which has ever been religiously conformed to, and tenaciously held by the Lagos people.  But Adooley displayed at the same time another beautiful trait of piety and filial tenderness.  At the period of his defeat, he had an aged and infirm mother living, and her he determined to take with him, let the consequences be what they might.  With his accustomed foresight, he had previously made a kind of cage or box, in case there should be a necessity for removing her.  His father’s skull having been disinterred and secured, he implored his mother to take immediate advantage of this cage, as the only means of escaping with life.  She willingly acceded to her son’s request, and was borne off on the shoulders of four slaves, to a village not far distant from Lagos, accompanied by Adooley and his fugitive train, where they imagined themselves secure from further molestation.  In this opinion, however, they were deceived, for the more fortunate chief, suspicious of his brother’s intentions, and dreading his influence, would not suffer him to remain long in peace, but drove him out soon after, and hunted him from place to place like a wild beast.  In this manner, retreating from his brother, he at last reached the flourishing town of Badagry, and being quite wearied with his exertions and fatigues, and disheartened by his misfortunes, he set down his beloved mother on the grass, and began to weep by her side.  The principal people of the town were well acquainted with his circumstances, and admiring the nobleness of his sentiments, they not only pitied him, but resolved to protect and befriend him to the last.

For this purpose they presently invited him to attend a council, which they had hastily formed.  When in the midst of them, perceiving tears falling fast down his cheeks, they asked him why he wept so?  “Foolish boy,” said they, “wipe away those tears, for they are unworthy of you, and show yourself a man and a prince.  From this moment we adopt you our chief, you shall lead us on to war, and we will fight against your brother, and either prevail over him or perish.  Here your mother may dwell in safety, and here shall your father’s skull be reverenced as it ought to be.  Come then, lay aside your fears, and lead us on against your enemies.”

These enemies were in the bush, and hovering near Badagry, when Adooley and his generous friends sallied out against them.  The fighting or rather skirmishing lasted many days, and many people, it is said, were slain on both sides.  But the advantage was decidedly in favour of the Badagrians, whose superior knowledge of the district and secret paths of the wood, was of considerable service to them, enabling them to lie in ambush, and attack their enemies by surprise.  The Lagos people at length gave up the unequal contest in despair, and returned to their own country.  Adooley was thus left in quiet possession of an important and influential town, which declared itself independent of Lagos for ever.  Since then various unsuccessful attempts have been made to compel the Badagrians to return to their allegiance.  The latter, however, have bravely defended their rights, and in consequence their independency has been acknowledged by the neighbouring tribes.