t something had detained
him, and that by his not coming the people whom he would accuse of
witchcraft, should he appear, might escape death. We thought that the
king might possibly not have heard of the death of Captain Roderick, and
after duly discussing the subject, we came to the conclusion that it
would be wise while the king was still impressed with the belief of his
almost superhuman powers, to request leave to proceed on our journey.

As it was still early in the day, we hoped to find his majesty tolerably
sober, and capable of listening to reason. We accordingly issued forth
from our house with our knapsacks on our shoulders, and our guns in our
hands, Harry and Aboh ready to act as spokesmen, Charley and I coming
next, and Tom and Caspar with Shimbo bringing up the rear. We found the
king seated in a sort of broad veranda in front of his house, which
served him as an audience chamber. On one side was his fetish or idol
house. At the further end was a huge hideous figure painted in various
colours; with big goggle eyes, and clothed in robes of matting, and
adorned with feathers of various hues. Numerous other idols were placed
against the walls, most of them bearing but the very faintest
resemblance to human figures--big round eyes, and marks for noses, and
grinning mouths, with teeth set in them, showing for what they were
intended. The king, with his round hat on his head, and his red uniform
coat covering his royal body, was seated on a pile of mats with a bottle
by his side, while one or two empty ones lay outside on the floor,
showing how he had already been spending his morning. Several of his
counsellors and other chief men sat at a little distance on either side
of him, discussing, apparently, affairs of state.

We waited until there seemed to be a pause, when we advanced in a bold
manner, and Harry began an address, thanking the king for the
hospitality he had shown us, and the opportunities we had enjoyed of
seeing some sport, and adding "that now, having done all the service we
could, we were desirous of going down the river, as we were anxious to
get on board one of the ships of our country, which we expected to find
at the mouth of the stream."

The king rolled his eyes round as Harry spoke, apparently not
understanding a word; he then turned to his courtiers, desiring them to
explain what the white man said.

This was more than even the most learned of his attendants could do,
for, alt