ugh this by one of his head men, and proceeded
in the order we set out to Alimami, who was seated at the top of the
square, surrounded by his chiefs, upon a mat spread upon a raised bank of
mud, dressed in a turban, after the Turkish fashion, and a loose manding,
robe, or shirt.

Several pleaders were haranguing two of his judges, who were seated at a
distance, in palaver, or council, to take cognizance of a dispute relative
to some slaves; and although our arrival had excited the-curiosity of every
inhabitant of the town, yet we passed the tribunal without interruption,
their attention being absorbed on the subject of their sitting. The whole
compass of the square was scarcely equal to contain their oratory, their
voices being so extremely loud as to be heard distinctly, without the
walls, accompanied by menacing attitudes. Passing this declamatory
assembly, we paid our obeisance to Alimami, who was graciously pleased to
receive us in the manner of his country, with great civilities, and
immediately spread mats for us with his own hands, near himself. It was
impossible, although accustomed to these people, to contemplate the
surrounding objects without interest. I had previously been acquainted with
this chief at Bance Island, where he was in a high degree restrained by
European manners; but here, every thing was native and original. All came
to give us service, which is performed as I have mentioned. A goat and a
couple of fowls were next presented for our dinners, for which an offering
more valuable was expected, and of course complied with. This mutual
interchange of civilities being fulfilled, our attention was excited by the
orators, who by this time were extremely clamorous; one of them, with an
aspect the most furious, ran up to where I was seated, and addressing
Alimami, said, "that as proof his palaver be good, white man come to give
him service while he address him on the subject of his demand;" attaching
to that circumstance, the superstitious idea that he was right, and that I
was his _fetish_ to establish that right.

I then enquired of Alimami the nature of the trial; he replied, "these men
tell their story, I appoint two judges to hear them, who are to report to
me what they say, and their opinions of the matter, but I hear all that
already and they cannot tell me wrong: I then give judgment," Or in other
words more expressive of his meaning; these men make their complaint to my
head men, or the judges I