ently administered at Badagry by means of a
large wooden cap, having three corners, which is placed on the head
of the culprit at the period of his examination. This fantastic piece
of mechanism, no doubt by the structure of internal springs, may be
made to move and shake without any visible agent, on the same
principle as the enchanted Turk, or any other figure in our puppet
shows. It is believed that the native priests are alone in the
secret. When the cap is observed to shake whilst on the head of a
suspected person, he is condemned without any further evidence being
required; but should it remain without any perceptible motion, his
innocence is apparent and he is forthwith acquitted. The frame of
this wonderful cap makes a great fuss in the town, and as many
wonderful stories are told of it here, as were related in England, a
century or two ago, of the famous brazen head of Roger Bacon.

A respectable man, the chief of French-town, was tried by the ordeal
of the cap a short time since, for having, it was alleged, accepted a
bribe of the Lagos chieftain to destroy Adooley by poison. The fatal
cap was no sooner put upon his head than it was observed to move
slightly and then to become more violently agitated. The criminal
felt its motion, and was terrified to such a degree that he fell down
in a swoon. On awakening, he confessed his guilt, and implored
forgiveness, which was granted him by Adooley, because, it was said,
of his sorrow and contrition, but really, no doubt, of his birth and
connexions.

During the stay of the Landers at Badagry, the thermometer of
Fahrenheit ranged between 86 deg. and 94 deg. in their hut, but being oftener
stationary nearer the latter, than the former.

CHAPTER XXXI.

It was on Tuesday, the 31st March, that the Landers bade adieu to the
chief of Badagry, and during the whole of that day they were employed
packing up their things preparatory to their departure. They repaired
to the banks of the river at sunset, expecting to find a canoe, which
Adooley had promised should be sent there for their use; but having
waited above two hours, and finding it had not arrived, they placed
their goods in two smaller canoes, which were lying on the beach.
These soon proved to be leaky, and as no other resource was at hand,
they were fain to wait as patiently as they could for the canoe
promised them. Every thing betrayed the lukewarmness and indifference
of the chief, who had received so much