th, they would have been at a loss for an
answer.

Mansolah's headpiece was something like a bishop's mitre, profusely
ornamented with strings of coral, one of which answered the purpose
of a ribbon, for it was tied under the chin, to prevent the cap from
being blown off. His tobe was of green silk, crimson silk damask, and
green silk velvet, which were all sewn together, like pieces of
patchwork. He wore English cotton stockings, and neat leathern
sandals of native workmanship. A large piece of superfine light blue
cloth, given the chief by Captain Clapperton, was used as a carpet.
The eunuchs, and other individuals who were present at the interview,
prostrated themselves before their prince, agreeably to the custom of
the country, and rubbed their heads with earth two separate times,
retreating at some distance to perform this humiliating and degrading
ceremony, and then drawing near the royal person, to lie again with
their faces in the dust. They also saluted the ground near which he
was sitting, by kissing it fervently and repeatedly, and by placing
each cheek upon it. Then, and not till then, with their heads, and
faces, and lips, and breasts, stained with the red damp soil, which
still clung to them, they were allowed to seat themselves near their
monarch, and to join in the conversation. Two or three of the
inferior eunuchs, not satisfied with this servile prostration, began
to sport and roll themselves on the ground, but this could not be
effected without immense labour, and difficulty, and panting, and
puffing, and straining; for like that paragon of knighthood Sir John
Falstaff, they could not be compared to any thing so appropriately as
huge hummocks of flesh. There they lay wallowing in the mire, like
immense turtles floundering in the sea, till Ebo desired them to
rise. A very considerable number of bald-headed old men were observed
among the individuals present, their hair or rather wool, having been
most likely rubbed off by repeated applications of earth, sand,
gravel, filth, or whatever else might be at hand, when the prince
happened to make his appearance.

The conference being brought to a close, a kid, a calabash of caffas,
and two thousand kowries were presented to the Landers, and cheered
by a flourish of music, they laughed in concert as a mark of
politeness, and shook hands with the king, and walked away to their
own dwelling, which had been repaired, and thoroughly cleansed for
their use. Th