He asked in what way we would pass the merchandise I proposed to barter into his country, as he said that the great Kings of Dahomey and Yarriba would not allow any other articles than such as they approved of to pass through their country into the interior. To this I replied that we could come up the great river Niger, which was not known here by that name; though I soon ascertained that he had a perfect knowledge of the unfortunate expedition up that river, with the fire canoes, as he called them; and he even knew of the disasters which happened to that expedition, assuring me that that season was the most fatal to the natives in his own and other countries in the interior, which had been known during the lifetime of the oldest man then living. The Niger appears to be known here only by the name _Joleeba_, not _Joliba_. Only a few people here professed to have ever seen it. Fever and small-pox seem to be the most dreaded of all diseases; though a very loathsome disease prevails, which in England is generally called yaws. Some are so afflicted with it, that the odour from their person is almost unbearable; others are one mass of eruption with holes in the arms and legs even to the bone. After we had sufficiently rested ourselves, I proposed resuming my march, and looked out some Jew’s harps, and a pair of small scissors, with some needles, as a present to the King, excusing myself for offering him such trifling articles, by informing him that I was not aware that I should come so far, but in my next journey I promised to make him some more valuable presents. He then commenced a long list of the articles which he would prefer that I should bring on my next visit, to which of course I assented. His Majesty expressed a great desire that I should remain that night, but as my journey was long, and I was anxious to get it over, I declined his kind offer, and resumed my march, accompanied by a messenger sent by the King to introduce me to the chief of the next town, which we reached in about six miles more. This town is named Babakanda. Around it the land is in high cultivation, bearing excellent crops of various sorts of corn and rice, as well as many bulbous plants for consumption. Here we were also tolerably well received, probably on account of the King’s messenger. This town is much larger than Koma, and has got a palace or a royal residence, where the King often resides.