently the case in the Fellattah country.