, and was astonished at their
answers.

They were now conducted through filthy streets of mud to a very
diminutive hut, which they found excessively warm, owing to the small
quantity of light and air, which were admitted into it only through a
narrow aperture, opening into a gloomy and dismal passage. The
appearance of the inside was better than that of the outside, being
rudely plastered with clay, and surrounded with indifferently carved
fetish figures, either painted or chalked a red colour.

As signs of European intercourse, with which the Landers, as it might
be reasonably supposed, were highly delighted, they received from the
chief as a present some fofo, a quantity of stewed goat, sufficient
for thirty persons, and _a small case bottle of rum_, a luxury which
they had not enjoyed since they left Kiama; the latter was a treat
that they did not expect, although it was of the most inferior kind.

Early on the morning of the 28th, the chief paid them a visit,
accompanied by a Nouffie mallam; he gave them a pressing invitation
to come and see him, which was readily accepted, and on proceeding
to the residence, they passed through a variety of low huts, which
led to the one in which he was sitting. He accosted them with
cheerfulness, and placed mats for them to sit upon, and rum was
produced to make them comfortable withal. He wished to know in what
way they had got through the country, for he had learnt that they had
come a long journey; and after having related to them some of their
adventures, he appeared quite astonished, and promised as far as he
was able to imitate those good men in the treatment of his guests.
When Antonio, their interpreter, explained to them that they were
ambassadors from the great king of white men, he seemed highly
delighted, and said, "Something must be done for you to-morrow;" and
left them to conjecture for a short time what that something would
be, but they soon learnt that he intended to make rejoicings with all
his people, that they would fire off their muskets, and pass a night
in dancing and revelry. He requested them to wait eight days longer,
when he expected his people back from the Bocqua market. "I think,"
he added, "that the chief of Bocqua's messenger and our people will
be a sufficient protection." The Landers readily assented to his
proposal, and told him that as all their presents were expended, they
would send him some from the sea coast, if he would allow a person