he utmost agility to the last,
until he sat down again in the midst of his better halves, who had been
amongst the most demonstrative of his applauders. Several of his chiefs
then followed his example, but took good care not to surpass the king
either in the time they danced or the activity they displayed. Before
they sat down, several women sprang up, who, not being influenced by the
same motives as the courtiers, contrived to twist and turn themselves in
a way which was neither creditable to their modesty, nor pleasant to
look at. We had good reason to be satisfied with this commencement of
our intercourse with King Quagomolo. He presented us with abundance of
food, and the hut built for our accommodation was clean and comfortable.

In a short time, by careful treatment, Tom's ankle completely regained
its strength, and he declared himself ready to continue the journey to
the northward. We arranged, therefore, to start immediately, but we
calculated without our host. When we told Aboh of our intentions, and
asked him to accompany us, he made a long face, and shaking his head,
said, "King no let go, want fight;" by which we understood that
Quagomolo intended to detain us in order that we might assist him in
some predatory excursion he was meditating against a neighbouring tribe,
we having firearms in good order, while he and his people had among them
only a few old muskets, many of which were destitute of locks, and could
only be fired by means of matches applied to the touch-holes. On
obtaining this information, we agreed that it would not be wise to show
any mistrust of the king, but quietly to take our departure, with or
without his leave, whenever it might suit us to do so.

As we were well treated, we were in no hurry to get away, besides which
we had abundance of sport in the neighbourhood, and seldom went out
without bringing back eight or ten brace of ducks and other wildfowl.
However, at length we thought it time to tell the king that we must be
going.

We took the opportunity when he was in a good humour, having just
quaffed a few bowls of a sort of palm-wine of which he was especially
fond.

"Stay, my dear friends, stay a few days longer, and you shall go forth
with honour, and each of you shall take a wife with you and a hundred
attendants."

Charley assured his majesty that we must decline the wives, and that our
own rifles were the best attendants we desired, with the exception of
one or two