The natives made several attempts to steal my camp-kettle, but my interpreter told them, as I clapped my hand to my sword, that I never hesitated to chop off an arm or a head, if I caught any one stealing my property. They told him he must not talk of cutting arms or heads off where we were only intruding strangers; but my interpreter assured them, that if their numbers were ten times more than they were, a white man cared not. If any man does him wrong, he kills him by some evil art, if not by the sword. Although this assertion was of course ridiculous, it appeared to have the desired effect. After the gadadoo had finished his business, he again joined us, as we were lying down under a large tree, in the market-place. He offered us a hut during the remaining part of the night, but we found it so filthy, as to be uninhabitable, being merely a shed where the slaves had been kept for sale during the day. Both myself and men felt much annoyed at this, and we determined to leave the town, and encamp somewhere in the bush. We gave the gadadoo some small presents, but he seemed to have expected much more. I peremptorily refused to extend my gifts, and took my departure very abruptly, to proceed on my journey, never intimating any thing of my intention of encamping near the town. We passed out of the town at the northern having entered at the southern gate, the path bearing N. 30° W., and at two miles from the town we turned some distance out of the path, where we found some rocks, and behind these we encamped for the night, but did not kindle a fire, lest we might be observed. Early in the morning I aroused my poor fellows, who were evidently beginning to show symptoms of having been over-marched; and, though I rode a great part of the distance, I found the wound in my leg getting every day larger. Still I determined to pursue my journey, and though my poor companions had several times hinted that the safest course was to turn back, I remembered the old adage, recommended by Captain Beaufort of the Admiralty, never to put my hand to the plough and look backward. I felt much for my men, but I dared not say any thing, lest they should take a resolution not to proceed. FOOTNOTES: [13] Assofoodah contains about twelve thousand inhabitants. [14] Granaries of a similar construction have been noticed in the neighbourhood of Whydah. CHAPTER VI.