ry was scarcely more copious than
a sensible parrot might acquire in a month: his knowledge of the
English, at all events, was so exceedingly defective, as to make
another interpreter necessary, to explain what he meant to express, in
our language. This man was left to pass the night at the royal
residence, in order that he might avail himself of opportunities to
inspire his Majesty with confidence, and be ready to accompany him on
his visit in the morning.

_Wednesday, Oct. 31_.--The steam-vessel (_African_) arrived to-day, and
brought in two vessels under Brazilian colours, which Lieutenant
Badgeley had boarded and detained, under strong suspicion of their
being engaged in the slave-trade.

At nine o'clock, the King of Baracouta, accompanied by his brother and
five or six other chiefs, came on board according to promise, and
without betraying any symptoms of timidity. The party were immediately
conducted to the captain's cabin, and entertained with wine and
biscuit, which they appeared to partake of with considerable relish.
His Majesty, however, had not come unprovided, his canoe having been
stored with some calabashes of palm-wine, which he sent for and
distributed freely. We partook of this wholesome beverage, but some of
the natives mixed it with Madeira. I must not omit to mention that,
whether as a point of etiquette, or intended as an expression of
gratitude for the attentions they were receiving, the King, and his
Chiefs, were particularly desirous of rubbing their long beards against
those of our party who happened to be possessed of a similar ornament.
Amongst other circumstances which gave them satisfaction, they were
highly gratified by sitting on our chairs; and we have since learned,
that, in their own residences, they are in the habit of using logs of
wood for this purpose, a custom differing from many of the African
nations.

A description of their dress, which was in the most fanciful savage
taste, cannot fail to be interesting. In the first place, the body was
completely smeared over with the kind of paint I have before described:
His Majesty's colour, like that which distinguishes the imperial family
of China, being yellow, while the livery of his attendants was dark
red. The hair of the head was dressed in long small curls hanging down
behind, and which, instead of hair powder and pomatum, were well
stiffened with ochre and oil: in front, similar curls dividing from the
forehead, hung down on e