The natives are chiefly employed in loading and unloading goods for the different traders, who assemble here to meet the various caravans and canoes, which arrive there at certain periods. A high duty is imposed upon every article of trade carried thither, in consequence of which great disturbance has been caused of late years, by the merchants refusing to pay it. Timbuctoo is described as being a considerable distance from the Joleeba, or Niger, up a tributary stream. Terrasso-weea informed me, as also the Tripoli merchant, that there are thirty-six branches or tributary rivers. All of these within one league run into the Niger, or Joleeba, near the Timbuctoo branch. Adofoodia is as large as Abomey, and its trade nearly equal in native merchandise. It is by observation, in latitude 13° 6ʹ N. and by reckoning 1° 3ʹ East longitude. The market at Adofoodia is well supplied with nearly every article already mentioned, except tobacco, which I did not observe. Slaves are here sold in great numbers. During my stroll round the town I was followed by dense crowds of people wherever I went. Upon my return to my quarters, I was visited by the King, who expressed a wish to see me fire out of my gun. To gratify his curiosity I shot a pigeon which was flying past. This excited great surprise. He sent me a head of cowries to treat my men on my return to Dahomey. I had now only a few knives left, two of which I gave him, as well as some needles. I also gave some presents to my other kind friends, with whom I felt myself quite at home. They pressed me hard to stop another day, but circumstances would not permit me, and after being furnished with another head of cowries by Terrasso-weea, we marched on our return for the Kong Mountains, during which nothing very extraordinary occurred further than a slight fever; and on the 13th August, in the evening, we once more, to my great joy, arrived at Baffo, where I found my guard and the captain almost in despair. FOOTNOTES: [16] I have, since my return, called on the firm of Messrs. Boothby and Johnston, and found this story perfectly correct. His old masters gave him an excellent character. CHAPTER VIII.